I've finished the form of the head, attached the ears and begun colouring her eyes. Getting the black hair extensions to make her mane tomorrow.
I'm also adding brushed yarn gloves, for my handpaws, and covering my already-finished footpaws with yarn as well. She'll be a partial, until I can muster up the funds/bravery to finish the body, and I'll go from the top down (arm extensions, then shirt, then leg extensions, then pants).
Her facial markings are all drawn out. Jaw is articulate, mask is sculpted from Model Magic (I know, lameface, but hardly used at all) and foam sheets on top of a balaclava. Working on a blinking eye mechanism. Her eyes are going to be follow-me style, as toony and large as possible to make her eyes expressive.
Original post:
So, I want a nice fluffy partial fursuit - and I can NEVER find the right colour fur. This is starting to really bother me. Either it's a couple shades off (and with me that's a huge issue because the moment it passes from burgundy into red, I have trouble seeing it), or the pile's like half an inch or shorter.
So, since I can find the perfect colours of yarn (burgundy, creamy burgundy, black and white are all available in bulk from a nearby store), I thought I'd just make my partial from it. I'm looking at head, tail, feetpaws and handpaws with sleeves at least up to my elbows.
My idea was that I'd sew all wearable components from a light cotten or linen, brush out the yarn bundles, then attach them with thread, liquid seams and hotglue - yes, all three, for added strength.
Any tips, tricks or suggestions?
Oh, and I'm kinda experienced in brushed yarn at this point. I'm making two tails for a very good friend of mine, and I have two brushed yarn tails of my own, not to mention various accessories such as ears and touch-ups for sewn pieces.
I've found a few sturdy mesh fabrics that you can tie yarn onto the way you would the base yarn in a tail. I got some to try making yarn fur sleeve/paws with but I haven't really gotten going yet. It's probably going to be much more time consuming then just buying fur but like you said, getting the exact color and length you want is a challenge.
Could you expand on how your planning on making a brushed yarn head? If that's what you were doing. It sounds interesting.
My plans for the head were making it like any foam-based head, then covering it with a thin layer of plain fabric and attaching the brushed yarn tufts on. i make them in bundles of fifteen to twenty strands, doubled over and brushed out. I'd probably use a pile of about 1 1/2 to 2 inches, except where my mane is concerned; for that, I'd use a very long pile, maybe six to eight inches, and spray it in place with fixative. =)