Faux fur is synthetic pile fabricFabric is the outer surface of a puppet — the skin, the cl... More used for puppet hair, creature coats and any surface that needs visible texture rather than the smooth finish fleeceFleece is the knit fabric used as the outer skin on most mod... More gives.
Cut from the back, never through the pile
This is the rule that separates good fur work from bad. Lay the fabric face down, cut through the backing only, using the tips of your scissorsScissors and shears are the primary cutting tools in puppet ... More in small strokes. Cutting through from the front hacks the fibres and leaves a visible bald channel along the seam that will not brush out.
Nap is more punishing than on fleece
Fur’s pile is long enough that a reversed piece does not just shift colour, it visibly lies the wrong way. Mark the direction with an arrow on the back of every piece before cutting anything.
Pile length changes scale
Long fur on a small puppet swamps the features and the face disappears. Short pile reads as fur at any size. When in doubt go shorter than feels right.
Seams
After sewing, work a needle or a stiff brush along the seam from the right side to pull trapped fibres out of the stitching. Done properly the seam vanishes completely, which is the one way fur is more forgiving than fleece.
Backing matters
Knit-backed fur stretches and suits curved surfaces. Woven-backed fur does not, and fights any compound curve. Check by stretching a corner before you buy.
Trimming and shaping
Fur can be cut down in place with scissors or clippers to sculpt contours, shorten a muzzle or open up around eyes. This is normal practice, not a repair.
The hack: work over a bin or outdoors. Cutting fur produces a startling volume of loose fibre that gets into everything, including the next puppet.