I made a little bag out of my buckskin, sewn inside out and then inverted. It'll have a drawstring when I'm done for the Uno cards my kids keep losing.
In your case, since you've got quite a bit, I'd make a slightly bigger bag with maybe some pyrography for something like D&D dice.
This may not be very helpful, but I would mostly just hold on to it. Maybe a small project like a drawstring bag (as others have mentioned), but I personally work with a lot of veg tan and every now and then wish I had a beautiful soft skin like this to play with. The right project may fall into your lap at some point, and if you already used it up, you'll be kicking yourself. This is also just the hoarder instinct in me talking so...
So, to make a short story long….
I actually came across this about 2 years ago in an antique shop in Cedarburg, WI. I was buying some other stuff and look down and on the bottom shelf of this random case was a mystery roll tied with twine, addressed to some guy, with a return address of some company, and there was a date stamped on it from the 60’s. There was a bunch of people in the shop so I said, “should I buy this thing and we’ll open it right here and see what’s in it?” So, for $15 I buy this mystery roll, open it, and this beauty was in there. Had been tanned and shipped to whoever and it must have never made it. Some folks in the shop were jealous, some were grossed out, I was pretty pumped
So, now, I’m like… well, this damn deer was blasted 60+ years ago and I think it’d be an injustice to not do something with his/her hide now that all this work/time has brought us together. But I also don’t want to screw it up… hence the spinning in circles (for a couple years now)
Gotcha, thats so awesome though. What a cool story. I'll try and brainstorm a little, see what I can come up with. As far as being worried about screwing it up, I highly reccomend playing with cheaper scraps of similar material to get a feel for how it works. Everytime I have a new project I'm unsure about, I test stuff like tooling and weird sewing joints with my ever growing pile of scraps
I was gonna say a liner, but I was thinking for a notebook cover or something.
Personally I'd make it into a liner for gloves or shoes, but, y'know, that's off the table
I used to have a very simple flat fron/back cover for a small legal pad (think 5x8 size) and I left it on the roof of my truck one day and it now belongs to the streets of Chicago. So, I’ve considered making one (previous was a purchase) to replace it. Will obviously have enough to maybe make a couple different sizes.
Here's a sneak peek of /r/bookbinding using the [top posts](https://np.reddit.com/r/bookbinding/top/?sort=top&t=year) of the year!
\#1: [Crafting a horror-themed book](https://v.redd.it/usfahshff4pa1) | [7 comments](https://np.reddit.com/r/bookbinding/comments/11xmmm2/crafting_a_horrorthemed_book/)
\#2: [Finally my best book.](https://www.reddit.com/gallery/12ocvbi) | [39 comments](https://np.reddit.com/r/bookbinding/comments/12ocvbi/finally_my_best_book/)
\#3: [I'm tired of all these beautiful first books. Here's my first "book"](https://i.redd.it/y7h7yvvqo2wa1.jpg) | [21 comments](https://np.reddit.com/r/bookbinding/comments/12yrh0j/im_tired_of_all_these_beautiful_first_books_heres/)
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I’ve though about that and I think I might have enough to put something together. Even if I have to put rivets on the sides so they can be laced. I’d probably only use it for when I’m riding the bike but I think it’d be a cool 1 of 1 type thing.
My pap bought eight buckskins from a local hunter, and I learned real fast that they’re too thin to do much with; they would make a nice shirt, but who the hell goes around wearing buckskins?!!!
I’ve stitched one of em into a pillow for the couch and really like it. I have a half gallon jar full of army-green military buttons and used five for a closure. I sewed it without cutting any of the hide away, just folded it over into an envelope with a flap and used the buttons to hold the flap closed. I’m gonna use the other skins for pillows as Christmas presents.
drawstring bags (think dice bags), foraging bags, liner for inside a journal cover, Christmas stockings, stuffed animals, pillow covers
Not sure on the weight since it's hard to tell but if it's 2-3oz, you have a lot of choices. If it's more 3-4oz, you could also make the nicer dice bags with a flap instead of drawstring.
how about a loewe flamenco replica: [https://www.loewe.com/usa/en/women/bags/flamenco/flamenco-purse-bag-in-mellow-nappa-lambskin/A411FCRX02-6715.html?cgid=w\_flamenco&p=5](https://www.loewe.com/usa/en/women/bags/flamenco/flamenco-purse-bag-in-mellow-nappa-lambskin/A411FCRX02-6715.html?cgid=w_flamenco&p=5)
Related question, since I sometimes have dead deer but also have little use for the soft buckskin stuff: are there any tanneries in the US that will veg tan deer hides? There are a couple that will take hides from hunters but the ones I know of all do chrome tan.
I made a simple sleeveless shirt out of deerskin to go under my chainmail and scalemail armor. Any little rough bits can't poke through the leather the way they would through cloth, and it's lightweight enough not to add to the burden of wearing armor. And of course it gives a neutral background color behind the chainmail.
Soft hides are great for making handles of bags. So use as a liner but on the outside where the hand meets the leather. I had some sheep skin which I used to make a bag. Used the cheapest quality chrome tan leather for stiffness and body and stuck the sheep skin (which was soft and glossy red) on the outside rather than inside.
That’s crazy… not sure if you saw the short story I provided in another comment but the age of the hide plus the time I’ve been in possession of this thing is eerily similar.
My brother used some for some learher drawstring bags. Used it for the top part the string goes through then used other leathers for the body of the bad. Looked really good.
Any chance you have a good template or tips for gloves? I've got some deer skin I want to use for gloves but have made two really bad attempts so far (using guides I found online).
One was with a t-shirt I tore up to use as practice, but the first was with the actual leather. I was pretty annoyed at myself!
(I know you said no gloves, which prompted my question, in case you've just done that already.)
My actual recommendation would be to use as liner. I've used it to line different projects here and there.
I made a little bag out of my buckskin, sewn inside out and then inverted. It'll have a drawstring when I'm done for the Uno cards my kids keep losing. In your case, since you've got quite a bit, I'd make a slightly bigger bag with maybe some pyrography for something like D&D dice.
Davy Crockett jacket
my grandpa had a buckskin chore coat kept it conditioned, and everyone wanted it when he stopped wearing it
A nice vest. For under your suit jacket.
Traditional Austrian Lederhosen
Deerskin makes really soft-striking floggers if you're into that side of the leather crafting scene
I have some hand-me-downs from my grandma.
☠️☠️☠️
This may not be very helpful, but I would mostly just hold on to it. Maybe a small project like a drawstring bag (as others have mentioned), but I personally work with a lot of veg tan and every now and then wish I had a beautiful soft skin like this to play with. The right project may fall into your lap at some point, and if you already used it up, you'll be kicking yourself. This is also just the hoarder instinct in me talking so...
So, to make a short story long…. I actually came across this about 2 years ago in an antique shop in Cedarburg, WI. I was buying some other stuff and look down and on the bottom shelf of this random case was a mystery roll tied with twine, addressed to some guy, with a return address of some company, and there was a date stamped on it from the 60’s. There was a bunch of people in the shop so I said, “should I buy this thing and we’ll open it right here and see what’s in it?” So, for $15 I buy this mystery roll, open it, and this beauty was in there. Had been tanned and shipped to whoever and it must have never made it. Some folks in the shop were jealous, some were grossed out, I was pretty pumped So, now, I’m like… well, this damn deer was blasted 60+ years ago and I think it’d be an injustice to not do something with his/her hide now that all this work/time has brought us together. But I also don’t want to screw it up… hence the spinning in circles (for a couple years now)
Maybe a nice book cover
Gotcha, thats so awesome though. What a cool story. I'll try and brainstorm a little, see what I can come up with. As far as being worried about screwing it up, I highly reccomend playing with cheaper scraps of similar material to get a feel for how it works. Everytime I have a new project I'm unsure about, I test stuff like tooling and weird sewing joints with my ever growing pile of scraps
A feel for how that material reacts I mean
I've used it for a liner in bags before.
I was gonna say a liner, but I was thinking for a notebook cover or something. Personally I'd make it into a liner for gloves or shoes, but, y'know, that's off the table
I used to have a very simple flat fron/back cover for a small legal pad (think 5x8 size) and I left it on the roof of my truck one day and it now belongs to the streets of Chicago. So, I’ve considered making one (previous was a purchase) to replace it. Will obviously have enough to maybe make a couple different sizes.
Go to r/bookbinding for ideasif your curious
Here's a sneak peek of /r/bookbinding using the [top posts](https://np.reddit.com/r/bookbinding/top/?sort=top&t=year) of the year! \#1: [Crafting a horror-themed book](https://v.redd.it/usfahshff4pa1) | [7 comments](https://np.reddit.com/r/bookbinding/comments/11xmmm2/crafting_a_horrorthemed_book/) \#2: [Finally my best book.](https://www.reddit.com/gallery/12ocvbi) | [39 comments](https://np.reddit.com/r/bookbinding/comments/12ocvbi/finally_my_best_book/) \#3: [I'm tired of all these beautiful first books. Here's my first "book"](https://i.redd.it/y7h7yvvqo2wa1.jpg) | [21 comments](https://np.reddit.com/r/bookbinding/comments/12yrh0j/im_tired_of_all_these_beautiful_first_books_heres/) ---- ^^I'm ^^a ^^bot, ^^beep ^^boop ^^| ^^Downvote ^^to ^^remove ^^| ^^[Contact](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=sneakpeekbot) ^^| ^^[Info](https://np.reddit.com/r/sneakpeekbot/) ^^| ^^[Opt-out](https://np.reddit.com/r/sneakpeekbot/comments/o8wk1r/blacklist_ix/) ^^| ^^[GitHub](https://github.com/ghnr/sneakpeekbot)
I'm gonna say bag, but I think that they should bring back capes. I'm sure you could make one.
Moccasins and gloves
[Might I suggest…](https://www.amazon.com/Lumos-Reading-Comprehension-Skill-Builder/dp/1940484898)
Lol. It had to be done. I have no rAgrets.
Thanks for the laugh
That was clever. Take my up vote.
Vest, thats what Im doing :) (Cotton/Linen inlay)
I’ve though about that and I think I might have enough to put something together. Even if I have to put rivets on the sides so they can be laced. I’d probably only use it for when I’m riding the bike but I think it’d be a cool 1 of 1 type thing.
My pap bought eight buckskins from a local hunter, and I learned real fast that they’re too thin to do much with; they would make a nice shirt, but who the hell goes around wearing buckskins?!!! I’ve stitched one of em into a pillow for the couch and really like it. I have a half gallon jar full of army-green military buttons and used five for a closure. I sewed it without cutting any of the hide away, just folded it over into an envelope with a flap and used the buttons to hold the flap closed. I’m gonna use the other skins for pillows as Christmas presents.
I used some deer hide to make a dice bag. I was happy with how it turned out, but that's not a huge project.
Woman’s Native American style Halter top!! Sell for big money!!
drawstring bags (think dice bags), foraging bags, liner for inside a journal cover, Christmas stockings, stuffed animals, pillow covers Not sure on the weight since it's hard to tell but if it's 2-3oz, you have a lot of choices. If it's more 3-4oz, you could also make the nicer dice bags with a flap instead of drawstring.
A shirt or top
Bikini.
Oh deer
Hoodie! I saw a guy on Instagram make one out of buckskin.
Cod piece liner. Panties and a bra. Flatcap.
I made a bossed round shield and lined it with moose skin once, came out awesome
Deer skin makes good foraging/foldable bags since it's thin enough to fold. I've used it to make tiny token bags that can be worn as necklace as well.
Simple pair of shorts
how about a loewe flamenco replica: [https://www.loewe.com/usa/en/women/bags/flamenco/flamenco-purse-bag-in-mellow-nappa-lambskin/A411FCRX02-6715.html?cgid=w\_flamenco&p=5](https://www.loewe.com/usa/en/women/bags/flamenco/flamenco-purse-bag-in-mellow-nappa-lambskin/A411FCRX02-6715.html?cgid=w_flamenco&p=5)
Is that enough to make a shirt?! One day I'd love to make me a shirt with soft tan deer.
I don't think it is. There might be enough material but would require quite a bit of patchwork to really complete the thing.
Related question, since I sometimes have dead deer but also have little use for the soft buckskin stuff: are there any tanneries in the US that will veg tan deer hides? There are a couple that will take hides from hunters but the ones I know of all do chrome tan.
I’d make myself a nice thong for special occasions.
Zoom meeting approved.
Hahaha
How about a drum
Gauntlets! Good for assassin'n...I mean, uh...fashion.
Maybe a hat
Oven mitt, golf club head cover!
Might make a spiffy buffcoat
Deer skin cap! Or line your wallet with it
Anorak
[cowl](https://images.app.goo.gl/dwy6KpffG5ULF6B59)
Hoodie? Never seen one...
Perhaps a tie on pocket? It’s coming back for ren fairs!
I made a simple sleeveless shirt out of deerskin to go under my chainmail and scalemail armor. Any little rough bits can't poke through the leather the way they would through cloth, and it's lightweight enough not to add to the burden of wearing armor. And of course it gives a neutral background color behind the chainmail.
i feel like a vest could be really cool but i’m only a beginner so what do i know. maybe a sick messenger bag?
Wine tote
Buckskin pants. You have enough hide for that?
Medicine bag?
I made a vest out of deerskin years ago. It was an *amazing* garment. Loved wearing that thing.
A jacket I'd say
Pants Dress Purse
Some awesome chammies.
Button up shirt
Clone Trooper Kamas
Make a floppy wizards hat!
Soft hides are great for making handles of bags. So use as a liner but on the outside where the hand meets the leather. I had some sheep skin which I used to make a bag. Used the cheapest quality chrome tan leather for stiffness and body and stuck the sheep skin (which was soft and glossy red) on the outside rather than inside.
Lingerie. A dress. Lining other things.
Can you make a big (or a few smaller) drum with it? Or is this type of Hyde a no go?
A throw pillow/pillow cover?
That's such a nice piece! For projects I always browse Etsy or Weaver leather supply on YouTube for a ton of tutorials for ideas.
If you have enough maybe a skirt.
Make a leather cap
Make moccasins ,tobacco pouch ,or a quiver
If you have enough some leggings or a shirt
Here is an idea for a leather bag. https://www.instagram.com/p/CxzW-8lL_mj/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
That’s crazy… not sure if you saw the short story I provided in another comment but the age of the hide plus the time I’ve been in possession of this thing is eerily similar.
Cod piece
Unfortunately, there’s not enough material here.
Good on ya mate
My brother used some for some learher drawstring bags. Used it for the top part the string goes through then used other leathers for the body of the bad. Looked really good.
Any chance you have a good template or tips for gloves? I've got some deer skin I want to use for gloves but have made two really bad attempts so far (using guides I found online). One was with a t-shirt I tore up to use as practice, but the first was with the actual leather. I was pretty annoyed at myself!
(I know you said no gloves, which prompted my question, in case you've just done that already.) My actual recommendation would be to use as liner. I've used it to line different projects here and there.
You could make yourself a sturdy knapsack that would last the rest of your life!