If you don’t have a lot of yard space, you could try making leather in your garage.

Rabbit hides are pretty thin, and a bit trickier to prepare.

Try to find a fleshing knife with a handle on each end of the blade. This will make it a lot easier to use.

Tree bark is naturally high in tannins—these are molecules that help protect your leather and keep it from breaking down. [6] X Research source

If you don’t have a wool sock, feel free to use a sponge instead.

You don’t have to soak the skin if you don’t want to. However, make sure your hide isn’t completely dry when you start scraping off the flesh. [9] X Research source

The hydrated lime mixture helps loosen the hair, so it’s much easier to slide off your hide.

You don’t need a specific knife for this—any blade with a flat, dull edge will work.

If you don’t have any lactic acid, use 1 US pt (0. 47 L) of vinegar instead.

Some expert tanners prepare their mixture over an outdoor fire pit. If you don’t have access to a fire pit, boil the mixture on your stovetop, instead. [20] X Research source

Experts don’t suggest a specific time frame for this. However, try doing this about 3-5 days after you first start soaking the hide.

For instance, a deer hide could take up to 6 months to tan completely. This may seem time-consuming, but it’s a really important part of the process. Since leather is essentially the skin of a living animal, tanning prevents this skin from breaking down and rotting. [26] X Research source

Experts recommend working the leather as the hide dries out, instead of working the hide when it’s totally dry. [30] X Research source

If you don’t have leather conditioner on hand, feel free to make your own! Just mix 1 part beeswax, 1 part cocoa butter, and 2 parts sweet almond oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Once all the ingredients melt, move the saucepan off the burner, letting it cool for 30 to 40 minutes. Then, rub the cooled wax mixture all over your leather, and then buff it down with a clean cloth. [32] X Research source You can also make leather conditioner with natural baby soap. Simply fill a large bucket or basin with 1 US qt (0. 95 L) of warm water. Then, stir in 2-3 drops of vinegar, along with 1 US tbsp (15 mL) of natural baby soap. Then, dip a clean cloth into the mixture and rub it all over the leather. You can also use melatonin wax to soften your leather.