Who is this course for?

Is your first braintan buckskin still sitting whole on an altar or stuffed somewhere in a storage box for years? Are you interested in making life-long tailored garments made from buckskin, one of the most natural and primal materials on earth? Are you a craft-a-holic seeking to scratch another ancestral skill crafting itch? If you answered yes to any of these questions or if you are simply wanting to learn how to sew with buckskin then this four-day intensive is for you!

Your Instructors Freya and Fern

Freya is a traditional hide tanner and folk handicrafter, tending the old ways passed down through the hands of our ancestors. Her work is an offering to the earth, to the animals who give their skins, and to the timeless skills that kept our people alive and woven into the wild. Through hide, bone, fiber, and hand, Freya seeks to honour the intimacy between human and land — crafting not just objects, but living threads of connection to those who walked before us.

Fern was first taught the magical of transforming a deer skin into buckskin in 2013 by Tamara Wilder. Ever since she has been passionate about apprenticing to the skins of wild animals, learning to work with these primal natural fibres, the lessons that journey brings, and the beautiful garments that can be made through them. She is excited to bring people into more connection through the making of cloths through animal skins.

BUCKSKIN BASICS

By the end of this workshop, participants will:

• Gain a solid understanding of the particulars of how to sew with buckskin

• Understand and experience the principles of laying out garment patterns on naturally tanned hides

• Learn specific sewing techniques including sewing with thong in different stitch patterns and how to sew with natural sinew

• Develop a deeper connection to the cloths you wear, how your cloths make you feel, and to the people in the course

What To Expect:

• Three full days of hands on instruction.

• All sewing tools and materials will be provided

• Lunches are included for the course

• Dinners will be made and provided on a rotating basis by participant cook teams

• A warm cozy crafting space

• You will go home with two different small buckskin projects: a buckskin pouch and a ball cap

ADVANCED BUCKSKIN - Make your dream garment!

In this workshop participants will work on a larger garment project of their choice such as a vest, jacket, shorts, pants, hoody, dress, or skirt. Participants will be guided through the entire garment process from beginning to end which includes: creating their own unique garment design, making a draft garment from canvas, altering the draft design to final buckskin cut, and sewing their garment together. By the end of the course you may be wearing your new buckskin garment or at least know how to finish sewing it together. Participants are encouraged to prepare ahead of time enough buckskin material (see below). A limited amount of buckskins will be available to purchase if needed to complete their garment, please reach out to inquire if you will need a skin.

What To Expect:

• Five full days of hands on instruction

• How much buckskin do you need to bring? We recommend 2 medium buckskins to make shorts, shirt, or vest, 2-3 large buckskins for pants, dress, or skirt, and 3-4 buckskins for a hoody or jacket.

• All sewing tools and materials will be provided

• Lunches are included for the course

• Dinners will be made and provided on a rotating basis by participant cook teams

• A warm cozy crafting space

• You will go home with one large garment project completed or in a near completed stage

  
  What To Bring:

• Camp bedding (Sleeping bag, sleeping mat etc.)

• A bowl or plate, eating utensil and mug

• Breakfasts and beverages for all three days

• Winter clothing layers

• Whatever else you think you’ll need to be comfortable