Xtra Long Cut Cape

Lay it out on your work table and line all the cuts up. Start sewing where you would have stopped cutting down the back of the neck. Sew all the way down tie it off Now it's a normal short Y incision. I get several like this a year. Presewing makes it easier for me.

Don

 

When I do as countrycrutter suggested, I sew from the skin side. The cape is laid out in a tube with the hair side in and I sew from the bottom to were I want the Y to start. You could also start at the Y end and work your way down too. I have done both and prefer to start from the bottom and work up to the Y end.

 

I do the same. I temporarily stitch the cape at the bottom of the V. Then, I invert, skin side out, hang it by its nose, and begin stitching about 6 inches down. I use a whip stitch, and lock it at 6” intervals. I can do one in just a few minutes.

 

There is an explanation for cutting all the way down the back. In the field, it is much easier and therefore much faster. I usually get my deer 3 to 6 miles into a walk in unit. Usually in a deep canyon, so speed and ease for boning it out is what is needed and splitting it all the way is a plus in the field. Especially when no trees to hang it are near by.
A 6 to 12 mile round trip to and from the area and at least a mile or two hunting it is taxing, so every little bit of ease then is worth the little bit of inconvenience later.

 

IMHO, and this pertains to commercial taxidermy, and from 35+ years of taxidermy....
We split all our hides down the back. The whole process is faster, from skinning, fleshing, fitting to the form. The small amount of time saved in the not sewing a seam is massively consumed and then some, in keeping the short Y incision.

For competition and really short haired early season, then a short Y is nice.

 

So much easier to just sew it after it's on the form starting from the antlers down. Everything lines up that way. I dont know why people think it has to be together to put it on the mannikin. I did them all that way and you would be hard pressed to notice a seam.