Alaska Chicken Lover's Soup for the Cold!!

[EHaus]

That's not cool! Or right, to take advantage of people and animals like that.

I don't know how hard or easy it is to get seal hide or otter. What I'm looking for is a trapper style hat with seal on the outside and otter on the ruff/inside, I guess. I've never had a fur anything, except on an Army parka...it had coyote trim on the hood and it was issued, not bought.
This is my gift for myself for finishing school, getting licensed, getting a job, etc. When I mentioned it, DH thought it was The Best Idea Ever. How sweet!
Thanks for the advice, you guys.

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

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Unfortunately, that guy is on my poop list for not wanting to "mess with" rabbits or poultry, even though myself and my prospective customers are willing to pay a good price and bring in good minimum numbers to make it worth their while.

 

[MrsDeb]

Ehaus,

I have a spotted seal and beaver hat myself. I can tell you that you wont want fur on the "inside" of your hat. The oils from
your head deteriorate the fur inside. That is why most hats are made with a fabric of some sort on the inside instead of fur. The ruff and sides of the hat are fine
because they don't come in constant contact with the oils on your skin.
I know that most folks who deal with seal and sea otter are native folks because of all the rules and regulations. Technically a white person can not be in
possession of these animals/skins without them having already been made into a handicraft of some sort. One of our really good friends is F&G and also native, I don't know
how many times I have begged him to sell me some hides, even if it just meant he draws on the back of them, but he refuses because of all the federal laws pertaining to them and has offered to make me a new hat so that I can
preserve my current hat.

 

[Wolfwoman]

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Well if you're not native, you're not going to get a seal hat except from a native, and it has to be made by them for you. And you really don't want fur on the inside if you're having fur on the entire outside, you'll never wear it unless it gets to 40below for many days! WAY WAY too hot. Lining should be quilting or fleece.

Otter is easy, there's lots of them, unless you're talking about sea otter and that is the same as seal.

There is no 'ruff' on a trapper hat... check my website and some of the styles

Here's an all fur trapper hat with a tail....

And here's a regular trapper hat....

 

[Wolfwoman]

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Absolutely correct. NOW, one thing that I can do and I was told this by a F&G officer that used to come by the store, he wanted me to make him a hat from sea otter. What has to happen is that he, being a native and legally in possession of the hide, had to know the exact amount of fur needed for me to make the hat, and then I can make it. He would only bring me a piece of the hide enough to make the hat.

Personally, I just don't deal with it because something would happen or go wrong...lol

 

[EHaus]

Wow, sounds like a hassle! What is the main difference between sea otter and river otter as far as the fur goes?
I guess the fur on the inside issue is the same as goes for slippers...too hot.
I like that trapper style, but with something else instead of leather. Like a short fur on the head, and a longer fur trim. That's what was so appealing about the seal/otter combination.

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

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If you REALLY want seal/sea otter and want to obtain it legally, all you have to do is sit at the Polar Bar long enough and someone will come in trying to sell a really nice item. I don't fully understand that slant at marketing...but I have acquired quite a few really nice ivory pieces that way! I guess they know we're more likely to buy once we're all buttered up. I always had to pass over the furs because I didn't have quite THAT much cash on me!

But really, I would go with Bonnie. I like the idea of using beautiful tapestry fabrics for the non-fur bits. Oooh, a nice grey tapestry with jewel tone embroidery and a soft gray caribou or wolf trim, maybe some matching crystal beads on the strings that tie it up...what do you call the Russian style trapper hats, Bonnie? I like those. I found one in a thrift store when I was younger and used to wear it to punk rock shows in Memphis. Geez, who WAS that person?!

 

[MrsDeb]

Sheared Beaver and River Otter are REALLY pretty together too.....and something else you might check into and a much cheaper fur is the muskrat.

River Otter and Sea Otter are essentially the same animal, River Otters swim face down, where as Sea Otters swim belly up spending most their lives
at Sea. Where the river otter is more adapted to travel on land. Sea otters are a bit larger and there are other small differences. River otter is legal for us to own, trap etc.....

 

[Wolfwoman]

It is, that's why I just don't deal with it...lol

Sea otter is a denser and a little bit longer fur, but river otter is very warm also.

I can make a hat with otter on the outer part of the hat where the leather is, and then beaver where the earflaps and front piece go. There's lots more options than that too... any fur that's legal for me! LOL And most are, it's mainly marine mammals and polar bears that I can't do.

Rachel, you're right. I actually have a sea otter and beaver hat made by Mary John, sister to Katie John, the subsistence rights fighter!

Those are Bomber or Trooper hats and I used to make them, but I don't care for them... I prefer to go with the Alaskan Trapper hats. I am in the process of making a batch of Pixie hats with various fabrics. Fur really does go well with fabric, but to make it tough and very wearable for outside WORK, I like leather.

 

[Wolfwoman]

Deb, sheared beaver is heavenly and softer than rabbit!! lol Muskrat is nice, but a thinner hide and can tear with rough use. Nutria is similar to beaver, but a little less send. Australian possum is VERY nice too.... so many furs, so little time!!