Fox Tail...Out Of Yarn?

Animal tails (foxes, raccoons, wolves mainly) are becoming a new fashion statement. But not everyone is okay with harming one of their furry friends for fashion. And fake fur fabric always looks lame to me. Here's a way to make a realistic looking tail without killing~!

Posted by Kida T.

About

Note, it has to be 100% ACRYLIC YARN or else this won't work. That's because stuff like cotton yarn will brush out as soon as you start brushing.

This is an easy process, but it takes a loooonnggg time. If it's a tiny little tail for a keychain like the one I made it'll only take a few hours. But if it's super long like for a big scarf, it'll take much longer. The long white and orange one I made for a pokemon costume took about 3 days of solid work. Also get creative with this. You can make keychains, tails, phone charms, scarfs, anything!

Note: I added a bunch of steps just to kinda keep people from being lost. It's much easier

(I originally got the idea from Bir's yarn tail tutorial. But I altered the process a bit to make it quicker.)

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You Will Need (10 things)

  • Pin Dog Brush
  • Slicker Dog Brush
  • Scissors
  • Scissors
  • Measuring Tape (optional)
  • Measuring Tape (optional)
  • Hair Straightener
  • Slicker Dog Brush
  • Pin Dog Brush
  • Hair Straightener

Steps (29 steps, 300 minutes)

  1. 1

    ~MAKING THE BASE~

    Measure about how long you want your tail. Then add about 5 more inches onto the length for a small tail. For a large one leave about 10. Don't cut it off yet. Do this in the color you want the tip of ur tail. For this I'm making a black fox tail tipped in white.

    (I actually had already began making a tail before I decided to make a tutorial on it. So this one is just a little quick one I did for the tutorial.)

  2. 2

    Next ur gonna fold it in half. Still don't cut~

  3. 3

    Keep doing this about 30 times for a smaller tail. If you're doing a big tail you'll want to do it about 90 times. For a thinner tail do it less, thick more.

  4. 4

    Next cut the bottom and top so it's all seperate pieces.

  5. 5

    Now tie the bottom and knot it a few times. Make sure to leave a little left over to make into the tip of the tail.

  6. 6

    Begin making a simple braid out of the yarn.

  7. 7

    Now take a piece of yarn and tie it off on the bottom. Really tight too!

  8. 8

    Do this twice, to make it extra secure.

  9. 9

    This is what it should look like so far. Also get your brushes ready!

  10. 10

    First brush to use is the pin brush (the orange one) and brush it out. If you have a small tail this one isn't completely necessary, but if you have a huge tail it is!

  11. 11

    Next use the slicker brush, don't worry if lots of the "fur" comes out when you brush it. It just happens. When I did my big tails I had trash cans full of it! If when you're brushing and so much "fur" comes out that the tuft of fur shrinks and grows small, then your yarn isn't 100% acrylic.

  12. 12

    Now use your straightener to straighten the fur. But I guess if you want a curly tail you don't have to? I've never tried it. It also makes it softer to the touch.

  13. 13

    Now you got this afterwards!

  14. 14

    Now get your needle and thread ready. For this entire project you're gonna wanna knot it and tie it all around like this.

  15. 15

    Now you're gonna wanna go through the top where you had the two tied off parts and sew it all together. This is to keep it even more sturdy.

  16. 16

    Now this is what you should have by now, this is the real tail I'm making! And right now, you're finished with your base!!

  17. 17

    ~MAKING THE FUR~
    (pop in a movie or 7. It'll take a while.)

    Now next we're gonna start on the fur. Note, this is for makign ONE tuft of fur. You're gonna wanna do this AT LEAST 40 times.

    I actually got my black yarn from a scarf I was pimping out to look like a fox.

    To measure out your fur you're gonna wanna take the yarn and wrap it around your hand(or can if you have small hands like me). For a tiny tail like the one I'm making you'll wanna do it about 5 times.

    Also, if the yarn you have tis thick, you'll wanna do it about 5 or 6 times. If you have thin yarn, up to 15. Regular, 10. You don't want the knot from where you tie it too big, but not too small either.

  18. 18

    Fold it in half,

  19. 19

    And tie in in the middle!

  20. 20

    Do it the same as you did the tip of the tail. Pin brush first,

  21. 21

    Slicker brush second~ I actually brush out the yarn in half to make it go by quicker.

  22. 22

    Straighten it again, but also gently use the straighten on the knot in half to make it flat.

  23. 23

    And there ya go~!

  24. 24

    ~ATTACHING THE TUFT OF FUR~

    Stick the needle all the way through the base,

  25. 25

    and sew the tuft by the knot to the base. Always start from the bottom of the tail up. You dont have to worry about having matching thread for the yarn

  26. 26

    Now keep doing this over and over,

  27. 27

    and over,

  28. 28

    and over....

    (I actually ran out of black yarn so I just used white. If you want an uber realistic tail you can mix colors, such has other shades of the same colors.)

  29. 29

    And done<3 Pour some chai tea and celebrate!