.

How do you find working with fur yarns? Is it fun or not? The last time I posted about this topic was ages ago, around 2013. I even still have some of the yarn since then. 

A Better Way To Use Fur Yarn

Making amigurumi with fur yarns can be a challenge.  Maybe I have stumbled upon a better way than I had before. Think of reupholstering.  The furniture is covered once more to update the look of it. 

Let's call this patchwork.  

So, I'm calling this a patchwork project. Patch by patch let's see what gets covered.  With so many leftover doll parts to choose from, let's patch up an amigurumi head, for example. It has a front and back, then the 2 sides.  It's made from common acrylic yarn. Think of it as our base. I want to cover up this original base for a new look. Using fur yarn and a hook, make enough chains to cover the last row of the back of the head.  Include the sides. Leave out the front for now. Using tall stitches, like half double and double crochets, you can quickly form a suitable patch to cover the back and sides of the head in no time. Work your rows back and forth, checking the fit as you go. The advantage to this method is layering the yarns resulting in a firmer head and the look of fur material.  The fur is not yet attached to the head. In the photo you can see what yarn I used, the type of part covered up (the head) and the result.

A front patch is made similar to the back patch, but without including sides. Front and back are sewn together with the base underneath, leaving a portion undone at the top for ear placement. The ears are worked in the round using fur. The snout, made from acrylic yarn, was sewn underneath the fur onto the face. Acrylic yarn is used to sew together the patches and to attach the ears and snout. This is as far as this project has gone so far.

The cover-up patches are from short-hair chenille yarn. It was purchased from a shop on etsy, stufftomakemorestuff. Some chenille yarns come from the mill end of yarn production. That is the brown furry yarn you see in the photo. It took less than 10- 25g. I didn't weigh it so weight is not confirmed. My goal is to make something furry piece by piece. This part turned out to be fun doing it this way. More furry heads are in the works as seen in the next photos.  

The Wolf has returned to try on a new hoodie I made. This time he decided that it's too long for him. But he'll be back.

My Daniel sweater pattern was tried on by the B.A.B. Wolf in my virtual shop of design. He's a big animal so the sweater had a tight fit. It was fun to see. He wore it 2 different ways too. (BAB stands for Build A Bear). I think he wants to try a different color next time.

7 Years Of Blessings & Unfinished Projects 

As made-to-order requests kept filling my time, I started so many unrelated, unfinished projects that I've lost count. I never could finish what I started to build an inventory as I repeatedly sought ways to diversify. I'm constantly seeking a new product to display. Unfinished projects instead became my outlet to maker's freedom, while the custom orders and made-to-orders brought views and customers. Having a shop doesn't really get exciting until customers show up. Since I practice a slow-making craft I know I have been blessed by so much patience from others. On a realistic note, artistic motivation comes and goes like the wind. You keep at it as you fill up on cheap cappuccino drinks, you know the instant powder formulas.