Thursday, September 11, 2014

Faux Fur

Fake Fur - Faux Fur

Shannon Fabrics provides some tips for working with faux (fake) fur.  Here's the basics:

  • Use ½" seam allowances
  • Use 110 or 120 size needle depending on fur and chosen backing (we like SCHMETZ needles)
  • Increase to 3.5mm stitch length
Cutting

  •  Lay fabric on cutting surface wrong side up. Be sure the fur is going in the same direction and lying smooth and flat. (Sliding a yardstick under the fabric will get the fibers going the right way.)
  • Draw cutting lines with black sharp marker on back of fur
  • Trim selvage edge 
  • Longer pile fur: cut through backing only with scissors and pull apart
  • Short pile fur : can be cut with a rotary cutter (we tend to like OLFA). The fiber caught in the seams can be pulled out
Pinning and Sewing
  • For longer fur: comb fibers away from edge and hold in place with blue painters tape. Combing removes some of the loose fibers and makes it easier to tape them out of seam allowance. Do not tape inside seam allowance. (Fibers will be standing up, place tape on tip of the fibers, press onto fabric.)
  • When closing a seam, it is easier to hand stitch opening closed if you top stitch seam allowances on the fur edge of the openings, before sewing the rest of the seams. Use a ladder stitch to join the two edges together, using the stitching lines as a guideline.

We have faux fur in stock and ready to sell by the yard - click here >>