Gift idea
Embroidery with your dog's real fur: what works and what doesn't
You can add your dog's real fur to an embroidery, but not as thread: loose fur is too short and slippery to stitch in and out of fabric. The practical ways are to couch a small lock onto the finished portrait with tiny stitches in one strand of floss, or to keep it sealed behind the hoop's felt back.
The honest answer first
Thread is fiber that's been spun and twisted so it holds together. Loose dog fur isn't, so it pulls apart when you try to stitch it through fabric. That's why the portrait itself is best stitched in floss, and the fur added as a keepsake on top or behind.
Two more things to know. We haven't tested fur in our own portraits, so this page sticks to what's simple and safe to try. And our portraits are rinsed at the end to dissolve the stick and stitch sheet, so any fur goes on after the rinse, once the piece is dry.
Some spinners spin long dog fur into yarn. Yarn like that could be laid on and couched like any thick thread, but spinning it is a big project of its own, and it only works with longer coats.
Ways to keep their fur with the portrait
Ways to add real fur to a stitched dog portrait
| Way | How | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Couch a lock on the front | Lay a small lock where it belongs, like the ear or the chest, and tack it down with tiny stitches | Works best with longer fur; it's touchable, so it may shed a little |
| Seal it behind the felt | Put a little fur in a small clear bag or folded paper, behind the felt circle on the back | Invisible, protected, and you can open it later |
| A small pocket on the back | Stitch a felt pocket to the back with blanket stitch | Easy to reach, and you can add a note |
| Keep it alongside | An envelope with the fur, labeled and kept with the hoop | Nothing is changed, and nothing can be lost |
How to couch a lock of fur onto a portrait
- Finish the portrait first. Stitch it, rinse the sheet away, let it dry and press it face-down on a towel.
- Choose the fur. A small lock of clean, dry fur, such as from a brushing. Longer hairs, like the feathering on a golden retriever or a Cavalier, are easier to hold together.
- Twist it gently. Roll the lock between your fingers so the hairs lie together in a little bundle.
- Lay it in place. Set it on the fabric where it belongs, perhaps along an ear or under the chin.
- Tack it down. With one strand of floss close to the fur's color, come up on one side of the lock and go down on the other, a few millimeters apart. Never use the same hole twice, so the stitch straddles the fur. This is couching.
- Tidy the ends. Tuck the ends under the last couching stitch, or trim them neatly with small sharp scissors.
Keep some of the fur aside in an envelope before you start, so you never use all of it.
Looking after it
- Don't wash or rinse it again once the fur is on. Dust it gently instead.
- Keep it out of strong sun, which fades fur and thread alike.
- If it's a gift, mention the fur. Some people are allergic to dogs.
- If the dog has died, go slowly. There's no need to decide right away; the fur will keep in its envelope. The pet memorial embroidery guide has more on stitching a keepsake.
Questions people ask
Can you embroider with your pet's fur?
Not like thread. Loose fur pulls apart and won't go in and out of fabric neatly. You can couch a small lock onto the surface with fine stitches, or keep the fur sealed behind the hoop.
How do you add real fur to a pet portrait?
Stitch and rinse the portrait first. Once it's dry, lay a small lock of fur where it belongs and tack it down with tiny stitches in one strand of floss, close to the fur's color.
Will the fur fall out?
A couched lock can shed a little over time, especially short fur. Longer fur holds better. If you want it kept safe, seal it behind the felt back instead.
Should I add fur to a memorial portrait?
Only if it feels right. Some people would rather keep the fur separate, in an envelope or behind the hoop, so the portrait stays as it is and the fur stays safe.
Sources: Royal School of Needlework Stitch Bank: Couching · Wandering Threads: How to finish an embroidery hoop · Humane World for Animals: How to cope with the death of your pet