Hi all,

I haven't been out of the trapping game, but as the market ever dwindles I don't want to give up my trapping bug. I decided instead on shipping my furs over the pond for pennies I'm going to save them for myself. (who knows what in store for trappers the way its going!?)

Has anyone made a fur blanket and would you have any advice? I was thinking of lining the leather side with flannel perhaps? My thought was a main body of beaver with a lining of marten. Thanks for any thoughts and photos.

Had a king size beaver blanket done by wild things fur. I sleep with it every night. So far had it for a year and I can't complaining abit. I use it, its not a show piece for me its utility to me. My boykin spaniel loves sleeping on it as well. Great people to deal with. id say give them a call and I'm sure they would be happy to even just answer questions. Sure is nice to leave the window open when its close to freezing and be curled up under beaver fur you caught yourself. Don't forget its going to be heavy. Any questions go ahead and PM me. I can make a few suggestions on things.

-LC

Check out the new release of Trapping Inc. season 5 ep 13 ? Rich made one for Sandi with 20 some odd beaver.
International Fur Dressers in Winnipeg did the tanning. They are Brokers and can pick up your fur at the boarder and process it for you.

I also had a very large beaver blanket made, (about 7 feet by 8 feet), and had the backing lined in what is called bridal satin. Not slippery, like regular satin or silk.
And yes, it is heavy!

Have 5 full fur blankets -Full thru Kings and also several throws and I would recommend against slick satin or silk lining for bed cover. One of ours has satin and won't hardly lay on the bed without sliding right off. Our black beaver one is the warmest, even more than the raccoon, and the lynx/marten one is the softest. Couple are over 30 yrs old and holding up fine with yearly use(some guard hair loss). Most fur is durable.

Mine is 6 large beaver with I believe 4 coyote all around for trim. It's not huge but it's big enough to cover the bed and it's warm - hot actually. Gotta keep the window cracked. You're on the right track with flannel backing you don't want it sliding off the bed.

Yes.This is a muskrat lap blanket the wife and I made last year. If I was going to make one out of beaver, I would look to collect beaver in the 60" ( any beaver of roughly the same size should work) range and use an octagon pattern to maximize fur use. The batting used was 1/4 inch quilted polyester batting. The backing was 100% cotton fabric in whatever pattern with yarn ties approximately spaced 12 inches apart. The edge was trimmed satin blanket binding.

As far as trimming the edges with marten, I'm not sure I like that idea. Maybe if there is some color contrast? Marten is not the most durable of fur so, I would expect the marten trim to wear at a different rate then the beaver possibly too. Once the beaver blanket is constructed you can lay different options along the edge to see what may be appealing.

Dirt, that blanket is awesome. Looks like 24 rats, is that right? What are the dimensions of the finished product?

Yes. Approximately 34" X 50" Lap blanket.

All good info. Hadn't thought of the martens less durable fur, but that's a great point. I think from here I trap a bunch of beaver and see what, if at all, lines it the best. The most unclear thing is the layer of fabric on the under side. I can see fixing/sewing it to the edge, but the yarn ties are the main anchor in the "field", right?

And heavy and warm is what I'm going for. I imported a florida/hawaiin woman to MT! Despite the cold she is transitioning very well.

Nice work Dirt.I like using the hexagonal pattern for rats and beaver.Rats make a nice babyblanket with flannel lining and sell well.
If using that pattern,try to use all skins of near the same size to minimize wasteage and have a uniformity of character of the fur in the blanket.

If you guys don’t mind I would like to see some pictures of some blankets. I thinking since the market is down I might get a few made. If you use beaver is it best to get it sheared ?

My best advice is water fur holds up better than long fur otter, beaver, rat and coon. Consider the weight of the fur before committing to what to use beaver can be heavy and some folks do not like the weight. I have had 6 made the first one is not that attractive as I used unmatched fur. Given that I would suggest getting furs that match and grade the same or it will show. If you can't get enough that match purchase them dressed, no surprises that way. If your going to spend the money you want a nice product not a patchwork.

This is pic of my queen beaver spread w/ 2 big N. Minn bobcats and my first Black beaver as pillows. It took 15 XL beavs and I used black skunk for the side trim... But if I did another I'd use black dyed ranch blue fox for the border... very warm I really like it! as far as the marten I agree w/ others the leather would break down way sooner than the beaver... would be difficult to sew properly too as the leathers are such a wide difference in thickness... Good luck w/ your project, you'll cherish it much longer than the few schmeels on a fur check... the foot of the bed a early season deer I arrowed short nap and the neighbors goat they didn't want.. I always thought she was cool...

on my to do list if i ever get a proper fur sewing machine. my hands wouldnt take all of that sewing anymore

Question: How do you get the danged smell out of them? The tanning solution smell. I had a deer hide done for a throw blanket and my lady won't lay under it due to the smell of the leather.

could oil the leather with eucalyptus oil, then it would smell like eucalyptus.