How to Make a Realistic Wolf Pelt Out of Faux/Fake Fur for LARP or Cosplay

Have you ever wanted a fur pelt for a LARP, reenactment, or cosplay, but you couldn't justify the purchase? Whether because of the hefty price or for a love of critters, many people don't want to go in on an expensive wolf pelt. In this video, the Larp Shire team tackles how to make a realistic pelt without breaking the bank. With nothing more than supplies that you can find at your local craft and hardware stores, anyone can make a realistic fur pelt using this DIY tutorial!
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[@hanelyp1]

I'm a big guy. Going to have to think about adapting this for a bear hide.

[@LarpShire]

Would love to hear how it turns out!

[@FIZZGIG-RARF]

Perfect! This is exactly what I was looking for. Looks so very good! Great idea with the heat gun!❤❤❤ Kitty says, "can i lay on it yet.. what's that!" 😸

[@pale_papyrus2298]

This is such a cool idea! I wouldn’t have thought antiquing gel could be so versatile! (P.s. I love the cats cameos)

[@jonanderson3050]

that was incredibly clever and well thought out. I kept thinking 'yup, he's done', and then you'd add another layer of detail. Great job!

[@LarpShire]

Thank you! Truth be told, this was the first one I had ever done so I was pretty much winging it with every step and it somehow worked out so I was pleased!

[@user-xg9dk1ny5k]

Nice work! although I would like to play with form of head and paws (more details, more volume etc), but this pelt looks very reputable. Good luck, good sir!

[@LarpShire]

Thank you! Yes this was my first attempt so in the future I’d definitely like to add more details to those areas

[@dfmtz6526]

I always wanted a wolf’s pelt!!!

[@benjaminsanders7700]

I've wanted a real pelt for a long time, but they are pricey and hard to find. This seems like a great alternative!

[@bretlemieux2489]

Try hunting an brain tanning the pelt yourself it is not that hard. Added bonus you can eat the meat if you are in to that.

[@dougmartin2007]

I have a real pelt and it is a pain to clean. That and there is always someone in leather boots and belt complaining you killed an animal for its skin.

[@justaperson4656]

Theyre also really hard to find ethically sourced 😭 I'm massively into taxidermy, but the vulture culture side of it, working with what you find/no kill. It's super hard to find vulture culture pelts generally unless it's roadkill, and canines tend not to go near roads, then there's a shipping problem since we don't have wild dogs here and I'd have to deal with import law

[@justaperson4656]

​@@dougmartin2007you do realise that pleather exists? And that secondhand stores exist? I don't intend to be rude, and I apologize for coming off as such, but assuming everyone is a hypocrite seems... pessimistic

[@jananay2768]

I’m somewhat new here, only recently being introduced by Cl3ver, but I’m continuously impressed by the quality of the videos from a smaller channel. You all deserve way more recognition.

[@LarpShire]

Welcome! Thank you so much! That means a lot!!

[@BaritoneUkeBeast4Life]

What an excellent instructional video. The wolf pelt looks fantastic and you have a lot of clever and innovative ideas for both crafting tools/supplies and methods. Thank you for this. This was my first time here at your channel and I was so impressed I became a new subscriber. Keep up the great work.

[@LarpShire]

Thank you so much! Welcome to the shire! 😁

[@ellamarieeway3679]

Another cheap and easy way to make the tail fluffier is to get some yarn, sew it to the tail and brush it out with a wire brush. It gets very late and fluffy and then you can use your same gel and then taking technique to blend it in with the fur

[@LarpShire]

Great tip!

[@TheCopilot91]

I love you for producing this without the cost of a wolf losing their life.

[@paulasanders1870]

Impressive to have such a cool piece for that price. Looks really realistic!

[@BleachAnddy]

Bro I could hug you. I keep having to do fur in projects and i never know you could cut it withou making your house look like some unfortunate small animals exploded.

[@LarpShire]

Been there lol! Glad I could help 😁

[@JordanVanRyn]

This looks really cool! Thanks for the tutorial! It’s like something you’d wear in a medieval fantasy setting.

[@omikrondraconis5708]

How to make a vegan pelt - you delivered!

[@keiser5225]

Great Tutorial, thanks!

[@statesrights01]

Absolutely Love this!!

[@buff.berserker]

I’d love to give this a try, but i’m also thinking of a way to make the head a headdress. Maybe I’ll use cardboard for a basic skull structure, wrap the fur around it, and add some eyes, teeth, and ears

[@LarpShire]

That would be awesome!!

[@vikingmando438]

Thank you for the tutorial!

[@thelittlepurpleelf]

This is a pretty good idea, I think I'll try making one myself.

[@GregoryHaynes]

Great how-to video! I was directed here from Skill Tree's channel.

[@LarpShire]

Welcome!!

[@kaerlefarouflard8650]

awesome video ! I'll take some of those advices since I didn't knew what to do with the fake fur I had

[@perry28]

Totally possible to use scissors instead of using exato knife. Working from the backside, you cut only the fabric leaving the fur intact.

[@mikehorrocks2909]

Nice tip about using an exacto knife versus a pair of scissors. Thank you!

[@LarpLegion]

Great tutorial and resource, keep up the great content!

[@LarpShire]

Thank you! Love your content as well

[@KIRBA30]

You Sir. You are a craftsman at best!

[@LarpShire]

Thank you, friend!

[@rebekahgoode9325]

So cool!

[@Oniimanju]

Thx!!! I love druids and I wanted to try Druid cosplay for Halloween to go with my kids at that day!! You saved me! 😘

[@LarpShire]

Glad to hear it! 😁

[@Test-UCKC]

This is incredible!

[@LarpShire]

Thank you!!

[@Test-UCKC]

@@LarpShire most definitely. My friends and i get together and do projects to make out garb/camp site better and this is something we will do now. Thank you!

[@justaperson4656]

I'll be using to make a faux fawn pelt! Thank you

[@LarpShire]

Awesome!

[@killercruton6922]

Perfect for my skinwalker kit

[@melaniegriffin2010]

You are awesome. And cool project I'm going to try for my female Norse Warrior costume. Thank you ♡

[@LarpShire]

Thank you!!

[@mattbender6374]

That looks awesome and your larp kit is soooooo clean!!!

[@sandrasvsa]

Great video!! It came out great!! Working on making a pelt for my bf’s fen fest costume! 💖🥰

[@LarpShire]

Thank you!!

[@johnfloyd2742]

Great video! Do you have a video on how you made that wicked shield?

[@wolf.maiden]

This is awesome. I love fur, but the cost means you can only buy a bit or smaller pelts affordably but this is awesome! Thank you for the tutorial!

[@LarpShire]

Thank you! Glad it was helpful!

[@patfal1514]

I make similar pelts for wall hangings, mountain man accessories , sofa throws ... and suggest cutting your edges with much more irregularities / ragged edges to make it more realistic looking.Otherwise yours turned out quite well for first attempt.

[@LarpShire]

Thanks! Yeah I definitely plan to make the edges more irregular on the next one. I think that’ll help a lot

[@Sgt_Potato_1]

After watching I wanted to thank you for the ideas you've spread, as I will be trying some of these methods. I would also like to make a suggestion that might allow you to have an easier time adding faux suede if you make any more pelts. Have you considered using contact cement? It can be done in smaller amounts to allow you to attach the suede in hard to control areas but also added in a large patch at a time to allow you to attach without having to do so many divisions when doing the main body and then pressed on with something like a rolling pin or even hand pressed with a little tact to have a uniform application. But what I plan on doing is adding it in small amounts while pressing it on from different directions to mimic the lack of uniformity on natural pelts. We shall see how that turns out.

[@LarpShire]

That’s a good idea! I may try that for the next one and see how it turns out

[@Sgt_Potato_1]

@@LarpShire just make sure if you don't like dunes to do it in a well ventilated area. Last time I used dap the garage smelled like it for the whole weekend. 🤣 Fantastic results though. It has fur all around the shield so I know it won't mess with the fur fabric.

[@rebekahgoode9325]

Any suggestions for what you could do with the leftover scraps of faux fur?

[@LarpShire]

Great question! The scraps are great for Viking fur leg wraps, forearm wraps, pouches, a small capelet etc.

[@thegeekiest5152]

Nice job! I wonder if you combined the faux suede and fur before using the heat gun, would it stick together better?

[@LarpShire]

That’s not a bad idea! I’ll have to try that on a sample piece

[@KevinLockamy]

I saw that you used stich witchery but didn't iron it. Stich witchery is activated with heat, it's basically hot melt glue in tape form, just go over it with a hot iron. I have also seen it in sheet form about the same size a tissue paper. Love the stuff.

[@LarpShire]

Thanks for the tip!

[@yaseinbrat94]

The only thing about the Faux fur is that in rain or snowy weather, that faux pelt will turn to crap and ruin. Wondering if one could Scotch gaurd the faux pelt without ruining the overall finish?

[@LarpShire]

Yeah that’s a good point. May have to look into that

[@nicoleschuler5847]

Hi there, fantastic video! Just wondering if the antiquing gel should be sealed with anything, like it says on the instructions.

[@LarpShire]

Hello! So far I haven’t had any issues with it coming off but if you want to be safe it might be worth looking into sealing options

[@LaineyBug2020]

Hello new friend! I was just sent over from SkillTree!

[@LarpShire]

Welcome!! 😁

[@loveislove4323]

yay first ps love your video

[@dougmartin2007]

Looks great. Is it machine washable?

[@major97l]

Dumb question, what if you just painted the bottom with a brown or black latex paint? Would that give you a similar finish to the inside of a hide without the extra work?

[@maryannhicks7829]

What is the over all length of faux fur did you start with?

[@sirencalloftoys9162]

I am curious about how well this cleans - specifically I would be concerned that the hair gel would wash out and you would need to re-texture your fur every time you cleaned it. Are there alternatives, perhaps non-water-based glues that could be used instead?

[@LarpShire]

I have personally never washed any of my faux fur so I’m not sure. I always assumed that would be pretty harmful to the fur so I’m careful not to drop it in mud or anything. That being said, there are probably some non-waterbase options out there that you could try. I’d definitely be interested to hear if you find something that works!

[@patfal1514]

@@LarpShire Yes washing most faux furs doesn't work too well. I create bear rugs and don't recommend washing as I haven't yet found a perfect way to preserve the fur look. It tends to wool up after wetting and even with intense brushing using animal grooming tools never quite fluffs back out. A good shaking cleans well enough for most reasonable clean inside applications.If you ever do drop your pelt in mud/water just let it dry completely then shake and brush out.

[@INS1977]

I got full ar tic deer pelt.(very big) .. Now thinking how tu cut...in smaller pieces for Shoulders... New age viking style

[@KaelaMensha]

Why would you want one? As a quest item?

[@mikehorrocks2909]

I hope you gave just as much attention to your cat.😂😂😂

[@ashiraecho2039]

Even the cat believes its a real fur 😂

[@LarpShire]

It passed the cat test! 😆

[@user-xu7rb7pf3v]

You forgot the ears

[@hairybubbles127]

Nah. Get the real thing. If you're watching this, you probably live in a first world country. You can afford it. Respect it. Pay for it.