These rabbit skins are dyed in Spain using a mix of first and second grade (or what we call our Better grade) skins. For years we have called these craft grade skins because we originally bought a third grade skin. However, the tannery has only offered first and second grade dyed skins and we are dropping the "craft" name for these skins. They tend to be quite nice and are suitable for selling as a novelty item or for use in making items. Overall, they are great value for the money!
These rabbit skins are chrome tanned.
These rabbit skins have been dyed in Spain.
We do not control for size in this grade. Some of the rabbit skins will be larger than average and some smaller.
To give you a good idea of what to expect, we have used the Better Grade Rabbit Skins as our benchmark for the size of a "typical" rabbit skin.
We measured three individual Better Grade Rabbit Skins at random to get an approximate size for this grade. Because the rabbit skins are not a true rectangle, we provide two measurements for each Better Grade Rabbit Skin: the maximum dimensions and the minimum useable dimensions.
The first Better Grade rabbit skin was 11" by 17" for the maximum dimensions and 9" by 14" for the minimum.
The second Better Grade rabbit skin was 13" by 16" maximum and 9" by 12" minimum.
The third Better Grade rabbit skin was 12" by 18" maximum and 11" by 12" minimum.
The sizes may vary somewhat, but this will give you a good idea of what to expect.
Do not dry clean
Do not dry clean the rabbit skins as the dry cleaning process will remove the natural oils from the rabbit skin. For Washing Instructions and Eucalan™ Wool Wash.
Why Do Rabbit Skins Often Have Yellow Edges?
The white rabbit skins in particular often turn yellow on the edges over time. It is common for many people to believe that these are urine stains from when the rabbits were in the cage. The real problem is that fat on the rabbit skins runs when the rabbit skins get warm or are stored too long. If the rabbit skins are fresh, they are usually snowy white - even in summer. It is only after the rabbit skins have been sitting in a hot warehouse for months, if not years, that the rabbit skins yellow.
All of the rabbits that we get from our preferred tannery in Spain are fresh goods. The rabbit skins have usually been tanned only weeks before they are sent to us on our monthly shipment. In general, our rabbit skins will be some of the whitest ones available.
We are the rabbit skin experts! We have been importing rabbit skins since 1996 and receive frequent shipments from overseas. According to U.S. Department of Commerce statistics, we are one of the largest importers of tanned rabbit skins in the United States. We sell to distributors, craft supply companies, gift shops, trading posts, clipper sharpening firms, manufacturers, designers, and crafts people.
We have dealt with a number of tanneries in 8 countries and now work closely with a tannery that is more concerned with quality than simply volume. The rabbit skins from this tannery are washed three times instead of two as is common at most tanneries and are alum tanned instead of using the more conventional chrome tanning process. This special preparation makes the rabbit skins softer and more supple to work with. The regular rabbit skins (not the females) tend to have thinner skin than some skins from eastern Europe. The thinner skins are easier to work with when sewing garments.
We are also interested in growing our business and know that if we ship you what you expect, you will re-order from us. We know what is in the market and are appalled at what some people charge for low quality rabbit skins. Compare our rabbit skins to those of others. We think you will be surprised.
A Note On Odor
Please note that the dyed rabbits skins do have a chemical odor as a result of being dyed. They may also have a mothball odor as well because we have to prevent bugs from getting into the rabbit skins. You can reduce this odor by either airing the rabbit skins out or by tumbling the rabbit skins in a dryer with a dryer sheet on very low heat for no more than five minutes. Any more than this will shrink the rabbit skins and you will no longer have the option to return them if unsatisfied. If you're worried that the rabbits skins may leave an odor in your dryer, we suggest you use a public laundromat.
Where Do the Rabbit Skins Come From?
In many parts of Europe and Latin America, the people there eat rabbits the way we eat chickens in North America. The skins are a by-product of the food-processing industry. The rabbits are raised for meat, not for their skins.
International Shipping
The domesticated rabbit skins can be exported without obtaining an export permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Transit times by air mail are usually 3-10 business days by regular air mail, not including customs delays. If the shipment is sent by surface (sea), the transit time jumps to 4-6 weeks.