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Posts: 4Ok Most of what i have read on this site has been great. I am a newbie to all of this so i'm just gonna ask. Real Fur or Not? I just don't know what direction to go. I look at the price of mohair and have nightmares of the money running out of my wallet. I would love to create some nicer collectable bears as it just seems my style. I face this quandra and have no clue which way to go. Then is it worth more then a mohair ? i know this is a hard question because different designs and styles affect the price. But lets say same bear,style, etc . which is worth more. Also do you that use real fur get complaints from people about the animal issues involved with this? I love what ya'll do and think it is great that ya'll have found a place to chat and give direction. My best wishes to all in your endeavors.
Ray 
That's a great, controversial, probably largely-dependent-on-individual-preference kind of question you've asked there, Ray. So glad you brought it up... seriously.
I've been in the industry for a while; I've been privy to this discussion (or ones like it) and have spoken to bearmakers (mohair and real fur) on the topic. And I don't think it can be said, as a rule, that mohair bears are worth more than real fur bears -- or vice versa. Like so many things, it all boils down to personal preference. If a collector PREFERS mohair bears, they'll pay more for mohair teddies. And if a collector PREFERS real fur bears, they'll pay more for mink. And so on.
It's also been my one-woman experience that yes, some people are bothered by the use of real fur. And that yes, others are not and even prefer it to the use of shorn hair as used in mohair.
In short, there's a healthy market for both types of bears!
As a point of information... if you're thinking that mohair will cost more than real fur, don't be misled! Mohair CAN be very pricey but of course so can, for example, a beautiful fox coat that you'll recycle into a teddy.
The major difference from a crafter's perspective between real fur and mohair bears, I think, is in their construction. Usually you'll want to line real fur because it can be fragile and quick to tear, and it can be (though isn't necessarily) harder to stitch through, especially if you're hand stitching. In very small sizes, it can also be challenging to turn as compared to, say, a very sparse mohair, which is like turning a "regular" fabric, more or less. On the other hand, real fur creates a "hand' to the fabric that just can't be replicated with mohair or synthetic furs, in my opinion anyway, and the glossy beauty of real fur is hard to match synthetically.
My personal preference, having made just one real fur (mink) bear, is for mohair... but I admire all kinds of bears and believe in recycling used pelts so the animals that died to give them can "live on" for generations to come, rather than being left, in coat form, in the back of a musty closet on a hanger!
Best advice is, I think, to do what feels right to you, and have fun!
Welcome to TT, Ray!
Little Bear GuyHi Ray,
I have to agree with a lot of what Shelli said. It truly is a personal choice and preference in whether you use real fur or mohair. Mohair does not have to be expensive, we get our mohair at at a phenonmal price usually averaging $100.00 Canadian for a yard (and that's for mohair that is over 1" in length. If you shop around you can find really good deals on mohair.
We work in both mohair and real fur, I think mohair allows you more creativity as you can do a lot more needle sculpting in mohair than in real fur (but scissor sculpting in real fur on the faces looks fantastic). Real fur is very time consuming to work with, cutting the lining out of the coat and disassembling the coat (plus it's a dirty job 
) and don't forget you have to line the pieces as well to protect and strengthen the fur for longevity. I enjoy working in both, but I love the feel of real fur.
we have only on one occasion had a nasty email from someone regarding us working in real fur. We didn't respond to it and just let it go, some people are against it and that's fine everyone is entitled to their opinion (that's what makes living in a free country so great). Other's as Shelli pointed out love real fur bears and that's all they collect.
You have to remember that a real fur bear will likely take you twice as long to finish as a mohair bear. Don't be afraid to try mohair.
Ray if you would like to try out a piece of mohair send me a PM and we would be more than happy to send you a piece to try out (trust me we have tons and tons).
We also were very shocked at the price of mohair when we started making bears, but once we tried a bear out of mohair we loved it. It's ok to make bears out of both , we still make real fur bears and mohair bears and sometimes we even combine the two in a bear.
Big Hugs
Shane
Real Deal BearsWhat great advice your getting Ray, I just wanted to stress the fact that for a newbe, mohair is alot easier to work.
There are also some great plush frabrics out there as well.
Once you get going, try abit of everything and see where it leads you
Enjoy and show us some pics
Oh, and you need very tough hands for real fur 
Posts: 3,540 I love this topic because I started with real fur (after making my very, very first bears from cordoroy fabrics and plain ole Walmart synthetics as a kid). Real fur DOES handle differently than the synthetics and mohair. Its no where near as stretchy, so using the same pattern on mohair vs real fur will give an entirely different look to the bear. So will using different types of fur.
Last year I did give mohair a try as I was ultimately craving the colour range that mohair can come in...and promptly discovered that my hands are as allergic to mohair as they are synthetics! I can make a bear from them, but my hands end up dried, chapped, and ungodly itchy! Just as well that my first love is the real fur.
As for anti fur people, I created a page on my webpage, that helps explain to people a little bit about the time frame that many of my furs come from. I work with vintage furs mostly .... http://www.debbiesbears.com/antifurlookhere.htm It helps people to realize that when many of these recycled furs reach our society, they were created in a different time era. Things were different back then! I've had the reactions of (in the Midwest US)...you've cut up a perfectly good fur coat! (not) to (on the west coast US) OMG...that poor animal! 
That's when I step in to do the explaining about the age of the coat, the fact that many have been handed down, the sleeves usually are separating, but the rest of the pelts are in good condition to be used, yada yada yada. I've had SEVERAL anti fur people endorse my bears when I lived in Oregon. As they put it simply "You've brought the animal back to life"
Lastly I NEVER shove my real fur bears on anyone. This is an ultimately private choice, and I realize some people get queasy just looking at a real fur bear ~ and I totally respect that! 
Usually if people spend time around my bears, they get drawn to them, and its not long before the bear is happily snuggled into someone's lap or palm of hand. But again, I can fully understand if someone can't 'deal with' the concept of a recycled real fur bear. It takes all kinds in this world.
Just give each a try to see what you like best....and most of all ~ have FUN!!! Oh yes, and ask loads of questions, no matter how silly they may seem. I asked tons of questions when I first started out. 
Posts: 8,574Ray,
why does it have to be one or the other?
WHEN I make bears, which isn't so very often anymore, i use what I have that will fit what I want....mohair, rayon, Sassys stuff, real fur.....try it all and see what you like....the tools will be the same...and most importantly....don't forget to enjoy the process. If you don't love what you are doing, then it is time to reconsider....
ghollyhugs
dilu
Kim-Bee BearsI would say it is all personal preference, like has been said previously. I personally prefer mohair over real fur and actually prefer to work with mohair over real fur (it was too hard on my hands, more steps and I kept getting fur bits, when I was cutting, in my mouth BLEECH!!!)
I would say if you are starting out, go for mohair first... if price is scaring you, check out Intercal's bargain list!!!
