Fun furry paws and ears

         Halloween is quickly approaching and my thoughts are on a small play that I will be performing on Halloween evening.  Really, it is more like taking story time and making it come alive with costumes, props, and a little bit of singing.  (It should be all of 30 minutes.)

         The story is  Grimm's  "Little Red Riding Hood."  So my co-worker will be the wolf and since we are on a budget, and I can sew.........I said I would make the wolf ears and paws.  Easy enough I thought.  Ha!  Considering I never have sewed with fur before!

        Love the internet..........there are lots of wonderful tutorials on making fur paws and ears.  I found a very helpful website called Matrices.net

       She has a free paw pdf pattern.......easy enough to download.  Also, she has step by step clear instructions.  (Awesome)  So, the paws were really easy to make, but the fake fur is harder to sew with.  Make sure you use a heavy duty needle.  I sewed the paws on the sewing machine along with the paw felt pads.  No need to zigzag the felt....I just used a regular top-stitch. Also I used thin black foam to cut out paw claws, just remember to sew them with the  pointed edge facing paw pads before you sew paws right side together. To finish off the edge of the paw gloves I used a scrap of black bias tape.  Check it out: 

Wolf Paws

       For the ears, I looked on the internet for a ear pattern.  Please note:  I printed out a pattern that looked like a good size.  I wish I would have held it up to my headband.  They came out a bit large, but I think for a goofy wolf it works.  In the future I think I may make the ears smaller.   The ears were a little more work.  After sewing right sides together, and turning out,  I hot glued black foam on the inside so ears will stand up straight.  I hot glued the pink felt  and another piece of fur on top to cover the bottom felt edge.  Then the ears were hot glued to the headband. Check it out: 

Wolf Ears

      Materials:  I purchased a yard of fake fur which is enough for paws and ears.  I think I have enough to make a tail if I feel up to it.  1 piece of black felt for the paw pads and 1 sheet of pink felt for ears. A scrap of black bias tape to finish the edge of the paws. 1 sheet of thin black foam for paw claws.  Also, a headband for ears and hot glue.   Time:  Around 4 hours for the paws and 3 hours for the ears.  (Could be quicker but I took my time....since I really didn't know what I was doing. )

Check it out: 

Wolf, coming out of the bushes

Check out the wolf claws 

 I hope this was helpful. Happy Halloween to all!