Thank you so much for this!

That's excellent help. I've been afraid to do any shaving before seeing that.

thankyou <3

Matrices you are a saint of fur, thank you so much!

That's really a great and helpful tutorial. Thanks.

They do!! Thank you so much Ms. Matrices. I always count on
you or most of my fursuit info I need.

I remember you telling me about shaving fur and how you started with the longest clipper and worked your way down. At first I thought you could just skip down to the desired clipper and that gradually going down would just be more time consuming, but it does a better job with styling and you don't have to go over it as many times with just the one desired clipper (if you want it really short). Thanks for the input, Matrices!

Yep! I remember sitting with you in the lobby. Our conversation partly inspired why I thought I'd do a video on shaving technique! The other part was I was at a point in a project that needed shaved, and I thought it would be such a good example to show. :3

:3 Yeah, that conversation we had was very informal. I think you very much! I still remember the parachute string idea for the lips. I'm just a little stumped as to how you sew that. I know you glue it first with a thin line underneath, but then how do you sew it? do you go up and over the string all around or just underneath? That stuff looks rather hard to sew through if you were to just do it underneath o.o.

I sew it on the exposed-to-the-front side, sewing it first. And then glue the rest down. But you can use glue only it if thats easier! :D

Hmmm I understand exposed-to-the-front side, but I'm not getting exactly how you're sewing it.. Any chance you could draw a mini diagram? I'm picturing looking at the string (string is perpendicular to me), taking the thread, going down behind it to the fleece, pull the thread to the front of you after sewing through the foam and fleece, then pull it up and over the exposed-to-the-front side, and go back down the back forming a loop around it and go around like that till you've sewn all of the lip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Bml9tPBaaY is a demonstration of the technique (not my vid) if you sew it.

When I put mine in, I peeled back the fur and sewed the string to the edge of the fur. Then I glued it down to the inner-mouth material. Re gluing the fur back down in place.

Yeah. I get the stitch part, just for stitching the string, do you stick the needle in it when stitching, or go all around it then back in to the edge of the fur?

http://img97.imageshack.us/i/stitching.jpg/
Maybe this will help ^-^;. Sorry, I'm more a visual, hands-on learner.

Oh! Yes, just "in" it. If you go around your thread will be visible, if you just go in it a tiny bit, it will hold it on enough to have a nice exterior for when you are ready to glue it.

Ahhhh ok that's what I was wondering. I didn't know if that kind of parachute string was soft enough to be sewn through x3. Thanks so much! I really appreciate all the input *hugs*. I still have the picture of you and your plush, with you in and out of suit to post. As I say in my descriptions, you're welcome to the full res of any of them if you want one ^-^.

What was the number of the blade you were using? And what were the sizes of the comb-attachments...?

Its a 1.5 MM blade, and the guards are 1/2 inch, 3/8 inch, 1/4 inch, and 1/8 inch. It came as a set with my clipper.

I'm not sure if specifically those sizes contribute to the sucess of the piece, so I hope the info is helpful!

I've used other's shavers and blade guards before doing the shaving graduated (like I shown in the vid, long, medium, short, shortest) like that.

Let me know if you have any further questions :D

Nope, that's what I wanted to know. Thanks! :)

Awesome video. I was curious about that. :) And the plushie looks pretty good so far. ^_^

I had a couple of questions about it though. One, what is the oil for? (I don't use an electric shaver, so noob.) About how long did it take to shave down the head? Do you suggest having a separate razor just for plushies and such? And finally, do you take commissions on plushies because it's really cute. hehe.

Also, I didn't realize before you're a girl. You have a cute voice. ^_^

Thank you!

The oil is to keep your blades lubricated. The shaver is a mechanism that has a stationary blade and a moving blade that rub to cut any fibers it comes in contact with. When it gets clogged up during normal use (with hair/fur) it causes friction, which if not taken care of can shorten the life of your machine. Keeping the friction down by cleaning and oiling the blade is key to keeping your blades sharp and fast cutting, preventing the shaver from heating up from friction, and generally being good practice to keep machines oiled so they last longer and have improved/lasting performance over time.

In my demonstration it took me 35 minutes from start to finish. I've taken longer on fursuit heads. This isn't a quick process, but it certainly is worth it in the end the more time you spend on your project.

I don't think its necessary to have a separate razor. I've owned only the single razor for several years now. I use it for all kinds of things, including fursuit crafts, plush making, grooming my dog's paws, even shaving hair, its really handy! After every project before it gets put away it gets put away cleaned out and oiled so it is ready for the next project!

I unfortunately don't take commissions for sewing projects at this time, I'm happy to help share my knowledge but don't have the opportunity to do it for others. I am planning on opening one spot as a collaboration piece with my friend  Klickitat soon (we are  NorthSound), but it will only be done in an auction format for one plush only of any kind of Anthropomorphic Animal. We will announce it on FA and all over the place, so keep your eyes open for when we start it. The pattern to make your own is free, just print it and make it! Available on Northsound's FA page.

Yep, I'm a girl. :D

Thanks for answering them all. I agree, often times such efforts is worth the time it takes. It looks really nice.

And I don't blame you for not taking commissions with them. I've only done a little bit of sewing, but enough to know it can take a really long time. >_<

just in time for my new suit ^_^

Of course it helps, thanks a lot!
Makes me wanting to build a fursuit >v<