Sometimes old fur coats aren’t the style you wanted or you simply aren’t someone who typically wears furs. However, you may not want to get rid of the coat because of its sentimental value. Instead of leaving it in storage for long periods of time, consider fur restyling. A popular option for fur restyling is changing your old furs into a new fur blanket. If you are considering this option, it can be interesting to learn about how it is done.
Take the Coat Apart
Fur coats are made from a large number of pelts that are cut into strips and sewn together. Therefore, the first step in the process is to take these apart. The lining must also be removed. An expert furrier can carefully remove the hundreds of seams in the coat to separate everything into pieces that can be used to create a blanket. This is one of the longest parts of the process due to the care the furrier must take, as well as the number of seams.
Check the Pelts Over
Once the pelts have been separated into their individual strips, the furrier will check the furs for wear and tear. Any bald areas will be removed and other problems will be fixed. This will ensure that every piece of fur that goes into your new fur blanket meets the highest quality standards. The fur may also be cleaned.
Determine the Logistics
Putting together the strips from fur coats into a fur blanket isn’t always an easy process. The furrier must take many things into consideration. First, he must determine what size blanket he can make with the pieces that are left after discarding any damaged areas. He must also find the best way to close up arm holes or any other unusual shapes created by the coat. Creating a plan ahead of time will reduce the number of mistakes made through the process.
Sew the Pieces Together
Once the plan is complete, your furrier will carefully sew the furs together to create the general blanket shape required. This is also a painstaking process because the seams must lie flat and the furrier must take precautions not to damage the vulnerable furs. After sewing, the process is not quite complete.
Give It a Final Shape
Next, the furrier will take the blanket and block it, giving it the final shape. For the most part, this shape will be a square or rectangle and may involve removing some fur from the edges. This is an incredibly precise step because it will impact what the fur blanket looks like in the end.
Add the Filler and Backing
The last step in the process is to choose the backing and to stuff the blanket with filler to enhance its warmth and make it more comfortable to use. The backing is sewn onto the leather side of the furs, leaving a small space open to add the filler. This opening
will be closed last. In some cases, the backing may be quilted to help keep the filler in place to avoid bunching.
Using fur restyling to change your fur coats into a fur blanket can be a great option to keep that precious heirloom fur without feeling guilty that you aren’t wearing it. If you are interested in fur recycling or restyling, contact us to discuss your options so you can find a new use for your fur coats.
Click here to learn more about the fur restyling process.