Tips on making your own fursuits (old threads)

[Thagrahn]

I had an Idea for how to make a great set of realistic paws with claws that wouldn't take away the use of your fingers or end up with limp claws.

First of all the Tekko Kagi, or ninja claws should be made of wood so that no issues at cons, and so they can be easily painted to the right claw color. They are a weapon so treat them as such.

Next use the foam to shape the paw around the claws of the Tekko Kagi, but make sure you can still move your fingers on the underside. Your hand should mostly be hidden underneath when you hand is flat or balled into a fist, but otherwise you should still have the ability to use your fingers normally.

I'm planning on trying this myself, and will let everyone know how things pan out.

since this is based around a weapon , do try to avoid hurting others with it.

[KittKat chunky~]

*accidently stabs self with the ninja claws* owee  :'(


hehe, anyhow i'd love to see how this turns out, good luck with it 

[WingedZephyr]

Has anyone ever found a nice paw glove tutorial? Most of the ones I've seen I haven't particularly liked because of the style of gloves or whatever else. I've been trying to make some gloves but I've had difficulties, and I don't want to waste more material.

[iKero-chu™]

Has anyone ever found a nice paw glove tutorial? Most of the ones I've seen I haven't particularly liked because of the style of gloves or whatever else. I've been trying to make some gloves but I've had difficulties, and I don't want to waste more material.

Well, what exactly how?

Ones that more fit and look like your fingers,
or ones that more look like paws.

[WingedZephyr]

I'm actually hoping for something in between, actually.

I supposed I'd want them more "fit" though. I'd rather not have any kind of foam or stuffing in them, but I don't want them to necessarily look like regular gloves either.

[Tyla]

Can't remember the exact video, I'm positive you may have heard about it, but looking around I've saw a video that shows: sketching around your hand on some paper, using specialised scissors (forgot the technical term, triangly scissors!) on fur after leaving say half an inch to an inch of extra material, repeating and sewing it all together with it inside out... I'll try and get the video for you, just let me edit!

Edit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtdP4hSCdl0&NR=1

Looks pretty good, but what do I know?! I was meaning to have a talk with a friend about this stuff anyway, but for further stuff I can't really look in. I have heard, however that cutting up plain shoe soles is pretty good. There's also using some other fabric sewn onto it as pawpads, which is how mine are done.

[WingedZephyr]

Hmm... That might help.

The biggest problem I've had is what to do with the wrist area, because the first time I only made it large enough to wrap around my wrist, then couldn't fit my hand through. Then the next time it was too wide and was all loose around the wrist. I bought some elastic to see if i could sew it around the wrist to help hold it on, but I haven't had time to try it yet.

[Tyla]

You could try having a strip of elasticated nylon inside the glove where the wrist is that's slightly smaller.

[DarkHorse_Steele]

 
I finished my first head a few days ago. I used a plastic canvas skeleton covered in 1/2 inch upholstery foam. I viewed several tutorial sites and videos. I had trouble figuring out how to cover it in fabric. I tried using the tape pattern method as described in many places. My first head is covered, and is decent looking for a first attempt. But I am not entirely satisfied with it. I used black and grey crushed velvet, but it shows all of the edges and seams. I used it because it was what I had available to me.

I'm now on to head #2 which I am building for my girlfriend. I am using the same basic constructed method as the first head. Although I am following closer to an online tutorial. this head is not completely covered in foam (yet). I am trying to avoid this if possible.

The main problem I am having is fitting the fur to the head with out it sagging into all of the open spaces. I have tried the tape pattern method again on this one, and I can't get the tape to take or keep the shape I want. It is a lot harder fitting the fur I bought to the head than the velvet. I am trying my hardest to make this head look as close to as well done as the others I have seen online, but this is taking a lot longer than the first head did.

I have looked online for videos that better explain how exactly to apply fur, but They all seem to focus mostly on the plastic canvas and zip to the finished head. They keep skipping completely over the application of the fur. This seems to be the hardest part to do, with the fewest explanations. If anyone knows of anything that can help, I  would greatly appreciate it.

[AirRaiser]

Do you have a Live Journal? There are quite a few communities on there for just fursuiting. TONS of tutorials and you can post any kind of question you might have, there are lots of makers on those sites willing to help.

http://community.livejournal.com/fursuit/

[Tao Fox]

I've recently got some extra money and have decided to make my own fox ears ^^
I have just a couple questions that I'm hoping you guys can answer..

1. What materials will I need?
2. Where can I get these materials?
3. How much will they cost?

[Timmy Fox]

1. I'd go with some fabric fur, i.e fake fur, i'd never buy REAL fur.
2. I guess you could get it at a local fabric shop, thats where i got my fake fur.
3. Depends on how good quality you want and where you buy it, and how much you want of course. But for a pair of for ears, shouldn't be too much, for bout 200 SEK (~$28) i got enough fur to make myself 2 tails, 1 pair of ears and a pair of paws, and i still have some fur left.

EDIT:
Forgot to say that you'll need something to wear them (obviously), well, you can sew them on pretty much anything, i used a hat for my first ears.

[WingedZephyr]

Materials:

- Fur fabric (of your necessary colors)
- Something to put in them to hold them up (such as poly-fill stuffing)
- Thread
- Needle and/or sewing machine
- Something to fasten them on your head with (headband, hair clips, etc.)
- Maybe some glue as well, depending on how you construct them
- Fabric pattern for cutting out the shapes (can be made yourself or probably found somewhere online)

All of those things can usually be found at a craft store. Prices vary too much to say.

[Tao Fox]

thanks ^^
just boguht a collar, so im a little short on money, but I plan to use your advice

[blood wolf]

how do i make a fursuit with no sewing machine?