I tanned my first batch of hides and they turned out great using this method: http://www.freewebs.com/nwrhrbc/How%20to%20Tan%20Rabbit%20Hides.pdf

The fleshing is the hardest part, but you can scrape off any remaining flesh after they've dried a bit.

Does anyone have experience with sewing hides together?

I have no experience, but I have looked at rabbit fur products online. They are gorgeous and expensive!

I also used this method to tan a few hides a couple of years ago. It's a lot of work but they turned out ok. I was a little impatient and inexperienced so they weren't perfect but I would do it again if I had the time. I still have them and the fur is still holding on well. If you wash them in a light hair shampoo solution it makes it softer, smells nice and gets rid of the dry feeling of the alum. I used Pert Plus.

here are some things i found about sewing leather. hope they help.

http://www.sbearstradingpost.com/Leathe ... acing.html

http://thenakedseamstress.blogspot.com/ ... ather.html

http://brettunsvillage.com/leather/thread.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c8_8wD_mnc

http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-u ... Tools.aspx

http://thebuckrub.proboards.com/index.cgi
this last one is a forum that has a section for quill work and a section for moccasins etc. maybe you will find something there.

good luck

I haven't gotten around to making anything with the hide yet. Hoping I could get some more like it, but because it's a red rex, that may be kind of hard. I will tan some white hides this spring and then decide what to do with them.

Do you have any photos of the hides, Dana? Also, how long did the whole process take for you?

@ Danayares Thank you so much for posting this. I have quite a few that I need to do and I am running out of space in my freezer for them. The next processing date I plan on doing all of them. I can't wait to start making some crafts.

I tried to take pictures, but because most of the hides are black, they just look like black blobs.

Here's a tip though... When your trimming your pelts after drying and working, use an exacto knife on the leather side only so you don't cut the fur.

I do the whole tanning process in my bath tub in 5 gallon buckets, it makes for much easier clean up. I also put a seed starting warm mat under the bucket to keep the water temperature warmer.

__________ Mon Jan 16, 2012 8:16 am __________

I tried to take pictures, but because most of the hides are black, they just look like black blobs.

Here's a tip though... When your trimming your pelts after drying and working, use an exacto knife on the leather side only so you don't cut the fur.

I do the whole tanning process in my bath tub in 5 gallon buckets, it makes for much easier clean up. I also put a seed starting warm mat under the bucket to keep the water temperature warmer.

wow, a great way to repurpose a seed starter mat!!!

I would advise against doing to many at a time. 4-5 at a time is good and not too overwhelming.

My son jumped into it last night . He took your advice and did 6. We think the first scraping should be Tuesday if all goes well.

On the scraping.... try to gently pull up the flesh so that it comes off mostly in one piece, it's hardest around the buttocks end. Use a regular dinner knife to scrape instead of a really sharp one. Good luck!