How to Make Pillows From Fur Coats

Real fur jackets and coats, whether from a thrift store or your own closet, make soft, fluffy pillows for your bed or couch. Use this project to recycle fur that is out of date or no longer suits your climate. It's also a way to enjoy fur even if you don't want or need to wear it for warmth.

Cut a large section from the coat. You need enough continuous fabric to cut two squares that are 3-inches larger in length and width than your pillow form. For instance, if you have an 8-inch square pillow form, you need two squares of fur that are 11 by 11 inches. The back of the coat has the most flat fur. The sides of a larger or longer coat have enough for smaller pillows. Cut the arms off the coat and cut them open to make flat fur pieces. Choose fur that has soft, pliable leather on the inside.

Cut on the leather side of the fur, making small, shallow cuts rather than cutting all the way through the fur.

Place the two pieces of fur on top of each other with the leather sides showing. Pin around three sides. As you pin the sides, press the fur away from the seams as much as possible. Sew around the sides with a sewing machine using a heavy-duty needle.

Turn the pillow case right side out. Use a small brush or comb to fluff the fur around the seams and pull free any fur fiber that was caught in the seam stitches. Fluffing hides the seams.

Insert the pillow form into the pillow case. Hand sew the open side closed using close whip stitches. Hold both sides of the opening together and stitch from back to front for each stitch. This causes the thread to go across the opening, adding stability and pulling it closed. Fluff the fur around the seam with a brush or comb and pick out any fur that was caught in the stitches.