The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1908-11-05

Scissors must never be used to cut

~ hSNNl pC uocu u cut
fur. Either a very sharp-pointed knife
or a razor is employed in doing the
work and all incisions are made from
the pelt side.
Draw lines with chalk, indicating
the parts that are to be cut away.
Then, while holding the garment in
the hand, draw the knife or razor along
these lines. By SO doing you will
avoid cutting the hairs. which would
necessarily be the case If the skins
were laid on a hard surface.
The same-sized pieces as the ones
just cut are marked off with chalk
on the new pelt, to be used in repair.
ing. This is done by laying the one
Oh top OF the other, the fur of the old
piece and the pelt Of the new piece
coming together, then draw a line
along the edges. The skin is held in
the hands and cut as stated.
Before the new skins are even mark
ed, it must be ascertained whether the
hair runs in the same direction as
the piece just cut from the garment,
because should it not, the result would
be fatal.
Lay The pieces cut, with the pelt
side against the fur Of the new skin
and III your hand of the hair and
see whether the hair of both pieces
move around until they do.
To be sure and get the old piece
laid in exactly the right position on
the back of the new skin, run pins
through the pelt along the edge or
the piece and let these remain until
after the skin has been marked with
chalk.
1t cannot be too forcibly impressed
upon II @ amateur that the fur of one
piece and pelt Of another must al
ways be kept together while marking
the piece to be used for repairs, be-
cause should by chance the two pelts
or the W fur sides be placed together,
it would, when placed in the gar
ment, make the hair run in exactly
the opposite direction from that
around it and the piece would be
worthless.
The pieces now being ready to set
in, the two edges of the pelt are held
together as you would pieces of cloth
when ~overseaming them together. The
stitches must not be taken to closely.
The inner seam should first be sew
ed and then those that lead to the
edge Of the front or seam Of the
sleeve. BY so doing an extra width
will be brought where it can be cut
off or turned in and will not show.
The sewing is done with needles
which come specially for use on skins.
They are inexpensive and can be
bought at the notion counters Of any
department store. The points are
pelt much more easily than do the
ordinary needles and they are less
likely to tear it.
Heavy cotton is used for the sew
ing, either black or white, accord
ing to the color of the skin. 1t is
threaded through the needle double
and rubbed with bees wax, which
makes 1t much stronger and less like.
ly to give away.
After the adOnc hoVa hnnn p.s
scanned together one way, to insure
strength, the are again over-seamed
in exactly the opposite direction. This
gives a cross-stitch effect. BY looking
at the seams already sewed, one can
gain some idea of how to go about it.
When finished, the two pieces should
be pulled apart, so as to fiatten out
the seams, but this operation must be
carefully done and the skin not jerk.
ed, or the edges will tear. The end
of a thimble car be rubbed over the
stitches on the pelt side, in order to
help fiatten the seams, but this must
be done with care, and the fur must
not be laid on a hard surface while
doing II, or it will be marked.
When the repairs have all been made
lay the pelt on a smooth table and
give the skin a good brushing, with
a soft bristle brush. This will blend
the hairs of both pelts and remove all
loose ones.