Premium Tutorial: Free-form Patterning a Fursuit Head

Learn how to make your own repeatable pattern to build foam fursuit heads! The end goal of this technique is to achieve a simple, hollow, fursuit-style head base that can be easily lined. Useful or unique shapes can be saved and repeated for the future. It takes advantage of half-inch thickness upholstery foam, but honestly can also be created with EVA or other foams.

The end result is a lightweight, fast-drying, washable, possible-to-be-fully-lined head, mask, or other wearable costume shape. Repeatable for easy collaboration, to mix and match parts (cheeks/jaws/ears/etc.), and to make putting together your first or future critters faster.

This tutorial is a detailed 32-page guide with step-by-step instructions that cover 5 major concepts: Free-form construction of the pattern, refining it, cutting from foam, lining, and furring or skinning. Now included is a separate PDF of a step-by-step 8-page companion tutorial on constructing the dome! Tutorial text is written in English. Included is 2 letter-sized (8.5x11 inch) formatted PDFs.

Materials needed for this premium tutorial are:

• Disposable/recyclable prototyping material.
• Half-inch thickness upholstery foam.
• Masking tape.
• Low temp hot glue, fabri-tac, or contact cement.
• Razor knife.
• Scissors.
• 2 colors of marker for marking on paper.
• Pins that you don’t mind getting glue on.
• Needle and thread.

Optional

• Liner fabric such as lycra, quilted broadcloth, etc.
• Sewing machine for assembling sewn elements.
• Measuring tape.
• Mannequin head.
• Silicone fingertip protectors.

General Materials for the Rest of a Fursuit Head

• Faux fur and/or anti-pill fleece.
• Chalk or similar fabric marking tool.
• Clips instead of pins.
• Stuffing.
• Velcro or magnets for expressive elements.

It is highly appreciated if you use or adapt these techniques on projects, especially if you sell or profit from it, that you share credit that you learned it right here from Matrices.net using my patterns and guides. That way others can discover my tutorials and make their own projects, too!!

Note: This is a digital download, I will not be sending buyers anything in the mail with this purchase, it is intended to be downloaded so you can enjoy learning about and making this project yourself! Thanks for understanding!