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Ivyworks ArtistryHello fellow TTers! I've been through the library up above in the real furs section, and though I haven't read all the posts on real fur bear making, they're relatively older posts. I want some fresh opinions, and maybe even tips if you have them. I'm diving in to making real fur bears, as I've had my aunt give me her precious fur coat to turn into a memory bear. Now, it'll be a smallish bear, probably no bigger than 8 inches tall. My question is, should I line just the seams, or the entire bear? The coat is in excellent shape, as my aunt has taken good care of it. It has no rips or holes, and seems to be pretty sturdy overall. I've tried lining a different bear I was making out of donated rabbit pelt. I used fabric glue and thin cotton and lined the whole thing...only to get what felt like a piece of stiff carboard that wouldn't bend or turn 
So I'm asking the real fur bear makers out there to give me their opinions, and maybe some tips to go along with them. Thanks in advance!! 
Bear hugs,
Shannon 
Little Bear GuyI would recommend just using a glue stick and just glue around the edges of the cotton. The fabric glue will stiffen up a lot where as the glue stick doesn't seem to do that . I have used the glue stick on the entire piece of cotton but it never hardened up like white glue or fabric glue.
Just a suggestion, as you only need to keep the cotton in place until you sew it
I use a glue stick to hold the cotton pieces in place on back of the fur piece, using the glue mostly on the edges, but also putting a line or two (like and X) across the whole piece and it works fine for me.
Ellen
Chaska, MinnesotaI hand baste the muslin lining to the bear parts. Overtime, I am afraid the glue will break down the leather pelt rendering the seams coming apart.
You need to line the whole bear not just the seams. I use a bit of the glue stick onto the lining to hold it in place and cut out my pieces. Nancy has a course on making a real fur. Also she is offering private lessonsas well. Check it out if you like.
http://www.kranbearys.com/Ebearz/index.htm
Ivyworks ArtistryThanks for all the tips, I'm going to try lining the entire pattern piece and see how that works...wish me luck!
LALand BearsShannon
Somebody replied to my post about lining real fur and offered the name of a product Sulky Sticky+
It is awesome and eliminates any moisture from glue or glue stick. It comes in paper form and has a peel off backing.
It will work especially nice on a larger bear...but I do minis and had success.
I also recommend lining the entire piece
You'll have holes where the joints are that need the extra strength too.
Hope this helps
Lee Ann
I line the entire bear with sticky cloth!! Its a satin cloth with a very sticky backing - works wonderfully.
Ivyworks ArtistryThanks everyone, I'll keep my eyes open for a product like the one you mentioned.
Donna's Duin BruinsAnother product that is great is Leather Weld. Here is the states Tandy Leather carries it. I ordered mine online since there was no store close by. It stays flexable and is easy to sew.
Donna
Ivyworks ArtistryHi Donna, funny enough we have a Tandy Leather Co. in my city, I'll go and check them out. Thanks for the tip! 
I use a leather cement - similar to Leather Weld... it is flexible and made for use on hides. I just put on a couple dabs of it to hold the lining in place (not on the seams) until the seams are sewn. And yes... line the whole bear!
