FUR, MATERIALS, AND TUTORIALS: A LIST FOR NEW FURSUIT MAKERS

[furryraffic]

I will forget about paper mache then, those links that you posted will be very useful ^_^ Tank you

 

[Deo]

no, paper mache; ok than I will forget about that then. Those links that you posted will be very useful ^_^ This person on youtube used paper mache and said it worked good but, I will no longer use paper mache. Thank you

NEVER LISTEN TO THE FURRIES ON YOUTUBE.
Ususually they are all 11 year old children hacking shit together with glue and paper plates. Don't learn from them, learn from experienced makers.

 

[excallyVapy]

Neither aspirant has anything like the outlandish stature or participation

koniecznie zobacz DOMINIQUE STRAUSS-KAHN’S apprehension in May on charges of attempted rapine and libidinous badger dealt such a insensible that French statecraft went into a magnificence of suspended animation. This week, delight with so, the countdown to the 2012 presidential unequalled seemed to overtax because of real. Two contenders proffer in their names profit of the Socialist nomination. France got a inimitable resources stocking, after Christine Lagarde was picked to take the instruction of Mr Strauss-Kahn as IMF boss. And President Nicolas Sarkozy launched a fault-finding ask for to rebuild France.

 

[nereza]

the list is acutely pretty good only thing i add to the materials list you need is a electric shaver/clippers and exacto knife

 

[Jaeli]

Two things: I used to work at Fabric Depot. Sign up for the mailing list via email. You get coupons. 40% off one item (including a piece of fabric) per week of the flyer. if you find your fabrics there, it's an excellent way to save a little cash.

Also... (without going through all the links on making suits... yet) do folks make an undersuit... much like thermals, but you can get wickaway fabric through (occasionally) Fabric Depot, and make your own... another resource that's completely awesome and has TONS of wickaway fabrics is Rose City Textiles [ http://stores.rctfabrics.com/StoreFront.bok ]. They're local to me, so I can always just run up there, but they do a lot of internet ordering. They have a wholesale side as well as a retail side. If you make (and this is something I'm thinking of doing) undergarments of wickaway, it helps with the breathability of the suit. You won't be pouring sweat, as the fabric pulls it away from your skin. (I'm already a costumer in other things, so fabric is my thing).

Just a couple things to maybe let folks know about...
Back to lurking
~Jaeli

 

[Deo]

Two things: I used to work at Fabric Depot. Sign up for the mailing list via email. You get coupons. 40% off one item (including a piece of fabric) per week of the flyer. if you find your fabrics there, it's an excellent way to save a little cash.

Also... (without going through all the links on making suits... yet) do folks make an undersuit... much like thermals, but you can get wickaway fabric through (occasionally) Fabric Depot, and make your own... another resource that's completely awesome and has TONS of wickaway fabrics is Rose City Textiles [ http://stores.rctfabrics.com/StoreFront.bok ]. They're local to me, so I can always just run up there, but they do a lot of internet ordering. They have a wholesale side as well as a retail side. If you make (and this is something I'm thinking of doing) undergarments of wickaway, it helps with the breathability of the suit. You won't be pouring sweat, as the fabric pulls it away from your skin. (I'm already a costumer in other things, so fabric is my thing).

Just a couple things to maybe let folks know about...
Back to lurking
~Jaeli

Undersuits are common. I personally wear UnderArmor Heat Wear shorts and shirts, which do wonders, but some people buy full lycra wick away dive skins and such. Compartments for fans are also sometimes added to heads and such.

And news of sales travels fast in this community. If you watch the LJ Fursuit group the furs who work for Hancock's, JoAnnes, DF, and other places and are on their mailing lists will post about foam and fur sales, ads, and special deal codes.

 

[Moony]

Are there any store names you could give me that sell Buckram? I've been trying to find some for a while now, but all I've found are online places that require you to buy at least by 1 yard of it, whereas I only need a very tiny amount of it (About 1 foot by 1 foot sheet)

Is this possible?

 

[Deo]

Are there any store names you could give me that sell Buckram? I've been trying to find some for a while now, but all I've found are online places that require you to buy at least by 1 yard of it, whereas I only need a very tiny amount of it (About 1 foot by 1 foot sheet)

Is this possible?

Most fabric stores carry it. So if you have a local fabric store, go there.

 

[Trpdwarf]

Are there any store names you could give me that sell Buckram? I've been trying to find some for a while now, but all I've found are online places that require you to buy at least by 1 yard of it, whereas I only need a very tiny amount of it (About 1 foot by 1 foot sheet)

Is this possible?

Also try large craft stores that carry a variety of items.

 

[Unca]

Please add "Mary Jo's Cloth Store" to the list. They are not a chain and only have one location, I don't think they ship but the selection is great. They are considered the Mecca of fabric in North and South Carolina, people come from all around to shop there. I just got back from fur shopping, they have a wall or fur on rolls, solids of every color and more patterns than you can shake a stick at. I would say they have over 60 different furs, they are not all suit quality but they have some NICE stuff, I got two yards of white 1.5" fur, very soft, flexible backing, all in all great fur for $14.99/YRD. Yea that's right $14.99 a yard for top quality fur, it you want to go extra cheep and quality is not that big of a concern they have fur from $9.00/YRD also.

Here is the website, not that great of a site but easily one of the best stores I have ever been to.
http://maryjos.com/default.aspx

Unca

 

[Tati]

WHat would be the best foam for heads.

 

[Unca]

WHat would be the best foam for heads.

Almost anything but most people use standard upholstery foam, it is light weight, easy to work, and breaths about as good as you can hope for.

Unca

 

[Inashne117]

I've actually got a question about making foot paws. Would it be better to go get a pair of slip on/off shoes for a base or could I make do with an old pair of skate shoes?

 

[Blessed Wolfie]

Looking at what not to use, specifically the aerosol part...so should I just hot glue seams on the fur and not add spray adhesive to make the fur stick better? I never even thought about residual fumes from it...

 

[Inashne117]

Looking at what not to use, specifically the aerosol part...so should I just hot glue seams on the fur and not add spray adhesive to make the fur stick better? I never even thought about residual fumes from it...

Its much better and cheaper to just sew them together. There are however some washable fabric glues that are sold in arts and crafts stores.

 

[Blessed Wolfie]

Probably going to hot glue them, because I know that if I try to sew it, I will get frustrated. Not a project I want to get frustrated on. I will most likely sew a few bits though, just for reinforcement. But no spray adhesive. Got it.

 

[Htedomsa]

I'd like to add on to this that you don't want to be working on a costume into the wee hours of the morning. Zeke and I employ a two rules when we make costumes.
1: Know yourself, observe yourself. If you start out lets say around 6 in the afternoon, and push on to midnight pay attention to your focus. Once you start working you learn what your time allowance. Eventually you need to stop for the day, rest, and hit it later. We do that by judging mistakes. Lets say we are sewing, and something goes on wrong because the focus was not there. We un-do and redo. After three strikes we call it quits. That gave us the ability to figure how long is long enough.

All people should keep this in mind. You can burn yourself out and make too many mistakes if work on it too long without good breaks and good rest.

This is some great advice that I would apply all across the arts. Since my mate and I are just getting into fursuit construction and trying to learn as much as possible first, this is helpful as anything. It can be way to easy to get distracted especially when it is something you are excited about.

 

[Translord]

Oh god, some of those "don'ts" made me want to cry. Why would someone even try to sell those? Good gracious!

 

[Kahoku]

Deo,

You might want to add the fact that fiberglass has a god awful smell to it as well. So if anyone was trying to use it in private, probably not the best option the smell gets everywhere. ( I have used it in the past, not friendly material )

 

[ScaredToBreathe]

Aww, but I was just going to staple my old shag rug to myself.
..
...
....or not.

Actually though, this is an extremely helpful compilation, thanks!

 

[swiftpaws]

I wanna know if a plush like fur is ok for a partial cause I can't find any purple fur D: only in fabric.com which the plush fur is 4.98 which is cheap (its on sale) please answer today thank you

 

[Earth Rio]

Just out of curiosity, do you know of any stores in Northern Ireland that sell upholstery foam? I've been looking, and can't find any. If you know, then thanks! If not, then I don't mind.

 

[Bluetip]

Man, I really wish there were more places for fur within Canada. Right now I'm figuring out if I can get some off of Etsy, but other than that, it's scarce where I am >__<

 

[ZZ_Cat]

*Fiberglass (For most people this is not a viable option unless you are a professional with the material. That said it's not efficient, tends to be heavy and there is better stuff to use).

Hey, ya mentioned about FiberGlass (...And yea, it's heavy shit alright). I've been thinkin' of doin' my fursuit's base material out of Carbon Fiber (Obvious reasons: light-weight, strong as hell, easy to form etc.) and cover 95% of it with faux-fur.

I figured to bring this up here and get all your thoughts on my decision.

PS: I have plenty of access to BOTHE Carbon Fiber AND Fiberglass as I build unmanned helicopters outta the stuff in my spare-time.

 

[Kirodragoon]

The link to the video for the Follow Me eyes seems to go to a private video ._.