# Fursuit Making Guide

How a fursuit head is made: a carved foam base covered in a sewn faux\-fur skin

By curious\-panda\-4735ddba

Topic: Art, Music & Film

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## Transcript

### 1. Fursuit Making Guide

A fursuit is a costume of an animal character, often one the wearer invented\. The head is the trickiest part: a carved foam shell inside a skin of fake fur\. Let us build this fox head, layer by layer\.

A first head often takes 50 to 80 hours of work\.

### 2. 1 · Start with a Head Form

Makers build on a foam head form about the size of a real head\. The finished base must be roomy, so it slips over the wearer's head and ears without squeezing\.

Some makers wrap their own head in plastic and tape to make a custom form\.

### 3. 2 · Build the Foam Base

Soft upholstery foam, the kind inside sofa cushions, is cut into panels and hot glued over the form\. A rounded top keeps the head from looking like a cone\.

Glue just the centre of each piece first, so it is easy to trim and move\.

### 4. 3 · Shape the Muzzle

A thick block of foam is glued on for the muzzle, plus wedges for fluffy cheeks\. Then the maker carves it with sharp scissors, a small slice at a time, checking both sides match\.

Dogs and foxes get longer muzzles; cats get short, round ones\.

### 5. 4 · Add the Ears

Ears are cut from thinner foam and glued on top, tilted a little outward\. Their size and angle give the character much of its personality\.

### 6. 5 · Make a Fur Pattern

The foam is wrapped in tape and the seams are drawn on with a marker\. The tape is cut off in flat pieces, and each piece is traced onto the back of the fur\.

Fur has a direction, like a pet's coat, so every piece points the same way\.

### 7. 6 · Sew On the Fur

The pieces are cut from the back with a craft knife so the long fibres are not chopped\. They are sewn together, pulled over the foam and glued or stitched in place\.

Fur around the eyes and mouth is shaved short to make the face crisp\.

### 8. 7 · Bring the Face to Life

Last come painted eyes and a shiny nose\. Wearers usually see out through thin mesh in the eyes or through the mouth\. Now the fox is ready for a body, paws and a tail\.

Fursuits get hot, so wearers take a cool break about every 45 minutes\.