Uncle Jim’s Deerskin Wallet

My first wallet was unique because it was handmade by Mother who sewed it from the softest deerskin given to her by my Uncle Jim.

A successful hunting trip by Uncle Jim yielded enough tanned leather for Mother to create single-compartment zippered wallets for us. I wish I could say I recalled feeling sorry for the deer bagged by Uncle Jim, but I didn’t.

I loved my new wallet. How super soft my little wallet was to the touch, how nice it was to safely retrieve nickels, dimes or a quarter when I paid to see the latest movie at the Avon or Stamford theaters. I didn’t need to dig in my dungarees or worst yet, search the sidewalk cracks for dropped coins. My coins were snugly zipped into my treasured wallet.

Mother cut two rectangles of deerskin, stitched them together smooth-side out, with a zipper for closure, on her Singer Featherweight sewing machine. I loved the golden-tan color of my special wallet and having a secure place to keep my coins and perhaps even a couple of dollar bills.

My deerskin pouch, soft as suede, lasted for a long time. No photograph exists of my first wallet however I am grateful for the gift of the leather from Uncle Jim to Mother who put her creative energies into creating the softest deerskin wallets for us.

© Faith R. Connors 2022 All Rights Reserved

To be continued:  Sweet Sixteen continued to save 100% of her earnings – but what did she have in mind?