The bear Rug I am making, the fella wants the paws left on with the claws as far out as possible. How do you all recomend I go about that. Thank You
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When you skin the animal for the rug, you'll skin down the inside of the leg right through the middle of the pad. When you skin the leg out you'll skin right up to the end of each toe, then nip the bone off there (the claws will be pretty loose). I flesh the pad down at that point. After you tan it and mount the head, you are ready for the batten and rugging felt. When the claw/foot is sewn to the rugging, the claws will extended out as far as they can be at that point. Should meet the customers needs then....
The back legs are cut from the point of the heel along the back edge, the pad is split down the center. Don't skin on the inside of the leg!
The front legs are cut from the center of the large pad through the center of the small(quarter size) pad. That puts you on the hair line on the back edge of the front leg. Hold your hand out in fromt of you with your thumb up, like you would be if you were going to shake hands with someone. Make that cut along the center of the bottom of the arm to the elbow, the you can angle forward toward the head. The reason for this cut is to keep the hair on the finished rug flowing outward on both sides of the front leg. If you cut the center of the arm, the hair in front will flow forward, but the hair on the back edge will also flow forward leaving the back edge of the front leg as a line of exposed tanned skin.
How do you guys put the fabric on the back of the rugs do you sew it? I am open for the easiest and best looking ideas. I am not much good at sewing alot of fabric. Thanks
Having the toes stretched might look a little odd. I bet your client is looking for a nice symmetrical paw that shows off the claws and size of the paw. This can be done quite easily during the mounting process of the rug.I stuff damp cotton down into each toe. Pack all the way down to the toe nail. Use a heavy wooden modeling tool or screwdriver to pack the cotton. Be carefull not to over stuff as it can lift the toe nails causing an unnatural appearance.
Next pack dry cotton in between each toe. Pull the cotton out after the paw dries(except for the cotton inside each toe). Hope this helps!
I send it to a rugger. You may find someone with a commercial sewing machine around near you. I suppose you can sew it by hand. Use heavy linen carpet thread, a sewing palm and time.......No glue. About the only glue that might hold is Barge Cement.