Making Beaver Mittens

I have 6 spring beavers that I finally fleshed. I'm thinking about sending them in to be tanned and then trying to make mittens out of them. My question is, how hard is it to make a pair of mittens? I feel like I have the basic knowledge of how to sew. Just wondering if it worth trying or just sending in the fur to someone to have them sew them up.

Some guys just buy a pair of leather chopper mitts and cover then with fur. There are basic to complex patterns available for mittens.

Here is one option.

https://trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/6694467/diy-fur-mittens

If you go that route get the choppers with a seam on the outside to stitch on too. Deer or elkskin choppers is what you want so they don't dry stiff like cowhide does if they get wet.

Maybe 7 months in the freezer? Maybe you should post a picture of your fleshed and dried beaver, so people can decide whether they may make it through the tanning process? Let's put it this way, I've seen some stuff......

One of the "Foxfire Books" has a Mitten pattern on graph paper so that you can reproduce it, Its easy to size it once you have the base pattern.

My Mom made Mittens for every kid in the neighborhood from wool fabric one year.

She called the "help Your Neighbor Radio program and asked for Wool fabric and a retired Taylors wife gave her a bunch of Wool fabric from Mens Suits and Liners.

What she made would have been better as liners for a leather chopper but they kept us kids hands kinda warm that year.

By the way Dirt makes really nice fur mittens for sale I believe.

I had a few dozen beaver pelts tanned a few years ago ang bought two fur sewing machines in hopes of getting into making mittens, hats, muffs, toilet seat covers, etc.......then I had two kids, life got even busier, and I haven't done a darn thing and the pelts sit in totes to this day! lol

I'm taking a new job and moving soon which should give me a tad more time to dabble in exactly this. Everyone I've talked to has kinda told me the same thing in that it takes a while to really get the hang of it. Though I imagine if you made a few mock sets out of felt and crap leather etc to get the sizing and angles right it might not be too bad as long as you're willing to spend lots of time and NOT be in a hurry.

Good luck to you and I will be also be following others input on this topic! Happy trapping! ScottW

The Jan/Feb Volume 43 no.1 issue of "The Backwoodsman" Magazine Has an article about making mittens that includes making a Pattern.

Ask Boco….he is the resident seamstress

Buy a mitt pattern on line.One that comes with instructions.
Wissmiss on here may sell them.