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Saixpuppy222 β Furring a fursuit head- Tutorial~
Published: 2013-03-25 10:23:45 +0000 UTC; Views: 15846; Favourites: 311; Downloads: 89
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c: i was asked to make one of these on FA and i've been meaning to for a while anyway, so here we go!I hope this can help you all in someway!
It's best to download for the full view as this is a huge file and i don't know if you can read the writing on this o:
I'm aware i'm not the best person at furring or making heads, but i do my best, but hopefully this can help some first time makers? (: ^.^
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Comments: 34
what would you recommend for the base of the head,like the skeleton of it basically?
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You can use crafting foam or order a resin base
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that axel plush doe, i love these ,they are always so helpful. i goofed on my husbands, i made like all the fur facing different ways, oopsΒ
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You are my life saver ;w; Thanks so much for this!Β
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No problem! Glad it's helped!!
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so your just suppose to have the foam base then duck tape the pattern take that of and then put your fur on there? that's all????
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Foam or Resin depending on what you're using.
I'd suggest masking tape rather than duct tape, its a bit easier to work with.
But yeah thats all.
And either sew or glue your seams ^.^
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glue your seams?????
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Like fold the edge of the fur over and glue it. It keeps it tidy, and it's a good method if you dont want the hassle of sewing the edges.
It's better for hemming them rather than actually gluing two different bits together.
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ohh cool. cool. do you have any pictures of base heads in your gallery???
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saixpuppy222.deviantart.com/arβ¦
saixpuppy222.deviantart.com/arβ¦
those are the only photos i have uploaded of bases atm. ^.^
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This helped a lot! Thank you for making this!
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i'm glad!
Heh, no problem! c:
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about how much fur do you need for a full head (one color only)
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ehhh i'd reckon a meter or just under atleast, just to be on the safe side.
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you're very welcome!!
I hope it can help
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Gluing alone isn't very durable... I suggest tracing a slight seam allowance, and hand-sewing the pieces as you attach them to each other on the base. Lasts a lot longer that way, and you have no chance of the glue showing on the seams if you need to shave down the fur. Of course you'll need to glue it down in spots, but too much glue can lead to a heavier fursuit head, and a lack of ventilation.
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So you sew all the pieces together then pull it over the back like a jumper? Then just use as little glue as needed?
My first attemp I just glued everything down with a contact bond which I smeared over EVERYTHING! (But as it is a pure foam base it didn't have much ventilation to start with). Worked well enough but was a rush job nd has grose seams... But since I use it maybe once every two years I'm not too worried...
Now I'm making a smokey bear costume for a party and intend to sell it (super cheap cos I'm not that great) so would like to make it a bit better
Thanks
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I always sew a seem around each piece to neaten it so when it's shaved you don't see the glue c:
I just have yet to take the time to sew a full head cover.
My oldest head is around 4 years old and it was glued as well, and I have had no problems yet.
But thank you for your input, I understand your advice, and when I have the time, i'll definitely try a sewn cover sometime, Thank you (:
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No problem ^u^
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Well done! Gosh, I remember about a year ago how I struggled to understand this very tutorial. I couldn't understand how you actually duct taped the head and got the pattern drawn out on it and then cut it out. i couldn't find a tutorial that showed every last detail about how to do that, so I was quite literally stuck. Silly, I know. I searched for weeks on end to understand that. Even videos weren't helping, lol. Since I got so stuck on that, I think I might make a very detailed tutorial one day. I just learn pretty involved, like that. I'm just one of those people, lol. Lots of pictures and hours of video detail to get through to my brain. (Shakes head)
Thanks for this insight!
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oh gosh don't put yourself down! I didn't understand the taping originally either!! I used to see WIP photos that some of the big makers wold post and i used to get so confused as to why they where putting tape on it! o:
It took me ages, and a few head attempts to get it right, but now it works and i can do a good enough job of it! (:
Yeah i'm a hands on kind of person too! But i hope this helps a bit at least! you just need to keep experimenting with it until you get it just how you'd like c:
Good luck and you're welcome for the insight haha
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I don't know how long it took me. Well, it took me about two heads to finally get the pattern part right. Let alone, the direction of the fur. Oh, my gosh, on my first head, it was horrible. The fur pattern was going in different directions, but to the public, they didn't know and nobody on DA or FA seemed to be able to tell so that was okay, because the fursuiting community is...(Whispers) They can just chill it down quite a few notches, they get their panties in a wad over novice's not knowing what to do)
I don't quite understand their extreme pickiness with new-comers. No, it's not going to be perfect and maybe they don't want to strip their entire head down to nothing to fix one thing? It probably took them forever and with torture to get the whole head finished! I would know because I was one of those people. Freak out, know I'm making terrible mistakes, horrible craftsmanship, getting glue in the fur and leaving dried furr matts of glue on my mask I plan to sell and then being told not to sell it because it's got too many things wrong with it. Oy, yeah, that upset me and I did kind of throw a hissy fit about it, but I really needed money at the time to finish something else.
Now, I'm stuck with a mask I've become attached to, when I didn't want to become attached to it. I just wanted to be detached and have him sold as soon as possible so he could part of my conditioning for when I decide to take commmissions. We had been through so much together. He had flew across the room a few times and squished into things in my fits of rage and then I'd retrieve him, sigh, and continue working on him. Sigh, I was so abusive, yet, I'm happy with how he looks and he doesn't look bad at all. He's a cute little guy. I think, for a partial that was slapped together with teddy bear fur and really cheap store-bought fur, he does well enough.
But they community was right, he's...hehe a "special" case of a fursuit partial. No, he's not selling material. He's more of a personal use until he dies material. He is one I'm detached enough with, now, that I'd let other people wear him. Usually, I don't share my fursuit stuff. It's pretty strictly customized to fit my arms, fingers, hands, whatever, so if anybody tries, it won't work LOL.
Um..wow, sorry, I just went on a rant, but figuring out the furring pattern on my second head kind of made me bond even closer with him, than I wanted to because I had so much trouble, yet, I managed to get him looking good enough in the end, regardless of if I couldn't sell him, I over came the end of the world and then some on this freaking fuzz-ball!
Hopefully, that was a heartfelt story you can use and tell the kiddies too, lol! I wouldn't reccomend tossing your masks across the room, that's not necessary, but, if you do, it probably won't hurt it too much, considering it's basically a stuffedd animal head. ;D
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ohmygosh.
I understand entirely!
I made my first head like 4 years ago, through it up on FA thinking it was the most amazing thing ever!
I hate it c: it's utter crap. But i can't bring myself to destroy her haha c: she's got a brill moving ja, and a super cute nose >w<
But yes. FA is super picky! but you get some nice people that try to give you encouragement! I've made a few friends on it, and they've been ever so helpful. Even commissioning me too! o:
I'm fussy about letting people wear my partials too >w< hehe. i don't mind them trying the heads on, but they can't wear it out somewhere 
And i understand becoming attached to heads too D:
My first toony head i made a few months ago, had plans to try and sell, but i absolutely adore him >w< and i can't bring myself to get rid of him 3: i like him too much c:
oh i constantly shove my oldest 2 heads in boxes and bags just to hide them too XD i'm not overly proud of them an more. my work has improved a lot!
And yeah i used to always get the fur direction wrong! still do, but then i go back and replace the fur panel c: haha
XD well yes i'll admit that was heartfelt haha! Thanks for sharing! c:
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Yes, despite the pickiness of the Fursuit building community, I have improved thanks to people being super picky on certain things I wasn't too picky on. Personally, I have a laid back attitude on my learning curve and what is acceptable for a fursuit head, but that's for my own sanity and the future of my personal business, if I want to get there and still be sane, lol.
The one thing I don't like about people giving critiques and telling you what an animal looks like, is the people that have NEVER BUILT ONE THEMSELVES! Yeah, sure, maybe-just-maybe you know what you're talking about ON PAPER or on a SCREEN PHOTO, buuuuut, you haven't built something IN SPACE. A 3D space, I might add, good sir! So, don't crit me on how to CARVE AND SCULPT a freaking wolf or fox head to make them look NOT LIKE THE OTHER! That just bothers me. It's not as easy as it looks. I just don't think you can give proper advice on something you've never experienced yourself. Not something craftsy like that, anyways. IF you've actually worked with a foam head and building something from scratch, I think your advice can be much more enlightening, buuut, there are benefits to being harped about what your animal looks like.
OMG, people in public settings can drive you nuts. With my akita head, during christmas I was called, a Reindeer, wolf, santa clause, and something else. Well, he was wearing a Christmas hat for the theme, but I'm shocked at how...unfamiliar people are with their animals, especially the adults. I don't know if its laziness or they literally forget and can't retrieve that information when an animal hits them. I don't think they do that often enough so they don't remember. That and I'm an artist so I'm highly picky about what stuff is and isn't. We notice things more than the average population who might not be working with animals and their profiles all the time XD It's just...fascinating at how people don't know what you are. Which, helps when you make your mask. I've told people, "He's an Akita." And they always give me a weird look. Like, "Dah, fuh is that?"
People, unless they're dog breeders or they own an akita, have NO clue what an akita is. I don't see how, but they don't really, know about it. They don't have to, so its not their fault, but it helps to be properly recognized! (Sniffles and weeps) All that hard work and I still can't be properly identified? (Cries) XDDD
I know how I learn and I know the general public. I haven't been to any furry cons, but I do study, watch videos on how to act, watch videos about cons. I'm plotting weird ideas to do at cons that aren't too obnoxious, but fun and funny and video-esque, lol.
I'd like to make more videos with my suit, but, like I said, I'm so scared, I don't even want to take her on and off more than I need to, to even make a video and not all fursuiters do that, so I try to consider that and tell myself, "You don't NEED to make a video, wait for a con or something or something REALLY BRILLIANT. Otherwise, leave her in the box..."
However, my older fursuit heads, I could probably throw on and do something with. Everybody is familiar with those anyways and I'd wear them out first before my masterpiece. (Huggles tauntaun fullsuit) Well, its a masterpiece, for now. Until I make my two other fullsuits for this year with what I learned from that one. A werewolf and an Ewok from starwars.
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Oh god. When people can't recognize animals. It's the worst feeling ever!
my first head was a black white and red wolf, and while her nose and ears where too small, she most certiantly did not look like the animals she was accused of being 3:
A horse, Giraffe and a cat. sadface TT^TT
It really makes you feel kinda crap :/
Aww but Akitas are beautiful dogs! if i had my own place i'd probably have one c:
and yes, when people try to crit you when they've never attempted it themselves. really pisses me off 3:<
(my dad does it a lot hahahah) XD
i've only suited at a few cons ^.^ non furry ones though so i was kind of alone :')
they where fun though... c: my Okami suit got a lot of love >w<
ohhh a werewolf! werewolf suits can be pretty darn epic!
i'd love to get the motovatin to make a realistic one sometime c:
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I know! My Kangaroo(Really a bushbaby, but being my first head, went horribly awry) was called a Camel, horse, donkey, and cat(What the hell? And I usually don't cuss in regular speech). It...it hurts! (Sniffles) Lol! Then you wonder, "What the crap did I do wrong on this, now?! Do I really know what I'm doing? I spent days on this dumb thing! What, now I have to figure out why I don't look like what I KNOW I am?" XDD
I agree, they is. I plan to make a pure white akita fullsuit one day. He's a big-boy. He's a feral dog character I've had in several stories, named, Kubwa. Which means "Big" in the swahili language and boooy is he BIG! I just don't know how to make him HUGE as a fursuit, I'm not THAT big, but he may be a softly muscled suit, once I figure out how to add Muscle definition. I probably won't speak in him because I have a girly voice XD
XD Family can be nice and then annoying or not helpful at all at times, I completely understand! Yeah, that just ticks me off and they say, "I've not ever made a fursuit myself," or, "I don't plan to own a fursuit." Then why they fuh are you commenting on something you know NOTHING about? Like...WHAAAT?!
Here's my boy-boy baby 83! [link] and these shots of the head. [link] A thing to note is ,yes, the neck is a little weird, but I was experimenting with something I wanted to make a trademark. I, however, have not figured out how to do it successfully yet. I made it look great with my original head I first made, but boy, did it come with one huuuge sacrifice! COOLNESS! I can barely breath in my kangaroo and get air flow because the neck was layered foam to make the curve! Also, the snout was too petite and short! [link] I wanted a natural, organic look and feel to the neck, but I don't think I can get that and keep my commissioners or buyers cool. :/ I hadn't thought about plastic mesh before, buuut, that might be a smart way to do the neck curve, buuut keep the wearer cool because it has holes. I just might have to do some extreme hot gluing to get curves or something and the heads might be incredibly hard to take care of because they could get damaaged. I want to be smart about it, but I can't figure anything out that would make it look like I did it the first time. For now, I've decided to put it on the back burner of things until I learn more about fursuit construction.
Yes, non-furry cons will get you so much love XD I must confess, the local ones in my area, non-furry are nice because so many people adore you. They have obviously, NEVER been to a furry con to see LOTS of you running around XD. People gave me so many hugs. "You're so sooooft!" (Is petted and cooed at)
Me: (Puffs out chest with pride) Mission accomplished! Awww-yeaaah! That's right, I made dis! ;3
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love getting attention whilst fursuiting XD feel so special! >w<
i wore my okami partial to my local con last year, and we won first prize for the judged masquerade! it was such a confidence boost! >w<
I'm slowly starting to take on commissions, and everyone has been so lovely and nice to work with, it's really great c:
I wish you all the luck with the making of Kubwa! he sounds spectacular!! o3o
good luck with figuring out the neck curve! i hope you can find the solution! c: it really looks awesome and is such a nice effect! definitely have it as a trademark signature!! there dont seem to be many people that actually make them like that! c:
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