Getting Started with My Fur Shawl Project
So, I had this event coming up, right? And it was gonna be a bit chilly in the evening. I saw these fancy fur shawls in the shops, but boy, the prices! Made my eyes water. I thought to myself, “Hey, I’m pretty handy, I bet I could make one of those.” Plus, you get to pick exactly the kind of fur and lining you want. That’s always a bonus, if you ask me.
Hunting for Supplies
First thing was hitting the fabric store. Oh man, the choices for faux fur these days are nuts. Some of it feels so real, it’s crazy. I spent a good hour just petting different bolts of fur, probably looked a bit daft. Decided on a nice, plush dark grey one. Not too over the top, but still felt luxurious, you know? Then, for the lining, I picked up some silky satin material – figured that would feel nice against the skin and make it a bit posh. You also need good thread, sharp scissors (super important for fur, trust me on this one!), and plenty of pins that can actually handle thick fabric without bending into useless shapes.
The “Pattern” – Or Lack Thereof!
Now, for the pattern. Ha! I’m more of a “wing it” kind of person for simple shapes like this. A shawl is basically a big rectangle or a slightly curved piece, right? I just sort of sketched out a generous size on some old newspaper I had lying around. My main goal was for it to drape nicely over the shoulders and cover my arms a bit, keep the draft out. Nothing too complicated. If you’re not comfy doing that, you can probably find simple patterns online or in sewing books, but I figured, how hard can it really be for something like this? Sometimes you just gotta dive in.
Cutting the Fur – The Fluffpocalypse
Okay, this is where things get… messy. And I mean, really messy. Cutting faux fur is an adventure, and not always the fun kind. You gotta be careful. Best tip I ever got was to cut only through the backing fabric, not the fur pile itself, if you can manage it. Use a really sharp craft knife or just the very tips of your sharpest scissors. This way, you don’t get that weird, blunt-cut look on the fur edges.
- First, I laid out my fur, backing side up, on the biggest table I could find.
- Then, I placed my newspaper “pattern” on it and carefully, very carefully, traced around it with chalk.
- Slowly, slowly, I cut it out. Holding my breath half the time.
And let me tell you, even being super careful, fluff gets EVERYWHERE. It was like a tiny grey blizzard hit my craft room. My dog thought it was some new kind of snow and tried to play in it. Had the vacuum cleaner on standby, for sure. Did the same for the lining fabric, which was a walk in the park by comparison, thankfully.
Sewing It All Together
Alright, time to actually sew this beast. I pinned the fur and the lining right sides together. Lots of pins, ’cause fur can be shifty and wants to slide all over the place. Left a decent-sized gap along one of the straight edges for turning it right side out later. That’s key, don’t forget that part or you’ll be doing some unpicking, and nobody likes that. I used a walking foot on my sewing machine, which really helps when you’re dealing with thick, potentially slippery layers. If you don’t have one, just go slow and steady, maybe use a slightly longer stitch length. Took my time with it, wasn’t trying to break any speed records. Stitched all the way around, double-checking that I’d remembered that gap.
Once it was all sewn, I trimmed the corners (cuts down on bulk) and any really chunky seam allowances. Then came the slightly fiddly bit: turning the whole thing right side out through the gap I’d left. You gotta be a bit patient, easing it through. It’s like birthing a furry sausage, haha! Just gentle tugs and wiggles until it’s all the right way out.
Finishing Touches and The Grand Reveal
After turning it out, I gave the edges of the lining a careful press with the iron (don’t iron the fur side directly, folks, you’ll melt it and cry!). Then I hand-stitched the opening closed using a slip stitch so it was nice and invisible. Took a few minutes but worth it for a neat finish. For a closure, I initially thought about fancy clasps or buttons, but in the end, I just used a big, decorative kilt pin I had. Kept it simple and I could adjust how it sat easily.
And that was pretty much it! Stepped back and had a good look at my handiwork. It actually looked pretty darn good, if I do say so myself! Way cheaper than anything in the stores, and I made it exactly how I wanted. Wore it to the event, got a few compliments, and most importantly, felt pretty chuffed with myself for making it. Plus, it was super cozy when the evening got cool. So yeah, a bit of effort, a whole lot of fluff, but totally worth it in the end. Give it a go if you’re thinking about it!
