A classic look for a kitsune character is a fur tail. They can be very pretty and it's versatile. Whether you go for realism or a more romanticized version of a fox tail, a fur tail looks good.
Methods
Fabric Sock Tail
Fundamentally, it's a fabric tube filled with stuffing or internal wiring.
This is by far the fastest way to make a tail, and while it can be a bit tricky to cut and sew fur-like fabric, it's a relatively easy process. It's a versatile method for making a pre-posed tail, a loose tail, or a poseable tail. Depending on the size of your tail and the fabric you use, it can be economical.
Suggested Fabrics:
- Faux Fur - this is a blanket term since faux fur can come with different lengths of fur (called "pile" in fabric terms).
- Minky - short pile synthetic fur usually used for short haired stuffed animals.
- Fleece - economical, slightly fuzzy. Good for a cartoon look.
- Velvet - Usually has a nice glossy finish, may be a bit pricey
- Mohair - Usually used for making teddy bears...very expensive, but a natural fiber.
- Cotton/Cotton Blend - For a more cartoon look
Foam Core Tail
This is a way to make the tail a single pose. It's a little more complicated than making a fabric fur sock, but in the end it's still a tube of fabric. See Kinpatsu Cosplay video here:
Yarn Tail
Acrylic yarn tails are fairly easy to make and can be made poseable. Of all methods, this one is by far the most economical. Acrylic yarn is fairly cheap and you can purchase it in large quantities. The color range is fantastic. And adding color changes isn't really that difficult all things considered. It does take time and can be tedious work. But the results are AMAZINGLY life-like.
You can control the thickness and length of the tail with the size of the braided core and the density of the yarn tufts. Other tools you'll need for this method are a slicker brush and a flat iron for hair.
Ideal for: Short to Medium length tails, Realistic looking or Fantasy colored tails,
Crochet/Knitted Sock Tail
This is a relatively new method I'm considering because I just found out about faux fur yarn! The crochet and knitting patterns are easy enough for beginners although, faux fur yarn may be tricky to handle. However, compared to other methods it may be the best option when it comes to material cost, crafting time, and mess. Knitting will produce a slightly lighter weight tail than a crocheted tail.
Below I've linked tutorials to crochet and knitting patterns for fox tails and yoga bags.
- Fox Tail Crochet Pattern (free)
- Vegan Fox Tail Knitting (free)
- Kitsune Hat and Tail Knitting ($)
- Moral Fiber: Mega Tail Knitting (free) Note: This is more of a knitting pattern SUGGESTION, not a finalized pattern.
- Caron Crochet Yoga Bag (free) (I include this because the tube of the yoga bag is a fox tail adjacent shape.)
- You could also look for tube sock or horse tail sock patterns.
Method Comparison
Faux Fur Fabric | Acrylic Yarn | Fur Yarn | |
Material Cost | Medium - Expensive | Economic | Medium |
Weight | Medium - Heavy | Light | Light - Medium |
Mess | Messy | Messy | Relatively Clean |
Ease of Use | Easy-ish | Easy | Intermediate |
Color Range | Very Wide and can be painted/dyed | Very wide and can be dyed | Limited but can be dyed |
Time to Make | Quick | Mildly tedious | Depending on skill, but tedious |
Suggested Methods
I would not even consider an acrylic yarn tail. Anything that has a tube pattern is more likely to be able to hold a shape, pose and thickness.
The Fastest method is going to be faux fur. If you're a speedy knitter/crochet hooker, then fur yarn ain't so bad. But the number of tufts you'd have to make for a long acrylic yarn tail is daunting. Doable...but daunting.
You can find long pile faux fur fabric easily enough. Making the yarn tail with longer tufts is a little trickier and is never as long as the faux fur fabric. Faux fur yarn only comes in shorter piles.
Alternative Fur-like Looks
- Yarn Loops
- Unbrushed Yarn Tufts
- Eyelash Yarn
- Crochet/Knitted Yarn (normal)
- Felt
- Feather Boas
- Tinsel
- Scrap Fabric Tufts
- Mohair Wefts
Real Fox TailsReal Fox Fur
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