How to make a fursuit without Amazon
In this post I will be writing on how to source materials to make a fursuit without shopping from Amazon
STORIES
Introduction
As a fursuit maker, I have given far more money than I would have liked to Amazon buying materials and tools. I have put this article together as a practice for myself and as a guide to others to stop spending money on Amazon for questionable quality while giving money to a company that doesn't look out for its employees. This guide will be mostly focused on my experience buying materials from the United States
Buying foam
One of the most common materials used in fursuits and also a somewhat difficult material to source, lets go over some options.
The main type of foam used in heads would be upholstery foam as it is breathable, easy to work with and light weight. Here are some sellers and some links to check out:
Buying from Jonas:
I think buying from local stores, even if it's a chain, is the best option if that is possible for you. Jonas has high quality foam for a good price with discounts regularly, they can even cut it down to whatever size you need!
You can take a look at their offerings here:
https://www.joann.com/c/foam/?icn=foam-fiber-edu-vis-nav&ici=foam
Buying online from Fabric empire:
Fabric empire is an amazing resource you will see more of in this post, and they have many options for upholstery foam, here are their offerings:
https://www.fabricempire.com/foam-sheets-fabric.aspx
There are other kinds of foam that you might be looking for too of course, such as EVA foam or "craft foam" that is good for things like shaping ears or Automotive Upholstery that is good because you can sew into it without tearing
Let's take a look at some options for buying EVA foam. One place I have bought EVA foam if Michele's all tho they don't always have the thickness I am looking for, and I usually end up buying it online so I can get the thickness I need.
If you are looking to buy a wide verity of smooth EVA form, Cosplay Pros sells many thicknesses on their website and can be found here:
https://thecosplaypros.com/products/eva-foam-sheets?variant=31293426860167
one thickness of EVA foam used are foam floor mats that fursuit makers use for feet paws as it holds up well, this can be bought at your local hardware store or online Here is a link to buy from Lowes:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Norsk-6-Pack-24-in-x-24-in-Red-solid-color-Foam-Tile-Multipurpose-Flooring/1002966624
If you are looking for automotive foam, you can find that at Fabric empire here:
https://www.fabricempire.com/pink-sew-foam-w-scrim-backing.aspx
Buying fur
Buying fur from Amazon is a bad idea as is because you will likely revive poor-quality fur. Despite being slightly cheaper, I would encourage you to check out some of these options. There are so many options for buying fur, so I will only go over a few and highlight some of the places that they shine in,
Big Z fabric
Fursuit supplies
Howl Fabric
Big Z fabric is an awesome seller to go to if you want high quality fur at a good price. Some will argue that they don't have the best quality of the fur sellers, but I can hardly notice a difference, and I Love their reliability. Big Z always has fur in stock and always has a color close yo what I am looking for. They even offer some stretch fur now as well as tones of other fabric
Fursuit Supplies is perfect if you are just starting off or only making a single part because they sell fur in 1/2 yards so you can save money on small amounts of fur. Their fur is also high quality and kept in stock pretty well, alto I have had some issues when looking for fur from them and it being unavailable. Fursuit supplies is also a good place to shop if you need other supplies and don't want to look for good quality stuff yourself, everything they sell is good quality in my experience, even if it means you pay a little extra.
I have very little experience with this maker but have talked to many people who have, so I will give you an overview from that point of view. Howl seems to offer a wide variety of very high quality fur, including in rare or specialty colors and patterns. They seem to have some of the best quality you can get, but sometimes it can be hard or impossible to get the same color twice dew to stocking, color accuracy of batches or it just being a limited specialty fur. I would still recommend them as an awesome seller, tho.
Please note that not all fur is fit to use for fursuits, you will likely want to look for words such as Luxury Shag, or eco shag. Some fur will have an animal name like Fox, bear or Monster these will have different textures so keep this in mind
Other Fabric
Cotton Blend
Materials with cotton in them are usually very soft, and they can also be mixed with synthetic materials to make them stronger, stretchy or more breathable. These materials are very versatile for lining or visual parts that don't need fur, as they often come in many colors
Lycra / rayon
Lycra or rayon is a brand name but is often used to describe stretchy synthetic materials, these fabrics are perfect for lining as they can be very stretchy as well as moisture wicking and breathable.
Mesh
Mesh materials aren't always as durable as other materials but are the most breathable of any material, making them perfect for lining that needs to help you stay cool
Lets Talk Tools!
There is a lot to cover in regard to tools, so I am going to keep this to a simple list of tools and what you might need them for, along with a list of links. I encourage you to shop around for the price and quality that will fit your needs tho, as many tools can be found in local craft stores like Jonas or Michele's!
Large Scissors: you will need at least one set of large Scissors for cutting foam and fabrics, besides fur. You might also want to buy a few different sizes or separate sets for your foam as cutting foam will dull them quickly also if you plan to use them on tape I would recommend getting a cheap set because tape can mess up scissors pretty fast.
https://www.wawak.com/cutting-measuring/cutting/scissors/kai-5210-ergonomix-bent-shears-8/#sku=is501
Small Scissors or Rotary Cutter: These will be used for cutting fur, as you want to be careful not to cut the fur just the backing. I personally always use small scissors as I like the extra control. Here are some links to check out:
Electric Turkey Cutter: I would recommend getting this from your local grocery store or better yet picking one up from a thrift store as they show up there all the time in my experience. These are super useful for cutting through thick or dense foam for heads or feet paws and alto not entirely required will save you a lot of time! Remember to be careful tho as they are a sharp power tool and can be hard to use at first.
If you can't fine on in person, you can try finding one from a Etsy seller:
https://www.etsy.com/search?q=electric%20turky%20cutter&ref=search_bar
Sewing machines: I won't go into much depth on sewing machines here as that is quite an expansive topic, however I will link a sewing machine I belie is a good fit for fursuit making. If you want to learn about sewing machines you should check out jukijunkies.com They have lots of good recourses. You will want a machine that can do basic stitches and handle thick fabric, but other than that most sewing machines can handle making a fursuit.
Check out the Juki HZL-DX7 Computerized Sewing Machine if you are looking for a well-rounded machine
https://www.kenssewingcenter.com/juki-hzl-dx7-computerized-sewing-machine.html?gad_source=5
Conclusion
Amazon has an incredibly long history of grievances from knowingly listing dangerous and deadly items on their website, selling weapons and age restricted items to children, generally selling bad quality items and of course mistreating their workers. Some workers experience treatment such as unreasonable rules that lead to drivers being forced to pee in water bottles, workers worked to the point of passing out or receiving injuries and being brought to the hospital in an ambulance even when some "temp" workers won't receive health insurance from their employer for up to the first year. These grievances have only been brought more into the light with the recent union action where Amazon has illegally refused to come to the negotiation table for years now, resulting in strikes. I am doing what I can to stand by these workers and hurt amazons bottom line, and now you are prepared to as well. I hope this article helps you see that there are many sellers offering better products more reliably without putting people's lives on the line, and often at the same or better prices! Whether or not you completely cut Amazon out of your life, I hope these suggestions help you in your fursuit making to create art with high quality materials and tools.
