In this episode, Threads Contributing Editor Kenneth D. King demonstrates the best methods to cut fake fur, in preparation for making a fake fur jacket.

You can find out how to ready the pattern pieces for cutting, in “Pattern Prep and Layout for Fake Fur.”

Cut fake fur wrong side up

Always cut the fur with the wrong side up. This minimizes how much of the pile gets clipped during the process, so the seams look better and you have less loose fluff flying around your sewing space.

How to cut fake fur

Work with a fur knife or an X-Acto knife. Start at any point on the cutting line, and trace along it with the knife’s point. If you feel resistance, stop, rearrange the fabric, and/or replace the blade. It is unsafe to cut with a dull blade. Make sure the blade goes through the fabric no more than 1/4 inch, to avoid cutting the pile.

Safety and cleanup

After each cut, put the knife in a safe place, and then vacuum along the edge you just cut to collect any loose hairs. This keeps your sewing space and your clothing fuzz-free, with minimal cleanup needed once all the garment pieces have been cut.

Additional cutting

At this point, you may want to cut a few yards of bias strips, 2 inches wide, from lining fabric. You’ll use these later when you assemble the jacket.