Altering a Thrifted Fur Coat (the internet told me I couldn't do it)

In a world before Covid-19 was a thing in the US, I found an amazing fur coat at a thrift shop. It fit great and the price was right, but the length wasn't really what I wanted it to be, and there was a small hole near the clasp. Once I got home (coat in hand), I turned to the internet to learn how to alter fur garments, only to find out that this was, apparently, not an advisable undertaking for anyone other than an experienced furrier. But internet admonitions weren't about to stop me. Without much information to go on, I dove in. Not to spoil the ending or anything, but my alterations turned out great.
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Hi friends! I'm Faith, and I'm a sucker for a good project. On this channel, you'll find DIY videos on things like sewing, thrifting, woodworking, home renovation and more. Subscribe if you want to learn, be inspired, and feel empowered to try things on your own (even if your nosy neighbor says to leave it to a professional).
If cars are more your thing, be sure to check out THE BAD TIMING CLUB, where Zach and I tackle big automotive projects ➡ / moustach. .
Follow me on Instagram ➡ / faithgastin. .

[@conboring63]

You’re 100% right that it’s so hard to find diy info on fur alterations. My daughter has her grandmother’s 80’s mink and fox jacket that she wants to wear for her wedding in January. However, she wants me to make it “less 80s”. I did tell her that it’s a vintage piece and she should appreciate it for what it is. I’m nervous about attempting to change the gathered shoulders and wrist cuffs.

[@Dedhead6992]

Lol, I live in Binghamton, just got my vintage mink coat this video is exactly what I needed

[@carolslavickpearson8001]

This was excellent information. Thank you for sharing your process.

[@Gizmosan10]

Thank you so much for your video. I bought a long seal fur coat from church sale and I wanted to make it short and use the fur to make a hood with it. The hood might be more of a challenge for me. But watching you shorten your coat gave me incentives! Thanks!

[@eileenferris9619]

This is one of the most interesting videos I've ever watched...thank you x

[@Dakiniwoman]

I think it's great that you just did that on your own. I have worked with sewing furs for years and I got a book on how to sew furs that really helped me to learn.

[@florielilou]

hi could you tell me which book it was i'm really interested in learning !

[@Dakiniwoman]

@@florielilou I am sorry I had the book in 1972... it is no longer in print...

[@giovannilee2602]

Thank you ! U perfectly right . U are the only one I found who could give just the right kind of info I needed . The result looks pretty awesome

[@Sonneteer1]

You could make a beautiful collar from the residue. I did it with brown mink which, I lined. It changed my plain, black wool coat, into something quite special. Great video.

[@sixpapavictor]

Beautiful fur, looks amazing on you..🥰, great thrift find btw😍

[@KathyWardDollmaker]

I live in the Arctic, and I’ve been buying second hand fur coats for over 30years. I make lifelike dolls depicting Inupiaq people, and I also make coats into parkas that can be used in cold weather. I think whoever came up with “you have to go to a furrier,” must’ve been one. I use mostly used fur, and furs that are from animals that are eaten. We eat animals that we hunt, and we use the entire animal, even the membranes from the intestines, and the bones.

[@purenkool2024]

It is not politically incorrect if you are wearing a recycled old fur. I never bought a fur. My aunt gave me her sable coat. I cannot throw it out. Those animals lived and suffered horribly so I will honour them by wearing my coat with gratitude, humility and thankfulness to them. As long as you are aware of what those animals gave up and honour their lives, you are wearing your coat with a clear conscience. 🐼🥰🌹

[@reazallykhan]

Word

[@reazallykhan]

We sit on chairs...don’t we??

[@suno8911]

I would add that you are also avoiding buying faux fur (plastic), which will make things even worse for the planet and all living things. I personally have an issue with buying old fur and wasting it (cutting it for senseless DYI that will eventually end up in landfill). But her considerate and loving up cycling will mean many years of use for this coat.

[@michellebateman1484]

Thank you so much for making this tutorial! I have a few ideas for upcycling my fur coat but it has been a struggle to find information. This video is awesome.

[@sb-516]

You’ve inspired me!

[@jacquelinejackson4067]

Great good job. Happy for you. Now I am going to hem my fur coat. Too expensive to have it done by a furrier. Than you!!

[@Jeeptek1]

Great job! I like your spirit. I have found that often times you CAN have good results even if your not using professional equipment or techniques. I have sewen mink using a standard machine however there are tricks to it and it has it's limits. Glad the small tear happened on the discard piece not the coat. The older the fur the drier and more brittle the skin is which is why furriers sometimes refuse to attempt a repair. Great way to recycle and not feel guilty about wearing real fur!

[@faithgastin6740]

Thanks so much! I completely agree that with a little bit of patience and determination it is possible to work with challenging materials like fur even without professional equipment and training. I think that this coat was definitely a good one to start with because the repairs/alterations were pretty simple and the fur was really supple. It took me a while to find something in good shape though because a lot of the secondhand fur coats I found were brittle or missing fur. Do you work with fur often?

[@Jeeptek1]

@@faithgastin6740 No. I did a test project to see if I could sew mink on a conventional machine, I was thinking of making a throw from several recycled mink coats. The issue is getting the coat cut into usable pieces that the end product doesn't look like parts of an old coat. I may revisit the idea if I come across the right coats for the right money. Keep up the good work!

[@HarrisPilton789]

Your coat is gorgeous! You can find preowned or vintage fur coats in good condition, and for very reasonable prices at thrift shops, consignment shops, vintage shops, ebay, etsy, live auctioneers, ruby lane, etc. I have amassed quite a collection of furs this way.

[@reazallykhan]

Same

[@danielc2375]

Beautiful coat and good work i have found me a reversible vintage 80s sheared mink coat thrifted 3 years ago mind you i live in Toronto our winters are long and wild no coat has kept me this warm in my life than my old mink sometimes i dont even need a sweater when i wear it. I have tried every wool down and vortex coat in the market for years a big waste of money until i got my old mink i dont care how politically incorrect fur might be now days i know that i will be warm for many years and no longer spend money on new coats every 3 months i also will never buy a new one but why not an old one and give them a new life again.

[@amythewolf2130]

I can agree to this smh as a person Who wishes to protect all ANIMALS im happy you got a used one and i hope that you will sell IT on when you dont need IT anymore to spare more ANIMALS

[@Sarah-bp6by]

With the left over fur you could make a matching muff, ear muffs or hat.

[@jackwilliams2049]

Absolutely gorgeous fur for a beautiful woman ❤

[@polilaurito]

I read from older sources - like you all fur care information one can find are from old sources - that one sign of a good quality coat is where the fur turns up at the hem for at least an inch. So your instincts were right on the money! I’d want to ask if you can share the links for cleaning and caring for fur. Thank you!

[@irenechang2734]

I would recommend usung sewing clips instead of pins for holding the fur in place.

[@MissPinkFerrari]

Thanks for this vib... did u find out how to clean it. Stumbled on ur video looking to resolve shedding issues

[@VickiBenn-c2o]

Great video-

[@gloriawelles5534]

When you did your running stitch at the hem, did you go all the way through to the outer side of the fur, or did you just stitch to the lining? If just to the lining, how does it lay?

[@SassyTesla]

Very nice find. under 30 bucks is what i expect from goodwills, and It's criminal people don't shop there enough, but maybe that's what keeps the price down so i'm happy the way it is! As for your redesign, it's not my speed, I would have left it be but I also live in a place were it gets insanely cold so that's that. Thank you for your tutorial nonetheless.

[@purenkool2024]

THANK YOU FAITH! I GOT MY FULL LENGTH MINK FROM AN AUNT AND AM GOING TO REMODEL IT MYSELF.

[@JJJ-mq5ok]

Use the remaining cut out fur to make a hat and a boot leg cover. That would be so cute.

[@puudathemeow5593]

Are you going to make something out of the leftover fur later?

[@Karenmariepombagira]

I just got a 3/4 length that is a little too big. I want it to fit in the top and waist.

[@punisherthunder]

Gorgeous rabbit coat. I'm not sure your budget, but I regularly buy fur coats on eBay and such and you can get a really, really nice full pelt fox coat for not a whole lot.

[@faithgastin6740]

Thanks! That's such a good suggestion! I'll have to check that out since I can't hit up the thrift shops right now.

[@punisherthunder]

@@faithgastin6740 We buy lots on their all the time. Even $400 will buy you an oversized silver fox coat.

[@HarrisPilton789]

Absolutely! Ebay and Etsy have great deals on furs. And Etsy sellers even offer layaway! I have several mink and fox coats and jackets, several mink stoles, and an insane number of fur hats to match my coats. I'm ready for winter. LOL

[@polilaurito]

Yahoo Auctions have been a godsend for me here in Japan. I’d manage to form quite a lovely collection of coats and scarves for unbelievable prices.

[@maco_5555]

I work for a furrier. Trust me, you want to bring that to us. Hand sewing only lasts so long.

[@yesterdaywasADTR]

As a tailor, I'm super interested in learning how to take in/alter fur lol I'm sure you guys do amazing work. 👏

[@danofthedead1979]

Moral question. Is it right to wear second hand fur? Do you think real fur should be outlawed? (for obvious reasons)

[@royalaza]

As long as its thrifted or second-hand and you don’t support companies who use real fur I think it is ok because i don’t want to waste the fur and have the fur jacket or whatever made and be thrown away after a couple of uses.

[@tnone7873]

Well...if your morals are to add more plastic fake fur to the planet?...Real fur is biodegradable and helps control the overpopulation when wild animals dont have many preditors anymore

[@HarrisPilton789]

It is right to wear fur; preowned or new are both fine!

[@denafreedman223]

Hi Faith, Thank you for your cool video! You are soooo right about the internet! So bummed, found a tear in my recently purchased fur coat from my local thrift store, looked online and hello, I can’t afford a furrier..lol. Anyway, it’s a really thin tear but I want to say it’s maybe about an 9 inch tear across back of arm, hard to describe. Can I send you a pic? Anyway, I do not know how to sew, although I did take a sewing class in high school, like 27 years ago! And teacher gave me a c, because I think she felt So sorry for my skills, but saw I had a drive! Anyway, it’s a super thin area, what type of needle did you use and type of thread? I read online upholstery thread and a needle for leather should be used, then it resorted to “best to check with your furrier!” Can you please help me? Extreme budget. Thank you for your awesomeness! Any frugal tips for removing thrift store odors from coat? Thanks again

[@polilaurito]

Tried one advice where you sprinkle baking soda on the fur, gently rub it in, then let sit overnight. The next day shake off the baking soda. It worked in minimising considerably the thrift shop smell from a stole I bought online. Hope this helps!

[@Outtaroad876]

How should a fur coat fit. My bust is 38 waist is 30 but my hips don’t lie they are 43 😅

[@sarchishri4608]

Thank you so much!!!

[@merchant121]

thank you for this video

[@Only-interested-in-the-truth]

Have have over a dozen I have bought cheap with the intention to refurbish. I am just to chicken shit to actually start cutting 😂. One or 2 if them are mink. I agree, no way would I be willing to go to a professional to pay a few hundred to fix something I bought cheap.

[@goldenrayofcentralsun1111]

Rabbit fur shed a lot.

[@AARON12895]

Nice job done! You'd need to work on shoulders, though, to make it fit on you and shorten sleeves as well. Good luck.

[@pennykafai4645]

How the hell from watching beautiful dog grooming to be lead to this?!?

[@elaineelliott3138]

Only a fool would cut a long coat to make a jacket . The coat was perfect as it was originally .

[@faithgastin6740]

Thanks for your kind words! 🥰

[@maryokeefe5351]

@@faithgastin6740 Ha ha! Good response.

[@susangrande8142]

I inherited my mother’s ankle length mink coat, and discovered I didn’t like stepping on the coat when I walked up stairs. So I had the furrier cut 8 inches off of it. It’s now the perfect length for me. To each their own. She’s not a fool if it works for her, even if it’s not what *you* would do.

[@danialmodovar5161]

Good video but talking to much , who cares about you been so cheap. How many times you is going to said that you can't afford a nice coat. Poor thing :)