Bark-Tanned Sheepskin Hat with Bead Embroidery

Bark-Tanned Sheepskin Hat with Bead Embroidery with Laura Berlage

Hold your head high in style with this combo sheepskin leatherworking and stash-busting hat-making class. Work with beautiful, naturally bark-tanned shearling sheepskin from the instructor’s farm, combined with an invitation to play with decorative millinery techniques such as bead embroidery, plaiting, and feather accents. Express your individuality by raiding your stash (or local shops and thrift stores) for beads, yarn, and embellishments to create a piece that is totally unique and yours. Beginner friendly, while being engaging for all skill levels.

Finished hat

An exciting attribute of this class is the sourcing network of the beautiful items that will arrive in your kit. Two, small-scale woman-owned operations from rural Wisconsin make each of the elements possible—Laura’s farm that raises the sheep and a natural tannery that turns the hides into leather. Savor this multi-faceted course infused with cozy stories and warm heads for years to come.

This small group class is presented in collaboration with John C. Campbell Folk School and Lessonface. Participants should enroll at least two weeks before start to ensure materials kits arrive in time. If registering after this point, your kit may arrive after the first session. Students are invited to attend an optional Orientation and Closing Ceremony to connect with various online Folk School classes.

Class Materials

Your class registration fee includes a materials kit with a value of $125 shipped to your door. Residents outside the USA will pay the difference in shipping.

The kit includes:
• Bark tanned shearling sheepskin pre-cut pieces for the hat. (Please choose between white or gray wool).
• Glover’s needles and faux sinew for stitching
• Obenauf’s Heavy Duty Leather Preservative (oil and beeswax product)
• Feathers from the instructor’s poultry.
• PDF of photo essay for additional instructions.
Finished hats in pictures shown in gray, sheepskin pieces shown in white option.

Students will also want to provide:
• Thread scissors
• Fabric scissors
• Supple thimble (optional, band aids work well too!)
• Beeswax bar or candle
• Craft felt, wool felt, washed wool fabric, pellon, etc. (fabrics that do not fray) in a harmonious color to your beads. One piece we will bead onto, and one piece will back the design. Backing material can be as small as the size of your hand spread out for the beading fabric, even less needed for the backing.
• Beads—literally anything you would like to try on your project that you can get a thread through. Choose one larger bead or button as your center for the design.
• Sharp beading needle, or needle with an eye small enough to fit through your beads.
• Thread of your choice—I’ve used nylon beading thread, silk beading or sewing thread, or even regular sewing thread. If you have thread in a color that is harmonious with your beads, this is nice but not mandatory.
• If you are using nylon thread, you will want to have a way to melt your starting and stopping knots (set of matches or a lighter works), so they do not unravel.
• Sharpie or marking pen.
• Size G crochet hook.
• Yarns of your choice in colors harmonious with your beads.