01 Jan Sheepskin Hide Tanning
In this full-on 3-4 day class each student will walk away with their own fully tanned sheepskin rug, as well as a deep understanding of various tanning methods, the physical, learned experience of working a hide from start to finish, and the knowledge to set up their own hide tanning tools and station at home. Come prepared to work your hides and your bodies in this physically demanding craft.
We will go through every step of working a hide together – washing, fleshing, framing, softening and smoking – each of which breathes new life into a hide that may have been composted without the work of our hands & hearts. Come as a beginner hide tanner with little to no experience, or dozens of hides’ worth of experience – all are welcome. 🙂 Walk away feeling empowered with the knowledge you need to go ahead and continue tanning on your own, at home, if you wish.
We will also cover how to preserve hides, how to pick up roadkill and more. This class will include part theory, part science, and large part physical, embodied experience, song, craft, and the weaving of our ancestors through our hands and our voices as we soften our sheepies and our sheepies soften us.
Alex will be sharing a fully immersive fat and smoke-tanned sheepskin rug class.