So, while at FWA, I took a panel on how to make handpaws. The first was hand-sewn. It was my first time ever sewing anything, so it took me a while to learn what to do and how to do it. But after a few minutes, I got the hang of it well enough. It took me a couple hours to sew the first one ... and my eyes didn't work right the rest of the night. I didn't exactly get in a hurry to finish the second one.

Well, I had a sewing machine sitting around here collecting dust, so I dug it out of storage, cleaned it up, replaced the missing foot-control (probably how I ended up with it in the first place), got some needles, downloaded the owners manual, rummaged around and found some other necessities (thread, bobbins, and a needle-threader - man, those things are a life-saver), and figured out how to work the thing. A few mistakes and about half-an-hour of practice later, I felt confident enough to try the second paw.

Now, I had read where a "walking foot" is almost a necessity to sew fur, and I plan to get one soon enough, but for this project, I was in no mood to wait. I probably spent an hour sewing it together at a leisurely pace. It fit slightly more snugly than the hand-sewn one, but so far I am reasonably pleased with the results.

So, what y'all think? Time to move on to (trying to) make my first 'suit? Or, don't give up my day job? Feel free to answer in the shouts.