How to Sew on Fur Suit Paw Pads

Hand sew the paw pads to a fur suit.

Children and adults wear fur suits on Halloween, as characters representing businesses and as mascots for many schools. Adding paw pads to a fur suit adds character and provides an illusion of the animal having palms. The easiest way to sew paw pads on a fur suit is by hand sewing. A sewing machine works if the paw pads are separate from the suit; if not, the arm of the sewing machine will not maneuver inside the paws with ease, which in turn causes puckers.

Things You'll Need

• Fur suit
• Paper
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Leather or vinyl
• Straight pins
• Thread
• Sharp hand sewing needle

Instructions

1. Place the fur suit on a flat work surface. Position the suit so the paws face palm up. This is the side where you will place the paw pads.

2. Measure the distance across the paw pad. Draw a circle or kidney-shaped design on a piece of paper to match the width of the paw pad area. Draw the pads so they are as long as they are wide. Cut out the paper paw pad pattern. Cut two paw pads from leather or vinyl using the paw pad paper pattern.

3. Place the paw pads in the desired position. Clip the fur on the fur suit directly beneath the desired pad placement on the fabric base. Clip the fur using a sharp pair of scissors and cut the fur just above the fabric backing. Move the paw pad and begin clipping at the position that is approximately the center of the pad.

4. Clip the fur toward the outer edge of the paw pad. As you cut, move the paw pad around in the desired location. Do not clip past the edge of the paw pad. For example, fur suits with long fur require the long fur to be trimmed back until you see fabric itself. Cut the fur away directly below the paw pads.

5. Pin the paw pad to the fabric using straight pins.

6. Thread a sharp hand sewing needle with thread the same color as the paw pads. Cut a piece of thread 36-inches long. Thread the needle. Match the two ends of the thread together. Tie a knot.

7. Place the needle on the inside of the paw. Position the tip of the needle 1/16-inch in from the outside edge of the paw. Pierce the fabric and the paw pad. Insert the needle in the fabric next to the paw pad. Pull to the back. Move the needle 1/16-inch from the first stitch. Repeat the process until the paw pad is sewn to the surface of the paw.

8. Tie off the thread by inserting the needle through the stitch next to the last stitch. Leave a 1-inch loop in the thread. Insert the tip of the needle through the loop. Pull the thread tight. Repeat the process two more times to ensure the thread does not come unstitched. Cut the thread.

9. Repeat Steps 2 through 7 for the remaining paw pads.

References

• Cyber Seams: How to Sew by Hand - Basic Stitches