Welcome to the Fursuit Building forum
Since we've been seeing more and more questions about fursuit construction, I figured it was time that a seperate forum was created for just that. (If you have questions about fursuit programming, we have another forum for that.)
Here are some fursuiting resources that folks posting here might find helpful:
- The Furry Costume Information Exchange
- fursuit.co.uk
- The Fursuit & Costume Archive (photos and videos)
- Fursuit construction on WikiFur
- Maskmaking with Foam from Matrices.net
- Tutorials, Hints, and Tips from BeetleCat Originals
- Tutorials from Bladespark
Happy fursuiting!
Do you make your own fersuits or do you go to some fursuit builder to make your fursuits?
Both of these happen.
The short summary: professional fursuit creators usually make a very quality product, but the cost can be easily $1000-$2000, and it can be an extensive wait. Making it yourself requires a lot of time and effort, but can be done for a much more modest cost, and is a good way to enhance your sewing and costuming skills.
Ten years ago, it was very much a 'make it yourself' thing. But some of the folks who have made them themselves have gone on to do it professionally, and the balance has shifted.
--Chi
I just want to add my two cents.
(Disclaimer: Two cents are redeemable for opinions other than my own. Caveat Emptor.)
A lot of the time I see people new to creating fursuits, and the first thing they do is hop on a forum and ask the most basic questions (where to find certain supplies, what to do to create x, how much fur they should use, etc). I am not calling out anyone in particular, it's just the general thing I see everywhere.
Please folks, if you are serious about wanting to create your own fursuits, DO YOUR RESEARCH. Those questions and more have already been asked and answered several times over! The very first post in this thread has plenty of links for you to start you out with the basics like supplies and construction. Google is your friend. The Fursuit LJ community, http://community.livejournal.com/fursuit/, has hundreds, if not thousands, of pages of information in its memories and on its user page, to create everything in a fursuit from its head down to its toes, even animatronics and fans for the experienced creators. (Don't want to make your own? There is a full list of every professional fursuit maker there as well!) http://www.matrices.net also is a popular go-to place for the beginning suitmaker. If you are a visual learner like myself, there's more than likely helpful youtube videos on the subject.
After you have read through the tutorials, bought your supplies, experimented with (cheaper!) materials to get the hang of what goes on in the construction of a suit, and run into a specific problem that you cannot seem to find on Google/LJ/forum, or wrap your head around, should you ask a question.
Again, I am not trying to dissuade anyone. But all professional fursuit creators were once beginners themselves, and only got to where they are today by practice, experimentation, trial and error, sometimes after YEARS. It is so much better to learn by doing than it is through spoon feeding, plus the sense of accomplishment you feel when you look at the finished suit and say, "I made this."
Long story short, fursuit creating takes time and effort. If you are not willing to put in the time or have the patience to do your research first, then you will NOT have the time or patience to create your costume.
This is Compleatly off building the fursuit but does anyone know a fursuit dealer in The UK?
It appears Beetlecat no longer has a tuturial, and Bladespark no longer exists. just thought I should let yall know about that :3
Bladespark is active these days on FA at http://www.furaffinity.net/user/bladespark
Whee, I found a place that i can ramble about fursuit building and not get a bunch of weird looks for it! I will need a lot of tips on my first fursuit (currently in progress!!!!) BECAUSE IM A NIEVE NEWBIE!!!
Is there a place around my area that I can find Fox ears and fox tail to purchase for a small fee?
Someone should make me a fursuit because they love me that much! <3 :3
@Giza: Any chance you could add my "How to Commission a Fursuit" link shown below in my signature to the list of links in the first post? I think it would be very beneficial as not all furs tend to make their own suits, but rather some prefer to buy instead and may need information on the commissioning process. 
I was wondering if anyone would tell/show me how to post my own fourm questions. I have three questions so posting info would pe appreaciated...
Go directly above these postings. In the box, you'll see Forums. Click it. You will then be shown a list of all the fora here. Click the appropriate one. After you do, you'll see an option to Post new forum topic.
But first, use the Search option that's also in that box. Look to see if someone has already asked your question or has an existing topic open concerning it.
*waves paw franticly* here is so super helpful tutorials on fursiut stuff! more to come!
www.matrices.net
www.beetlecatoriginals.com
www.bladespark.com
Look me up on Fur Affinity,Deviant Art, Weasyl, even Youtube!