stitching for dummies

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stupidnewbie

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I've got a couple red fox in the freezer and one I shot last night that have some pretty sizable holes in them. Can someone give me a quick run down on the how and when (in the process) to stitch up holes? The one I shot last night has a gaping hole between his front legs probably 4" across but the head, back, tail and sides are beautiful(223 hit the bottom of the rib cage and exploded from the looks of it). It's a real mess but I hate to let it go to waste.

I'm fairly new to handling fur and I plan to save up hides until I can send them off to have a blanket made for my cottage at one of the tanneries, so these won't be for sale but they need to be usable.
 
Crap, for me this is one of those things that is easier to show then tell.

That being said, I usually skin in the field for space and time sake ( when I get home it's time to pour drinks and unwind)...I super glue the holes shut. Kid you not. Their is a super glue I get from Hobby Lobby that works great. Works great on the leather side.
 
Originally Posted By: Aaron_ProffittCrap, for me this is one of those things that is easier to show then tell.

That being said, I usually skin in the field for space and time sake ( when I get home it's time to pour drinks and unwind)...I super glue the holes shut. Kid you not. Their is a super glue I get from Hobby Lobby that works great. Works great on the leather side.

In that case why don't ya do a short video of this Hobby Lobby super glue the hole shut method. Post it up and show us.

I for one would love to see this. Be a heck of a time saver if it worked. I may even start putting up fur again.
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I hated sewing holes.

I do agree with the "this is one of those things that is easier to show then tell." But I'm talking the ole needle and thread method.
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I couldn't begin to explain it in writing on here. Hopefully someone else can. (Did you look on Youtube? Might be something there.)

By the way, NO,NO,NO, I'm not doing a video to show how to do it with needle/thread.
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Ya know, doggin', let me see what I can do...I am entirely computer inept but I'll see what I can put together .

FWIW, I got the idea from one of our Corpsmen who carries superglue in their 'go bag' to close cuts.:)
 
Aaron, I've super glued cuts in my own skin to close em up, I do know it will work for that.

The OP is wanting to send these hides off to be tanned. I'm wondering how the glued together holes would hold up through the tanning process (and in the long run).

I would like to see a video if you can do it. You can't be as computer inept as I am. I feel like a total idiot when it comes to these things. Cell phones too. lol
 
Alright, let me go ahead and try this as best I can.

1. Skin the coyote or whatever furbearer you have, standard case skinning. I suppose blanket for a rug(like how'd you skin a badger or beaver) would work just the same.But for sake's sake, let just stick with case.

2. Turn it inside out....leather side out and locate holes.


3. Once holes are located, trim up the holes as a uniform shape is way easier to fix . Get rid of any ragged edges. It would behoove you to keep a roll of paper towels for the next step...

4. Using your paper towels ,clean up the area around the wound/s as best possible and get the area as dry as possible. No hair, fat , blood ....no nothing.

5.Now lightly pinch the wound together so that the wound is leather to leather forming a VERY shallow channel. This is kind of important so that when you get home and go to fleshing, the fleshing knife won't catch and tear the hide.

6. Apply a line of http://shop.hobbylobby.com/store/item.aspx?ItemId=174916 from the start of the channel to the back. I use the Medium cause that's generally what I have on hand ,but colder climates may wanna use the THIN. Give it about five minutes or so and you should be good to go.

And that's it fellas.
 
Originally Posted By: doggin coyotesAaron, I've super glued cuts in my own skin to close em up, I do know it will work for that.

The OP is wanting to send these hides off to be tanned. I'm wondering how the glued together holes would hold up through the tanning process (and in the long run).




Ohhh...ya know, I don't know how it'd hold up . Man. Never had a buyer say anything one way or the other. Course, coyote is almost always used for trim anyway so it may not be an issue.
 
So Aaron, you are doing this before you flesh, correct?

Here's the fox. The more I look at it the more I'm thinking it's a lost cause. By the time I got done skinning the hole looked more like 8". Maybe this one would be a good one to send out for a hat. LOL
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Mods, if that picture is too graphic please delete it.
 
The needles from the suture kits are a must have...in a pinch , and some prefer them, those circular live bait hooks will work as long as they aren't to big . Make sure you de-barb them.
 
wash it after skinning, I only cut off excess fat and tissue, no fleshing on any of mine, for 25yrs. Turn skin side out, pin on edge of stretcher so hole is length wise like board. Pin each end so it is tight. All pink needs to be trimmed off skin edge to be sewn. A football shape hole is best, I have cut good fur to make it football shaped. The hole on chest looks like it could be sewn, maybe use skinnier stretcher.
Start sewing with heavy cotton thread, heavy duty, put stitches less than 1/4" apart, hitch each stitch or the edge will roll and they will see it. Just sew the edge, last 1/16th inch. I have sewn 14-16" holes before on coyote and fox.
 
Originally Posted By: Tactical .20wash it after skinning, I only cut off excess fat and tissue, no fleshing on any of mine, for 25yrs. Turn skin side out, pin on edge of stretcher so hole is length wise like board. Pin each end so it is tight. All pink needs to be trimmed off skin edge to be sewn. A football shape hole is best, I have cut good fur to make it football shaped. The hole on chest looks like it could be sewn, maybe use skinnier stretcher.
Start sewing with heavy cotton thread, heavy duty, put stitches less than 1/4" apart, hitch each stitch or the edge will roll and they will see it. Just sew the edge, last 1/16th inch. I have sewn 14-16" holes before on coyote and fox.

thats dam fine advice
 
Are you saying you do no fleshing at all when putting up fur or no fleshing around the hole before you sew? I just spent 2 hours fleshing last night on yote and still not done- buts thats another forum topic. LOL
 
I find it much easier to stitch after fleshing - just be careful not to enlarge the hole during fleshing. I have used a hitch stitch on a few small holes, but after reading things over will try the "baseball" stitch next time. I like nylon thread over cotton, but a good sharp needle is #1 and a thimble helps if you are using a straight needle.

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but you need to hitch each stitch, an old furbuyer showed me how to do it. Thats right I only slice off excess fat and meat, the fur buyer, (Groenewold has never complained about it) I figure they will auction it as it is or they re wet the skin and do it their way anyway! so you can save some time, imo!
 


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