How to Sew Faux Fur & Fuzzy Fabric, Without Making a Mess

Years ago, the rich and famous, dripping with diamonds and pearls, loved adding fur to their list of adornments. Thank goodness we can now all rejoice because, in today’s fashion world, there is plenty of amazing faux fur to go around! WONDERFUL NEWS – BUT….how to sew faux fur? This tutorial will teach you all about sewing faux fur or fake fur from cutting and preparation to the actual sewing.

Here is all about sewing faux fur and fuzzy fabrics with a long nap. Learn how to sew faux fur or fake fur for clothing, and toys.

What is Faux Fur?

Faux fur (or fake fur) is a fabric with a long pile designed to look like animal fur. It is animal-friendly, and some are so real looking you can hardly tell the difference. If you look at the back of faux fur, you will see the woven fabric, which is easy to sew over. In contrast, a real fur will look like leather on the back.

Fancy a faux fur coat or ermine trim? Perhaps a bit of faux sable to add drama to your wardrobe! There are so many faux furs to choose from, and most are soft and luxurious! If you sew crafts and stuffed toys, then learning about sewing fur is a must-have skill.

How to Sew Faux Fur, Step by Step

Here is how to sew fake fur from cutting to sewing.

Supplies Needed to Sew Faux Fur and Fluffy Fabric

Before you begin your project, it’s important to gather the right tools and materials. Sewing faux fur can be a little different from working with regular fabric. Having the proper supplies will make your experience much smoother.

• Faux Fur Fabric – Longer piles are great for coats and trims, while shorter piles are easier for accessories and garments.
• Sharp Scissors or Craft Knife
• Clips or Quilting Clips – Pins can get lost in the pile.
• Heavy-Duty or Denim Needles – Ssize 90/14 or 100/16 needle.
• Walking Foot (Optional) – Helps to feed the thick layers evenly.
• Vacuum or Lint Roller – Having something to clean up fuzz is a must!

Step 1 – Aligning Patterns for Nap

Setting out the pattern pieces is a very important part of the sewing faux fur procedure. Remember that faux fur has a pile even under all that fluff, and the direction in which you place your pattern and the way you cut the pieces is very critical.

Points to remember:

• NAP DIRECTION – Keep that fur going down the garment, and be sure of this by drawing an arrow on the back of the fur so you always know the direction of the pile.
• PINNING – Work from the back and use weights to hold down the pattern.  If the fur is thick, pins could get lost!
• CUTTING – Cut each piece out separately, one at a time, and remember to flip the pattern so you have a left and a right side of each piece.
• MESS– Remember, this is going to be messy, so find a spot that can take a lot of furry fluff and be ready with a bin to scoop up the leftovers and get rid of them before they fly everywhere.

Step 2 – How to Cut Faux Fur and Fuzzy Fabrics

Now you are ready to slice through all that faux fur or fluffy fabric. It seems to make good sense to treat the fur with respect and not chop it to pieces with scissors. 

Find a really sharp craft knife or single blade to use and gently slice through the fur from the back where the pattern was placed. Otherwise, use sharp scissors and cut slowly.

Have a wide-toothed comb readily available to comb out any loose bits of fur and to comb the bulk of the fur towards the center before you sew the pieces together.

If you are sewing fur with a lining, remember to cut the lining to match the fur and have the right sides together so the fur and the lining will look good.

Step 3 – Sewing Your Faux Fur Item

Before you start sewing your faux fur project, always test your machine settings on a scrap piece of the same fabric. Faux fur behaves differently from regular fabric, so fine-tune your setup before committing to your actual piece.

Brush the fur away from the seam edges to reduce bulk and keep the fur from getting caught in the stitching. If the pile is especially thick, you can carefully trim the fur just within the seam allowance. This helps your seams lie flatter and makes the fabric easier to feed through the machine.

Baste your pieces together using clips or a wide hand backstitch instead of pins or a running stitch. When you’re ready to sew, use a longer stitch length (around 3.5–4mm), and sew slowly and steadily.

Faux fur is bulky and can shift, so take your time for the best results. A walking foot can also be a big help in feeding the layers evenly.

Step 4 – Finishing

When the seam is complete, comb out any unwanted fur or loose bits that can get into your machine. Turn your work around to the right side and once again comb the fur in the downward direction to see if there are any loose bits to pull away.

Avoid any little trimming exercises in case you end up with a bald spot! Rather use the comb and pull out any unwanted fur.

Step 4 – Sewing Faux Fur Tips

Here are some tips for sewing faux fur to get the best results:

Wear an apron or overall….who wants to be covered in fluff?

Keep your workspace clear and find a place free of carpets if possible. Keep a bin and bin bag close by to scoop bits of fluff and offcuts right away. Shake the pieces outside after you have cut to get rid of all those little bits of fur before you are ready to sew again.

Working with a wide-toothed comb is a lifesaver, especially with long pile fur.

Clean your machine thoroughly after the seams have been sewn, as there will be a lot of lint and fluff around that could jam up the moveable parts of your machine. Further Reading – how to clean a sewing machine

Sewing Faux Fur – In Conclusion

With these suggestions taken to heart and a bit of practice, you will be ready to start sewing fur for costumes, toys, and just for fun. Furry good luck to you!!

More Fabrics to Sew

Now you know all about sewing fur, check out these other fabrics listed alphabetically.

1. CHIFFON – Sewing Chiffon
2. BATIK – What is Batik
3. CANVAS – Sewing Canvas
4. COTTON – Sewing Cotton
5. DENIM – Sewing Denim
6. FELT – Sewing Felt
7. FUR – Sewing Fur
8. KNITS – How to Sew Stretch Fabric
9. INTERFACING – Types of Interfacing
10. LACE – How to Sew Lace
11. LEATHER – Sewing Leather
12. RAYON – Sewing Rayon
13. SHEER – Sewing Sheer Fabrics
14. SILK – How to Sew Silk
15. THICK – Sewing Thick Fabrics
16. VELVET Sewing Velvet
17. WOOL – Sewing Wool