Fursuit observation

[altivo]

Whee! Final fitting, and it works. I wasn't sure about the tail I made last year going with, but it does (which is good, because there's no time to make a totally new one.) A few bits of hand stitching and it's done and ready to pack.

The observation: On a bitter cold night (23 F. outside, windchill much worse) a fursuit is cozy. I like it. Don't wanna take it off to finish the hems even.

And a recommendation: For anyone planning to roll their own like this, it's not terribly hard to do if you know a bit about sewing and have access to a decent machine. Get Adam Riggs' book Critter Costuming: Making Mascots and Fabricating Fursuits and read it. His advice is excellent. Don't skip the step of making the "sloper" out of muslin or other cheap fabric to check the fit. I knew I should and I did that, As a result, I found exactly where to adjust the pattern for the fit I wanted, and when I cut the expensive fur fabric it was right on.

Comments

[chibiabos.livejournal.com]

Just out of the blue (okay, I'm just too lazy to write an e-mail), did you ever get a hold of Wolves of Time? I'm starting to realize, searching through the largest nearby public libraries' online catalogs, the books are hard to find and libraries tend to not have them. :/

[altivo.livejournal.com]

No. They are extremely scarce because they were only published in the UK, apparently. Due to international copyright rules of various sorts, UK only publications are rarely brought into the US, so unless a US imprint picks up the license, they don't become available here.

Journeys to the Heartland is in only five libraries in North America: The Library of Congress, Notre Dame, U. of Wisconsin Madison, Toronto Public, and Sweet Briar College. Used booksellers (a few in the US) are offering it for prices from $1 to $102, with the average being around $20 or so, plus shipping. The few in the US are on the high end of that scale, $50 and up.

Seekers at the Wulfrock is in only two: U. of Wisconsin Madison and Toronto Public. Used book dealers (none in the US) are offering it for $12 to $80, average price around $20, plus shipping from wherever it is, which would be Australia, New Zealand, the UK, or maybe Canada.

I have these on my list of furry books to read, but it now contains about a thousand titles and obviously, many are easier to find than this.

[thistledown.livejournal.com]

Which books were those ? I don't think I've read them, but I'm pretty sure I've seen that title around the 2nd hand bookshops here ? I'm from Down Under, so a lot of English publications show up here. If you like..I could check ?

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Both are by William Horwood. One title is Journeys to the Heartland and the other is Seekers at the Wulfrock.

They may well be available there in AU, but quite likely the cost of currency conversion and shipping would make the pretty pricy to a US buyer. Thanks for offering, though.

[pioneer11.livejournal.com]

Sounds goodly! Glad it works.

I um...*fidgets* could never do the fursuit thang.

*tears at the headpart in a horrific attack of claustrophobia, little
children nearby cry as the fox tears his head off*

Sorry.

^_^;;

[altivo.livejournal.com]

No need to sorry about that. I wouldn't wish discomfort on anyone, and I'm claustrophobic myself so I definitely understand that one. I wondered if I could stand a fursuit, and I had my doubts about it. In fact, I might not tolerate some of them very well, but my design is open enough, and I've seen some even less constricting.

I admit I hyperventilated a bit at first, but that was more due to the feeling of sudden heat, and I found I adjusted to the effect fairly fast. I also found that if I prop the mouth open a bit, the ventilation improves tremendously, so that modification is now in the works.

I wore the suit to a photo session on Friday night, and after cooling off from that decided I might as well go "public" with it. I braved the elevators and the crowds with limited vision and even managed to recognize a few friends. I admit to not being as active as some suiters are, though I'll get better at it. Had a longish chat with vakkotaur down in the lobby, and eventually he guided me back to my room, for which I think him. I could have managed, but it's much easier with a helper. Then he tried on the head himself and I took photos of him wearing it, and we had a nice long rambling chat that I quite enjoyed.

Saturday I wore it again for the fursuit parade and managed not to trip or bump into anything on either occasion. That's a decent start at least. Total hours logged must amount to about four, I think. The weather was cool, which makes it easier I'm sure, and though I sweated up a bit, I was able to tolerate it pretty easily.