How Hard Is It To Sew Faux Fur?

[Teresa_T]

Hello,

I have a decent viking sewing machine that is a good little worker. I have however never sewn with faux fur and I wonder if a standard sewing machine would work.

Maybe OK for the lighter, low pile, faux fabrics?

Thank you.

[N30Nb100d]

You should be fine sewing faux fur with a regular machine. It's better to sew on the wrong side of the fabric so the fur doesn't get pulled inside but if you have to sew on the right side, placing some tissue paper under the fur will probably help a lot. The shorter furs shouldn't be much of a problem for even a simple machine (the one I use was fine at least and it's nothing special) and if it's a longer pile, you can try trimming the fibers in the seam allowance before sewing to reduce some bulk. If you're worried, you could also try on a small piece to see if your specific machine can handle the bulk before starting a large project.
Remember also when cutting faux fur, don't just cut straight through it. Slide the scissors in between the fibers, so you're only cutting the backing. It reduces the amount of fluff you have floating around the house after and keeps the fur edges much neater.

[Teresa_T]

Thank you so much for your helpful tips!! 

[globox]

I find it helps to brush the fur away at a 90 degree angle from the cutting/seam lines so the fur is lying flat and away from the scissors. Whatcha making?

[Laura_J]

I usually cut mine from the back so I'm only cutting the backing. Then I brush the loose bits out of the fur from cutting initially. Then I trim the fur itself from the seam allowance area and brush the loose bits out of the fur again. The more loose bits you can brush out, the less that gets into your machine. Use a good heavy needle in your machine when you sew and take your time, do not push the fabric through.
Fur is fun stuff to play with. Keep your design simple. The fewer seams the better. Can't wait to see what you're making.

[donniesgirl]

Fake fur is messy but a regular machine will work.  I saw on a tutorial that someone cut their pieces with a razor or an exacto knife & I thought that was such a good idea.  Because frankly, no matter how careful you are, when you cut with scissors it's going to get fluffies all over the place.