them to
rectangular shape, taking care to get the darker line down the back in
the center of each. A good way is to cut a piece of cardboard to the
required size and mark around it. Gaps in front of and behind the legs
may be filled by sewing in small pieces rather than cut down the skins
too much. The drawing shows coon skin marked to cut for robe. The skin
is poorly stretched yet there are many even worse, altho trappers are
learning to handle the skins in better shape.

[Illustration: COON MARKED TO CUT FOR ROBE]

After the necessary number of skins are cut out they are sewed together
in rows and the rows in turn sewed to each other like a patchwork quilt,
taking care to have the fur all run the same way. The robe should now be
dampened again and stretched and tacked to its full extent to remove any
wrinkles and flatten the seams. This sewing is all done from the back of
the robe using an even over-hand stitch. Just before the final
stretching it is well to apply arsenical solution to the damp skins.

On drying it is ready for the trimming and lining. Sometimes it is
necessary to turn over the upper edge of the skins and baste it down or
it may show the raw edge of the hides on account of the fur laying all
one way.

Strips of felt 3 in. wide, pinked on one edge are used for trimming, and
may be had from the dealers, ready to use, or we can buy the felt by the
yard and easily pink it in the work room. Any one doing much robe work
would find a pinking machine (price about $5.00) a good investment, but
the small hand iron does just as good work.

[Illustration: STRONG HIDE (CATTLE) LAP ROBE.]

A double border of contrasting colors may be used, the upper strip of
which should be 3/4 inch narrower. The border is sewed on from the back
with heavy thread, using the same stitch as that for the lining rugs. An
interlining of cotton wadding is basted in place before the lining is
sewed on. Plush or beaver cloth is to be had in 54 and 60 inch widths
and a variety of colors, of which the darker greens, browns, and blacks
are to be preferred.

Fur robes are usually 48x60; 54x66; 60x70; or 60x84 inches in size, so
linings of the above widths cut without waste.

Single cattle or horse hides may be left with the edges merely
straightened or they may be cut and pieced to regular robe shape. The
bushy tails of such animals as wolf or fox are sometimes used along one
side or both ends as a fringe.

The number of skins requ