Sheepskin - what do I need?

[Clara]

So the little fluffy lambikins has got about 3 weeks before she becomes lunch... I'd like to keep the fleece for the little babe that's on the way but don't know what I need or where I can get it and what I should do with it.

We attempted it before with a goat skin with "something" that my neighbour gave us (he's supposed to be a leather worker), but it ended up rotting and stinking the place out That was such a waste.

If anyone can give me an idiot's guide, preferably with quantities needed then I'd be really grateful. And if anyone out there actually does this stuff regularly and wants to swap me a "tan your hide" kit for anything then please please get in touch.

Clara x

[Ellendra]

I posted a tutorial in this thread: http://www.selfsufficientish.com/forum/ ... hlight=tan

Just skip the part about removing the hair.

[Clara]

Thank you for that, very interesting and definitely something for the future. Unfortunately lamb is due for slaughter before the end of the fire ban so it can't be smokecured - any other ideas?

[Ellendra]

If you skip the smoke curing it won't be washable, but it would still be soft. Or, you can just scrape the flesh and fat off, then stretch it in a frame to dry, once dry it will keep for a long time as long as its stored where rodents can't get to it.

There are other ways to tan hides, but this is the only one I'm personally familiar with.