We’re back with our second faux sheepskin DIY project (after sharing the first one earlier today). On a recent trip to Charlotte we visited Mary Jo’s Cloth Store, a massive 32,000-square-foot fabric warehouse packed with bolt after bolt of textiles. If they don’t have it there, it’s hard to imagine where you would find it. The prices were excellent — designer prints we’ve seen for $19 a yard were marked down to $10 a yard, and the selection was incredible.
While browsing the endless aisles with our friend Kristin, we passed countless quirky patterns (cats with yarn, dogs in baskets, etc.) and instead picked up a yard and a half of a gorgeous nursery print plus one yard of dense, ivory faux fur. We hunted through dozens of faux fur options to find the creamiest, densest fabric that most closely resembled real sheepskin. The yard we chose cost $14.99.
The bolt we selected was very long, so even though the fabric was only about three feet wide, our cut was nearly six feet long. That gave us enough material to make three faux sheepskin throws — roughly $5 each — which is a fantastic deal compared to inexpensive real sheepskins from big-box stores.
We used our homemade paper sheepskin template and traced the shape onto the back of the fabric three times with a thin sharpie. Before cutting, I tested an edge to see whether the fur would shed or unravel; only a few tufts came loose and the backing held steady when tugged, so we felt comfortable cutting through the three outlines without binding the edges.
After cutting, the throws were a bit fluffy — my black shirt ended up covered in little fibers — so I put all three into the dryer on extra low heat for a short spin. That de-fuzzed them nicely and left the throws looking surprisingly realistic. They’re soft, fluffy, and versatile: great draped over chairs, tossed on an ottoman, or layered on furniture. The dryer step was key to reducing loose fibers so they wouldn’t leave a trail of fluff every time we brushed past.
Compared to our morning project, which produced more structured, rug-like pieces, these turned out floppy and flexible — perfect as throw accents but not intended for heavy floor use where slipping could be a hazard. We arranged one on a storage bench in the dining area, another over the back of a living room chair to add tone-on-tone texture, and the third over the back of a slipper chair in the den. Each spot instantly felt cozier and more inviting; three affordable upgrades made a noticeable difference in three separate seating areas.
The edges stayed plush and natural-looking, and to be honest, they’re hard to distinguish from the real thing at a glance. Because these are fabric-based rather than actual hide, they’re washable — a major advantage over many real sheepskins that can’t be machine-cleaned.
To recap the simple process: find a dense, woolly white faux fur or a furry blanket; create a paper sheepskin template; trace the shape onto the fabric and cut it out; then tumble on low heat to remove excess lint. No sewing or special finishes are required if the backing holds together after a test cut.
So that’s our second faux sheepskin DIY guide. It’s quick, inexpensive, and produces attractive, washable throws that add texture and warmth to any room. Have you worked with discounted fabric lately to recover a chair, make pillows, or create your own faux-fur accessories? We’d love to hear what you’ve been making.
Psst — if you missed our first DIY sheepskin tutorial from earlier today, check out the original post for the rug-style version.