I read somewhere the method to cut the leg for a rug.
Some say don't cut it straight down the middle of the inside because that leaves a flap of skin "above and below" the leg when rugging.
So where do I cut? Up the front edge, aligning with the "thumb" and "big toe" claws?
Or do I just cut as per usual, down center inside, and trim to suit once ready for the felt. I don't want to waste fur, but if this is the best way, this is how I'll do it.
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The advice you have was interesting, but doesn't pan out in reality. Bear legs are pretty evenly haired except the armpit areas where there's going to have to be some relief cuttings made anyway. All rugs are going to require some trimming regardless and most require dye on the skin that's just too thinly haired. Rugging requires a rugging table to be done properly and most shops aren't laid out well enough to support such a table. That's the reason I suggest professional rugging for anyone.
If you are refering to bear, this is what I recommend.
Back leg, split the pad down the center and continue from the heel to a point 1 1/2" in front of the anus.
Front leg, through the center of the large pad to the small pad, cut through the center of the small pad and then you are at the bottom edge of the forearm. Imagine your arm held out in front of you with your thumb up...your cut is now at the bottom of the wrist, follow along the bottom edge of the forearm to the point of the elbow. From there you can angle forward up the inside of the leg to the upper chest. This forearm cut is important if you want the hair on the rug to lay out toward the front AND toward the back. If you cut on the inside of the leg and not the back(or bottom) edge, the hair on the front will lay out toward the front but the hair on the back side will point forward and leave your rug with an exposed edge of skin.
Make ALL your cuts befor you start skinning so that everything is uniform