How to Make a Pair of Pants Out of Deer Skin
- 1). Pick a style for the deerskin pants that suits you. If you are tall and slender you might want to go for flared legs. If you have a full figure, straight legs are a better choice.
- 2). Make decisions about whether you want pockets. Instead of a zipper, you can go for a leather thong that ties like Thai fishermen trousers. Another option is a thin leather thong, threaded through holes that you can pull together like the laces in a shoe.
- 3). Measure your waist, hips and waist-to-floor pant length. Compare these measurements with the pattern to make sure it is the right size. Very few people are exactly the measurements of a particular size and you don't want to run the risk of cutting the deerskin too small.
- 4). Tape the pattern to the deerskin, rather than using pins. The deerskin is thick and you don't want to put holes in it.
- 5). Trace around the pattern pieces with dressmaker's chalk. Be generous so that you get a seam allowance as well. Carefully cut the pieces with strong, sharp scissors to get a clean finish. Scissors that are dull or weak will leave a frayed-looking cut.
- 6). Use thick needles and an industrial sewing machine. Deerskin is a touch fabric and is too heavy for most household sewing machines. Sew slowly and carefully so the deerskin doesn't bunch up.
- 7). Sew the pieces of deerskin together with the good sides of the skin facing in. Turn the waistband inside out to sew and then right-side-out to attach to the pants.
- 8). Line the pockets with fabric, rather than deerskin for a leaner look. Also line the deerskin pants from the waist to the knees. The lining helps them hang properly and keeps your skin from perspiring onto the deerskin.
- 9). Skip the hem. Deerskin looks best if it is left hanging, rather than tucked up and sewn.
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