Name: Fur Sewing Skills & Can Cooler Class - In Person 1 Day Long
SKU: 1019049

Instructor: Rebecca Darling

Location: Harsens Island Lions Hall, Michigan USA

Dates: April 26th OR 27th 2025 (One day long class) 10am-5pm

Course Fee: $175 USD (cancelations or no-shows are non-refundable unless we are able to backfill your spot)

***Small class size 8 participants max***

Join me for a day of learning fur sewing basics! While we make fur can coolers, I'll walk you through the process of repairing holes in pelts, stretching and blocking pelts, proper method for cutting pelts using a furrier knife, pattern layout, as well as how to hand sew your can cooler.

The can coolers will be constructed by hand sewing but I will have my Techsew 202 fur sewing machine on site for demonstration and participant practice.

Pack a lunch or visit the local restaurant or convenience store during our lunch breaks. Fridge and microwave available at the Lions Hall.

Please wear sturdy close toe shoes.

Classes will be held at Lions Hall on Harsens Island. While you're here, why not tour the island and see what it has to offer? Your class will be held just one block from the St. Clair River, where you can enjoy lunch and watch the freighters travel down the river. Just two blocks from class is Sans Souci- a small piece of island life in the form of “downtown” where you can find food, coffee, and a gift shop to buy souvenirs for your trip. Walk off lunch and take in the Island’s history with a walk around the museum or library.

Dig a little deeper into the Harsens Island State Wildlife Area, where you can wander the 3,500 acres, full of bird watching and shore fishing for panfish (open for walking January 2- August 31). Staying a few extra days? Bring your boat and take advantage of the water. The St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair are home to world class bass, muskie and walleye fishing. Water not for you? Take a scenic drive to “The Turnaround,” where you can see across Lake St Clair. If you catch a clear day, you can see the outline of the Renaissance Center in Detroit! Come for the class, and stay for the beauty of Harsens Island!

Harsens Island is ferry access only (car ferry). I will provide each participant with 1 ferry ticket, good for 1 round trip. Tickets will be mailed prior to the course. After that it is $15 cash (they don't take cards). During the day the ferry runs as needed, you usually only have to wait 5-10 minutes for the ferry, and the ride is about 2 minutes. Overnight the ferry runs every 30 minutes from midnight-6am.

For lodging there are a handful of AirBNB/ VRBO rentals on Harsens Island at a variety of price points. Basically anything on the island would put you within a 10-15 minute drive to the Lions Hall, where the class is taking place. If you want to stay off the island, there are also AirBNB/VRBO rentals in Algonac which is right across the river. There is a very nice boutique hotel in Marine City (Inn on Water Street), as well as a couple motels close to the ferry (Colony Motel, and Anchor Inn Lodge). Those all put you within 20-30 minutes drive to the Lions Hall. A bit further out, you'll find some chain hotels right off I-94 & M59 in Chesterfield. Those will be about 45 minutes from the Island. Algonac State Park is located 7 miles from the island and is a great option if you want to camp for the weekend!

Email me if you have any questions about the course!

Rebecca Darling