furry fun clothes...

contra · Post by **contra** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 1:51 pm

Anybody have a suggestion for where to buy nice fur to make some nice furry gear for next year? Online or around Chicagoland.

kisses :D

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 1:57 pm

Keep a watch on your local fabric stores. I'd guess that post Oct 31 you might be able to pick up something on sale... Try Joann's I guess. Although the selection varies.

contra · Post by **contra** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 2:19 pm

spanx - good thought about post-halloween sales! hadn't thought of that. i used to buy the fake fur at the "usual" stores like joann's...not sure if i recall them having the real long, shaggy furs. i will look there though!

kisses :D

Rian Jackson · Post by **Rian Jackson** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 4:27 pm

Hancock's is expensive but the fur is better. You'll have to check and see if you have them out there.

blueniteowl · Post by **blueniteowl** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 9:29 pm

They should, at least they do in MN.

Otherwise I would suggest looking in your phone book for fabric outlets. Just call and ask if they have fur, and outlets usually have discounted prices. Though you may not be able to return anything. I think it's a decent trade off though.

Post by **AntiM** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 6:43 am

The trick with both Joanns and Hancock is to get on their mailing or email lists. They send out special coupons periodically, sometimes a blanket discount on a single purchase.

I've gotten high quality furs at both places, I think much depends on the manager-buyer for each store.

alienfry · Post by **alienfry** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 11:30 pm

fly to LA and hit the fabric district.

Chai Guy · Post by **Chai Guy** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 11:45 pm

I was so spoiled living next to the LA Garmet District, man, I moved to SF and went to go buy some Fun Fur and about had a heart attack. Indeed, save your money, get a plane ticket and make a weekend out of it. Come out during an event or in the spring time when you can hang out at the beach while Chi Town is still digging out from the ice.

No Muppets were harmed in the making of this costume.

Magikal · Post by **Magikal** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 11:53 pm

Chai Guy, was that pic taken at Xara? It looks like it was...

Chai Guy · Post by **Chai Guy** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 12:00 am

Yep, Xara 2005, were you there?

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 9:05 am

Mightent Chicago have a garment district? It's a sizable town with some old money and I'd guess some new money. It's not going to be like LA garment district, but wouldn't it be worth a day or two on the home turf as practice?

BTW Chai--when are you going to do a la garment district do-ocracy?

nova_mike · Post by **nova_mike** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 9:20 am

My friend makes custom fur suits and she lives in Wicker Park in Chicago. She's made all of my suits.

UVglowin.com

She doesn't have the fur listed on her website but contact her through email and tell her Mike from BopCamp recommended her. She can make whatever you need.

No need to FLY to LA to find fur. That's just dumb.

Magikal · Post by **Magikal** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 10:27 am

Chai Guy wrote:Yep, Xara 2005, were you there?

'Twas indeed.

Don't know if we saw each other there, I was handing out cold beers to people. Guinivere and I briefly hooked up.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 3:29 pm

15.95 for two yards is a good price but mail order you'd be taking pot luck as to what you get.Product discription
But they are in Illinois, so maybe a trip to their store is in order. Maybe you can get it uncut too. Planning your pattern around a 2yard length might be a pain. anyway a thought.Chicago store

Isotopia · Post by **Isotopia** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 7:43 pm

Not clothes but maybe playaworthy.

http://www.chacabraka.com

I've heard Bob has three.

Chai Guy · Post by **Chai Guy** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 10:18 pm

I've heard Bob has three.

Raver.

contra · Post by **contra** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 8:22 pm

thanks again everyone for the replies. turns out that these days the newly remodeled JoAnn's that are much larger carry a HUGE amount of really beautiful fake furs. i've gotten so much i don't know what to do with it. i did make my halloween costume from some of it, which went over great at the party last night (bikini top, shorty skirt and flared leg warmers).

i've tried to make a vest/jacket, but it didn't go over too well. anyone here make their own and can give me suggestions on how to piece a jacket together? i could always get a pattern, but there's probably an easier way, right?

don't know of any garment district in chicago...there's a great textile outlet that i've frequented in recent years. would like to see LA's district - sounds like too much fun! my hubby would get soooo ored tho.

l8r

Ivy · Post by **Ivy** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 5:49 am

i could always get a pattern, but there's probably an easier way, right?

Getting a pattern IS the easier way.

I've always liked MCall's 4222 for beginners. But there are literally hundreds of commerical coat patterns on the market right now, fur coasts being the new yesterday's black and all.

Keep and eye out for the sales at JoAnn's and you can get patterns for $0.99-1.99.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 6:06 am

Another way to pattern a garment is to hit the thrift stores and find a vest/coat/jacket/pants/other that fits the way that you'd like...It doesn't have to meet your aesthetic requirements, since you're going to DISSECT it with a seamripper and lay out the bits on butcher paper or old newspapers or such. Allow extra room for thicker materials like funfur by tracing beyond the edges of the colth pieces.
And do a search for "duct tape" and "dress dummy" and see what you get....You can make your own personal mannequin torso for cheap!

Post by **AntiM** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 7:45 am

Sewing fake fur on a machine is tough, practice a bit first, pillows or scarves or something simple. My fun fur items always seem to "walk" sideways, especially on lengthy seams. I just did a flame coat, printed cotton and fully lined, I made mistakes but it came out quite nicely; lesson learned: don't try something lined without patience and a seam ripper. Lined sleeves suck! Never substitute regular interfacing for fusible interfacing! A vest first, vests tend to be only three pieces unlined, or six pieces lined. Then try a jacket! Watch out for collars and cuffs, I despise sewing collars and cuffs.

Patterns should be on sale post-halloween, costume patterns often are simpler (unless you get the historial stuff, yikes!)

Take it from me, the perpetual inept seamstress, crawl with a vest before you run with a jacket or coat!

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 8:38 am

Ivy's advise is worth taking on these matters--she's led a couple of fur coat workshops...

contra · Post by **contra** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 6:46 pm

drat! yes, a pattern would be best. i've taken the robotland route with a couple of my favorite pairs of pants that have been destroyed by overuse, which turned out okay, but both times i made some irreversible mistakes.

i'm afriad to put fur on my machine as well; somehow even without all the extra strands of fur the thread seems to always get severely tangled down where the bobbin is. maybe i should take a sewing class!

off to joann's once again! ta!

Ivy · Post by **Ivy** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 7:37 pm

i'm afriad to put fur on my machine as well; somehow even without all the extra strands of fur the thread seems to always get severely tangled down where the bobbin is.

If you can, see if you can get a walking foot attachment for your machine. Jo-Ann's sells a generic one for any While brand sewing machine with a screw on foot for around $15 (paid around $8 for mine with one of the mailer coupons). Otherwise you can usually find them online for around $20-25.
It feeds the top bulk of the fabric at the same rate as the bottom (which is fed by the machine). Helps a lot when sewing thick or bulky fabrics.

Post by **AntiM** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 6:59 am

Ah, so that's what that gadget I have tumbling around the sewing drawer is for.