Watch the video here: Eric's Checkerboard Throw

Eric generously sent me three beautiful furs to work with. The collection included one elegantly soft white rabbit coat, one luxurious gray full-length mink coat, and one exquisite brown mink shawl. He expressed a desire for a large throw to enhance his living space. After some consideration, we decided on a classic checkerboard pattern, incorporating the rich brown mink as a stunning border. The hood of the gray mink was quite substantial, allowing us to utilize the leftover fur to create two matching pillows, each measuring 18 by 18 inches. The final measurements of the throw came to 54 by 65 inches, making it a perfect statement piece.

See the video here: June's Project

This transformation was a challenge. The amount of fur to work with was limiting, but I was able to do what the customer wanted. The throw was 45 by 46.5 inches with the Fox border on top and bottom. I was able to make one 18 inch pillow and one 12 by 14 inch pillow, also mirroring the design on the main throw. What a joy it is work on a well maintained fur! Boy was this fur coat filled with sawdust!!

See Video here: Ellyne's 4 Beautiful Furs Transformed

The customer sent in five fur coats to be transformed into throws and possible pillows. Before I started the project, I contacted the customer and described what we could do with each and every one of the furs. While reviewing the furs the customer decided that she wanted to hold on to her Silver short waisted mink coat. It was absolutely stunning!!!  So, it does not appear in the video. The first throw that I worked on was the full-length Beaver coat.  From this coat, I was able to make a throw as well as an 18 by 18-inch pillow. The next fur that I worked on was the full-length fox. It was a light-colored fox. I have a love hate relationship with fox. The fur is soft and luxurious to touch, but the fur flies everywhere! The next project that I worked on was a combination of two short waisted coats. One of those coats was a darker fox as well as a white mink coat. I offered the customer several design variations. The customer chose to have the white mink in the center portion of the throw and the darker fox around the outside border of the fur throw. I had enough smaller pieces to make a 16 by 16-inch pillow. The inside portion of the pillow was a combination of the darker brown fox as well as the light-colored fox from project #2. On the outside of this pillow, I used the white mink trim that went all the way around the collar area. Unfortunately, the leather portion of the white mink trim was slightly damaged and dried. I used a specialized oil to help soften the leather. And for the majority of the fur, it worked, but there were portions that had to be taken out because the leather was just too dry and brittle. I used an additional leather stripping on top of the old leather stripping. And on that pillow, I also added an additional leather stripping all the way around the border of the pillow. And then I hand sewed the white mink trim onto the additional leather stripping. Here are the following sizes of the projects mentioned above:

Beaver throw: 51 by 55

Full Length Fox throw: 52 by 55

Short Waisted Fox and Mink Combination: 51 by 53

Beaver pillow:  18 by 18

Fox / Mink Trim Pillow: 16 by 16

Watch the video here: Beverley's Beautiful Mink Transformation

Beverly's Mink was made in the 1990's. It belonged to her mother. I love being able to take a loved one's beloved item and turn it into a family heirloom. The original lining was use, but the monogram was left out. A copper brown silk crepe was used on two of the outside panels on the lining. Final Measurements: Throw: 52 by 54 Pillow: 14 X 14 with pillow and zipper installed.

Watch MJ’s Mink Transformation here: MJ's Video

The customer wanted to make a throw and a teddy bear from her mink coat. The coat had both sheared and unsheared fur. The unsheared fur was used in both the bear and the throw's border. The total measurement for this throw was 43 by 47 and the bear is 12 inches tall. Bear Pattern used: Funky Friends Factory ~ Melody Memory Bear Lots of cute animal patterns there. Go check them out! https://www.funkyfriendsfactory.com

Watch the video here: Jana's Lynx Coat

What do you do when you want a nice size throw and your coat is too small/short? Coat made only a 35 by 50 throw. Way too small during a cold winter’s night. The customer and I decided to go with a faux fur that was close in color to the Lynx coat.

We used faux fur as a border and it came out great!

Finished project size 50 by 63.

See the video here: Sarah's Beautiful Lynx Coat Transformed into a Throw.

Sarah's coat was purchased in 1985. The fur is a Lynx, and it's the first time that I've ever worked with a lynx coat. Apparently, I'm somewhat allergic to it because it caused my eyes to really water and the loose fur was just an irritant for me. I used a full-face mask and a respirator. And it worked great! The fur itself was in excellent condition. The fur felt luxurious when you ran your fingers through it. The throw measures 63 by 45 inches. The customer decided to use her lining. This fur  is just absolutely stunning! The pictures do not do it justice.

Watch the video here: Marsha's Beaver Coat Transformation

Beaver Coat Transformed into a Throw (48 by 53) a & Pillow (18 by 18). Coat was in excellent condition. 3 inch border using graduated light to dark tones. Customer's lining was used as a backing for the pillow. Original monogram was cut out and saved for the customer, as directed.

Watch Brooke's Fur Transformation here!

Brooke's Lovely Mink Coat Transformed into a Throw & Teddy Bear It was such an honor to make this beautiful Mink Throw & Teddy Bear. The completed throw measures 48 inches wide by 50 inches long. The customer chose to keep her lining, as well as her monogram. With the remaining mink scraps Brooke opted to make a Memory Teddy Bear. We used the button from the coat and made the bear’s nose. The lining was also used on the paw pads and inner ears.

Teddy Bear Pattern: https://www.funkyfriendsfactory.com/melody-memory-bear-keepsake-toy-sewing-pattern

View the video here: Karen's Mink Coat Transformation

It was such an honor to make this beautiful Mink Throw & Cowl!! This coat belonged to the customer’s mother. We were hoping that the project could have been completed before her mom passed, but unfortunately that didn't happen. I did my absolute best to honor Karen’s mother's memory. The completed throw measures 45 inches wide by 52 inches long. The throw is lined with wool batting. The customer chose to keep her mother's lining, as well as her monogram. With the remaining mink scraps Karen opted to make a Cowl to keep her nice and warm in the winter. We were able to line both sides with fur, which I was kind of doubtful in the beginning. I can’t believe that we had enough. The Cowell measures 36 inches long and has a keyhole opening so the one end of the scarf can be tucked into the center of scarf.

Watch the video here: Beautiful Beaver Coat Transformed into a Throw

Beaver Coat transformed into a throw. The fur was in amazing condition! So nice to work with. I loved the lining in this fur. The color variation was very unique.

Final measurements: 42 by 57

Watch the video here: Pam's Mink Coat Transformation

Pam’s fur coat was wonderful to work with! Well maintained and so soft too. She wanted to use her own lining from her fur coat. Watch how I make the lining here: How I Make My Custom Linings

Watch the video here: Five Beautiful Repurposed Furs Coats

The customer sent me 5 fur coats that belonged to her grandmother. Each one of the coats will be transformed into a throw and given to different family members. There were four minks and one rabbit coat. The biggest challenge was trying to remove a very bad musty odor from the furs. I am so happy that I could create these wonderful family heirlooms.

See the video here: Beaver Coat to a Beaver Throw

The customer wanted her Beaver coat transformed into a throw. The fur was in wonderful condition. It had a lovely fox collar, but the collar was very small and short. It would have been very difficult to incorporate it in the border of the throw, so we opted not to use it. It measures 45 by 55.

This Beaver coat was so beautiful and wonderful to work with. The Throw measured 47 by 50. I used a layer of batting as well as a layer of lightweight weft. That will help stabilize the throw, as it is heavy. With the left over fur we made a scarf with measures 10 by 70 inches. It can be used as a shawl or wrapped around like a scarf. I made two videos of the project. One focusing on the throw and part two on just the scarf.

You can see them here:

Part one: Making the Beaver Throw

Part two: Making the Scarf

Enjoy the process!

Fur Teddy Bear made from left over Beaver Fur. See video here: Fur Teddy Bear

I received a fur stole, two fur collars, and a suede jacket. The customer wanted as many pillows as possible from the garments that I had. One of her requests was to make a pillow with a pocket so she could slide her hands in and give the pillow a hug. Very similar to a fur muff. A more detailed video will be following on how to make a pillow with a fur muff/pocket.

Watch the video here: Fur Stole to Four Pillows

Loved this Coat!

This was a full length Tanuki Fur Coat. I loved working with this rich and lovely fur. I used the original lining and labels. Final Throw Size: 48 by 50

A tanuki's fur is thick and soft with long black guard hairs atop a medium-brown undercoat. They have a black-tipped bushy tail, and short, rounded ears. Tanuki's are often referred to as a "racoon dog", but they are not related to racoons.

See the video transformation here: Tanuki Fur to a Throw