I have been researching old threads about various things people make with their furs whether its hoop designs, wall hangers, mittens, hats, etc. Post them here for everyone to see the ways furs can be crafted! In the rough market we are in for fur prices this is a good way to make a fun and useful project and not be "wasting" furs that you could otherwise be selling as prices are quite low.

Red fox blocked out ready to mark pattern,then cut, for fox hat.(ears are turned inside out)

Hat starting to take shape.

Flap plate constructed and ready to sew in.

Flap plate sewn in,legs and tail sewn in,and ready for fringed ties,beads and lining.

Boco do you have a specific fur that you like to work with for hats and mittens? are there particular ones you find are warmer?

I have worked up all fur from bear to rats.
The only fur I dont work into items is ermine and red squirrel.

For hats I like working with fox and for mitts I like working with beaver.Reason is they sell more readily,they are more common and not as expensive as lynx,wolf,otter,etc.

I also like working with raccoon for hats.

All fur is plenty warm,the main difference between fur species is durability of fur and/or leather and the weight of the finished article.
Generally speaking I prefer the tougher longer wearing heavier pelts for mitts and lighter weight leather/pelts for hats.

have you tried making moccasins or anything of the sort or do you typically stick with the hats and mittens?

I can make moccassins and mukluks,and have made them for myself,but I do custom work and dont make moccassins for customers.
I have also made a couple fur parkas but dont do those for customers either.
Hats,headbands, and mitts are by far the best sellers for me,and easiest to make.Native made moccassins are also in demand.I refer anyone looking for Beaded moccassins or gloves to native craftspeople I know.
I also make the odd blanket and do hood,collar and cuff trim.
I take orders from people and make stuff in a short window usually once a year.
No mass production,I turn away a lot of fur work.

Liner sewn and ready to go in.





Hat done-liner sewn in and beaded fringe ties added.

Great craftsmanship, do you know roughly how long it takes you to make a hat or mittens and how much you have improved at that time over the years you have been doing it. i could see it being quite a difference in time it takes from when you first start to where you are now

It took longer when I started cause I was sewing by hand.With the bonis it is a lot faster.On avg,say for a full lynx mountain man style hat not including the finishing,it took a bout 5 hours by hand.
With the fur machine about 20 minutes or less.Thats just the sewing.Blocking marking cutting and finishing is the same and that would be a couple hours.

Here is a wolf hat.
There is a little bit more fur on a wolf than a coyote,lol.

very nice! do you find a certain style of hat the best seller for you?

My original design mountain man style hat has been the best seller since I created it 37 years ago.

That is about as goofy looking as mine. The grizzly bear hat was worse. Looked like you were scared so bad your hair stood up.

HA,that reminds me of a funny story dirt-I was selling fur at a pow wow down south and I had a blackbear hat-spring bear-heavy fur.
This bald headed black guy came up to the booth and tried it on,Man I could hardly stop myself from laughing-he looked like he just stepped out of black hollywood movie from the 60's.

Boy that's a nice wolf hat Boco. Them wolfs left the best part behind when they ripped up my wolf from rock cubby. I had bad luck with that rock cubby got two wolfs in it that one was ripped up but they did leave the back in tact mostly. I caught another one but it must have been caught by the paw. It took off into the bush on the side of the creek, Really fought the trap and I tracked it until I lost light then never picked up the trail again as it storms a lot up here.

You got some nice heavy furred wolves up there for sure Ian.

Working on a skunk hat now.Customer doesnt want the tail on.