I'm actually seeing a lot of people just make their own, esp. if they're already a creative.
(that's what people tell me, at least, when I consider a squirrel fursuit which, not sure if you've seen any, aren't done in a way that I like?)
It's the best way to know what you're getting, I guess. But it takes a lot of time + knowledge but I guess more fulfilling. idk.

Did you want a realistic one or something a bit more cartoony? I think that also helps in honing down on what kind of artist you're looking for in making a suit, some only specify in specific styles.

I want something cartoony
And I have no idea how to sew or anything
I think making a suit could be fun to try to learn but I kind of just want to pay someone for a professional one
And maybe make other characters myself

this actually made me giggle
for reasons

>> im unhelpful im just always reminded how adorable you are and things. Things like what kind of stories youll tell 12 years down the road

WHAT REASONS

yknow

one day youll be old
i hope you remember these whacky furry days fondly

I sure should, best days I've ever had. Anthrocon was like the best time of my life

*cracks knuckles*

M'kay, so, I had to look for makers that were open...and some you just have to wait for. I would find a maker who's style you like first, who you think can really bring your idea to life. Questions to ask yourself:

* What's their turnaround time? Do you have a deadline in mind? Some makers can take up to a year or more for completion. Some only take a few months. Usually you can see how much they manage to complete between each time they open for commissions by looking at their journals or news updates.

* What's their record like? Do they regularly produce suits? Is this their business? Will they put you first, and not other types of commissions? (I've had it happen where the maker I was commissioning would make a lot of premades to make money, and neglect to work on my suit, so it's an important thing to investigate. Follow their FA and Twitter to see)

* Do you like their style? What sort of style do you want? Toony? Realistic? 3D eyes? Use-your-own eyes? Digitgrade? Plantigrade? Padding? No padding? It's a good idea to figure out this stuff before you're staring down a list of options when commissioning them.

And as far as finding a maker....there's a lot of options. But here's some that I follow. I've found that openings are fairly cyclical. I'd get quotes from them first, price your options, see who will give you the best bang for your buck:

* Menagerie Workshop http://www.furaffinity.net/user/menagerieworkshop/
* Fursuiting http://www.furaffinity.net/view/17351330/
* Autumn Fallings: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/autumnfallings
* Crystumes: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/crystumes/
* Midori8: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/midori8/
* Shagpoke: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/shagpoke/
* MadeFurYou: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/madefuryou/
* MagpieBones: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/magpiebones/
* FarisBatwan: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/farisbatwan/
* SunnyValleyCreations: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/sun.....lleycreations/
* MoreFurLess: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/morefurless
* WhiteyFawks/Arend Studios: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/whiteyfawks/
* BlasterBurby: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/blasterblurby/
* AlieTheKitsune: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/aliethekitsune/
* Sharpe19: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/sharpe19/
* Moopdrea: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/moopdrea/
* Keeatah: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/keeatah/
* Media: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/media/
* Kilcodo: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/kilcodo/
* Rome: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/rome.
* Beetlecat: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/beetlecat/
* Sunny Valley Creations: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/sun.....lleycreations/

Im stealing this list.

Thank you so much for taking the time to do this
This helps me a lot more

Duct tape dummy I don't fully understand, like I get that it's a dummy of myself made of ducttape but do I like send it to them?

I'd want cartoony, fully body, padding, regular legs, and the character isn't like furry furry, I've seen suits made out of like idk cotton? Not sure what it is but it's not faux fur.

I'll look through this list now, and thank you again so much, I still feel pretty blind. Basically I know I need (and have) character reference and 1-5 thousand dollars haha don't know much beyond that or didn't before this

First off, going to say what Boiler Roo said. There's more makers then what he's listed but that's like.. a really good list.

If you want a Fursuit, it's often a forward thinking decision due to the time involved, and time it takes to get a 'slot'. Much like art commissions, suits are limited window of entry so having money/idea in hand is where you want to start, and then either look for someone open, or wait for the one you want (could take a few months, half a year, or longer maybe).

Have a reference available, be ready to take measurements when they ask, often a duct tape dummy if you want a full suit(they might have specific requests for how to mark your Duct Tape Dummy).

Fursuit commissioning I think usually goes in two batches, first a quote, second a request. Also some artists who are too busy might only pick the projects they want, so that's another gamble.

Oh yes. Need a full turnaround reference (NOT NSFW) and most ask you for a duct tape dummy. I know Whiteyfawks/Arend Studios doesn't request one, but most of the rest do. You'll usually need a friend to help you out with it :) some makers are indeed very specific on how they want you to construct yours.

This is good info, forgot to mention like all of this :)

Finding someone I like who's not ...always full will be the hardest part and the part I'm the most blind about
I think everything else I can handle its just finding an artist and getting a quote

Mostly it's just being patient.

It took me almost a year to find a fursuit maker who I liked who was open, and I only found her by total fluke! Someone I was talking to turned out their girlfriend was open and accepting commissions. So ya, mostly just be patient, get some quotes and figure out what you want. Look at fursuits you like and approach those makers.

And some more, because I am obsessed:

* Lobitaworks: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/lobitaworks/
* Faraku: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/faruku/
* Templa: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/templa/
* Sugar N' Spice Costumes: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/sug.....spicecostumes/
* Temperance: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/temperance/
* Stuffed Panda Studios: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/stu.....dpandastudios/
* DexterousZombie (parts): http://www.furaffinity.net/user/dexterouszombie/
* Phoenix Wolf: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/phoenixwolfsuits/
* Interrobang: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/~interrobang~/
* Made by Mercury: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/madebymercury/
* ThatsFurredUp: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/thatsfurredup/
* ArtSlave: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/artslave/
* Monkau: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/monkau/
* PalohMino: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/palohmino/
* Wahaneta: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/wahaneta/
* RuffledDesigns: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/ruffleddesigns/
* FurItUp: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/furitup/
* Megumibish: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/megumibish

I don't think it's sad that they cost so much, it's A LOT of work

I do have some things to go on now but I still feel really blind

That's fine! This helps a lot, the part I'm the most blind about is finding someone , because I only know a couple artists like mixed candy and clockwork creations who seem to more often than not be full
I mostly need to expand my knowledge of makers themselves
So links helps oh so much

As for sewing and such I've never done it

Look at buyer beware and also the reviews feedback, it's an account on fa.

Just want something anything now? Go to furbuy and stalk auctions till you find one. Be careful, pay with paypal and cancel order if not delivered before paypal guarantee deadline. I got stiffed on a partial there. I dod buy one after, and making a full suit now.

Whitey is local, i know he runs it like a business, and should be fast. Of you want cheap but not aswell executed, siegedawolfsky here is affordable and prolific. Some known makers are divas with 3 year long lists and no sense of business. Be attentive to that. Some look good but low quality and finish.

Oh ya, I also recommend asking fursuitters to give feedback on their makers. If you send people a note asking most people will at least give you a general idea how happy they are with the work, price, time to complete, artists communicating, etc etc. I found it really helpful when choosing someone.