How to Make a Fur Coat Into a Fur Throw

Don't want to wear grandma's old fur coat? Make a glamorous throw blanket out of it for your sofa!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fur coat you are willing to cut.
• Leather needle
• Heavy duty thread
• Fray Check
• Clothes pins (the spring kind work best)
• Seam ripper
• Satin lining fabric. The amount you need will depend on how much fur you have.
• Razor type cutter, box cutter.
• Tee square and marker
• Measuring tape

1. Select a fur coat that has a nice large, unadorned section at the back. This will be the bulk of your throw. You want to dismantle the coat very carefully. Using the seam ripper, gently begin to unpick the seam and remove the lining.

2. You will find that a fur coat has a lot of interior shaping materials. Remove these carefully. Are your surprised at what the fur looks like from the back? Most fur fabric is made small bits pieced together to achieve a specific look. Do not unpick any seams on the back of the actual fur, and Fray Check any areas which look weak. Remove the sleeves if you can, and unpick the shoulders and side seams.

3. You will not be using a sewing machine or scissors for this project. Most domestic sewing machines are not heavy duty enough to handle fur, and scissors can damage the fur. Spread the coat pieces on the floor or a table large enough, and determine the where you can get the best, largest rectangle. This is usually the back. Using a tee square, measuring tape and marker, draw out your rectangle. MAKE SURE IT'S SQUARED UP! Follow the maxim "Measure twice (even more) cut once"!
   
   Cut with your razor cutter carefully from the back. Fray check all the areas where the fur stitching has been cut. This is important!

4. Now that you have this piece, see if there is enough fur from the front and sleeves to add to it. Think in terms of piecing rectangles together to make a larger one.
   
   Probably you can get two long rectangles from the fronts. You can add these to the long sides of the large piece to make your throw blanket wider. Make sure whatever you add to one side you add to the other, to keep the look consistent. Be mindful of the direction of the fur, as it has a pronounce nap.

5. Now you are ready to start stitching! If you are satisfied with the size of your largest piece and are not adding to it, skip this step.
   
   Holding your two pieces of fur, fur sides together, make sure you brush the fur away from your seam. You want to be stitching through the leather only and not have any fur peeking through. Using your leather needle and an overhand stitch, sew the pieces together. Work neatly and check your progress as you go. Tie it off securely.

6. Once you have you fur all prepared you are ready to sew in the lining. Measure carefully and cut your satin to size plus 1/2 inches all around. Using the clothes pins, pin it to the fur wrong sides together. Using the leather needle begin to stitch it to the fur, turning under the 1/2 inch border to the inside, as you go.

7. When you are done, you will have a fabulous, designer throw!

[botticelli728]

on 8/9/2009 Very informative article. I remember a huge old sable coat from when I was a child, and this would have been a great use for it. 5*

[cincin1]

on 8/2/2009 Nice way to recyle a wonderful heirloom. Good article - clear instruction. 5*