How To Cut Faux Fur
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McCalls P209*.
That is the pattern number that was my introduction to using faux fur.
At the time, Brittan, our oldest, was a toddler, and I had fallen in love with a skunk costume pattern by Tom Arma.
At the fabric store, I selected a black fleece for the bodysuit, and, despite not having a clue how to use faux fur, I picked out a white, long-pile fur for the stripe.
Luckily, the knowledgeable woman behind the cutting counter could tell I had no idea what I was doing and offered me some guidance on cutting faux fur.
Her tips on cutting have been my go-to ever since, and today I will share them with you so you can conquer your faux fur fears.
How To Cut Faux Fur - Quick Tips
Nap Check
Before you begin, determine the nap of the fur.
First, brush your hand across the fur along the grain and note in which direction the fur lays.
Ensure all your pattern pieces are oriented in the same direction so that your fur is consistent.
Flatten It Out
Usually, when you cut a pattern piece, your fabric is arranged with the right sides together, yielding two cut pattern pieces.
Not so with faux fur. This fabric is best cut lying flat, face down, on your cutting surface.
If you need two of a pattern piece, cut one and flip your pattern over to cut the second one.
Trace It
You can skip the pins and weights to hold your pattern pieces in place.
Lay them out and trace them onto the back of the fur with a tailor’s chalk, pencil, or marker.
Snip It
Use scissors or a blade cutter (razor blade, box cutter, X-Acto knife, etc.) but not a rotary cutter.
The goal here is to cut the fur’s backing without cutting the fur itself.
Make small, steady cuts in the backing with a blade cutter.
If using scissors, carefully snip the backing, ensuring not to cut through the fur.
Perfectly Cut
This cutting method allows the fur to retain a natural look instead of leaving blunt edges, giving your character a more realistic appearance.
I’m so glad I learned these tips early on in my costume making but tell me, did you find these quick tips useful?
If you’d like to see more, visit our Tips & Hacks library.
Until next time – have fun letting the fur fly.