Natural Goat Furskin Leather Tanning Workshop
Event description
The fur of any animal is a lasting reminder of it's body after death. Echoes of its personality expressed through it's coat by its colour, texture and feel.
Preserving furskins through natural and traditional leather tanning was one of the very first technologies practiced by humans, whose resulting clothing products allowed their survival in harsh environments and softening the interior of countless humble abodes.
The steps involved in preserving skins are many and unknown to the vast majority of humans in the modern world. Equip yourself with this essential knowledge to prevent skins that come into your life through animal husbandry or other opportunity from going to waste. Learn a process bound to the cycles of life and rebirth, alchemy and transformation, to create a furskin that you can use for decades to come.
Dates:
Sunday 12th, Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th November only (not including weekdays).
What's Included:
- Instruction in the traditional oil tan technique for tanning goat furskins naturally
- 3 days of workshop including 1-day skin softening endurance workout
- All materials supplied
- Limited numbers per workshop
Sunday 12th November
We will cover:
- Process Overview
- Obtaining hides and storage
- Fleshing and racking
Saturday 18th November
We will cover:
- Dry-scraping
- Dressing
Sunday 19th November
We will cover:
- Softening
- Smoking
- Review and next steps
Please bring your own food and snacks. Accommodation not supplied.
This workshop is physically demanding, however students wishing to learn the process may elect to practice the techniques on a quarter or half skin piece if so preferred.