Is it common for makers to line parts like heads, paws, bodysuits, and feet? I'd think that the extra layers makes it harder to clean and get hotter right?
This is an excellent question! Let me take a moment to define “Lining” in the sense of it as a part of a fursuit costume:
Lining is a fabric of the maker’s (or client’s) choosing that serves to cover or contain exposed foam or polyfil, and less commonly the backing of faux fur.
Common liners include lycra or spandex, quilted broadcloth, performance fabrics, spacer mesh, headliner foam, or athletic mesh. (Also many other fabrics I maybe haven’t thought to include here!)
It is not to be confused with the bias tape edge finishing, also sometimes worded as as “edging,” which sometimes is also referred to as “lined cuffs” or “lined neck” on a body for example:
In this case, the backing of the faux fur fabric on the bodysuit is not covered, just the edge of it is finished so it does not unravel or stretch. This is a highly common style of edge finishing to increase durability.
Bias tape being present does not mean it is “lined.” This is because a lining covers more area than just the edge, but edge finishing is useful for durability.
Some examples of a lining can include:
Footpaws and sockpaws – The sock is the lining, especially when no shoe or slipper is used. It contains the polyfil or foam and separates it from the wearer’s feet. Sometimes the cuff is left unlined, but the area the foot goes is very often lined.
Big puffy handpaws – an inner glove can be sewn and used as a lining to keep the polyfil or foam inside the fingers and the back of the hand. Sometimes it is only the fingertips, or occasionally the back of the hand that features the liner. The the palm is sometimes left as just the fur’s backing.
Lining handpaws is uncommon except when they are highly stuffed, so the stuffing is contained. They more often look like the above example, or this below example:
Edge finishing does increase the life of the costume part by preventing stretching over time. Fur does not tend to unravel, but it can stretch out with use.
Linings in handpaws can increase the heat during wearing, and the drying time of handpaws after wearing. I lined the handpaws I made for my character, Bonk, but once they get sweaty they can take a very long time to dry out, so I do not prefer the lining I put in that set of handpaws. Especially when it means I want to put the handpaws back on after wearing them out and then taking a break for a while, they feel clammy and icky if they have not fully dried out between wearings.
The balaclava inside of a fursuit head – If the head was built on one, it is its lycra that acts as the lining. Some makers take further steps to even add a lining around the eye area to cover foam that may be exposed there as well. This kind of liner becomes the first step, before foam is added to it. (the head shown in this photo was built by Battitude)
A fursuit head can also have a liner that is not a balaclava, examples like this include my own work. it is lined with another material, such as quilted broadcloth. I created the initial liner pattern with a tape impression, and then tailor it to custom fit it for each subsequent head I work on. This kind of liner is put in after the foam shape is made, but installed before the fur is added.
Pockets that hold polyfil to make shapes for body padding – fabric covers up the polyfil and contains it. It is typically only the areas that have padding that have the lining, the rest of the unpadded areas of the costume are just the fur’s backing.
No bodysuit needs a liner. Pillow pads, or installed pockets are sufficient to line the areas needed to shape the body. A fully lined bodysuit is rare and is often reserved for highly specialty projects, like plush suits (fursuits made to look like a big giant stuffed animal) or extensive body padding. If your suit can have areas of just the fur backing, it makes it cooler to wear and dries faster during breaks.
When it comes to cleaning, liners serve to contain stuffing, and to clean those areas they should be unstuffed first. Removable padding makes the best sort of easy-to-clean costume. So liners work well when they have maintenance zippers or only a small amount of stuffing (such as in hand or footpaws) so the item can be maintained efficiently.
In contrast try wiping down raw foam or polyfil! On raw foam, wiping it down can cause crumbling and wearing down! (this is due to the friction needed to surface clean it) So lining foam is important to extend the life of a mask or padding shape, and give it a barrier from direct contact. (fabric can hold up to cleaning friction much better!) So if you have a fursuit part with loose polyfil floating around or raw foam, consider containing it within a pillow or add in a liner to the spot in which it needs to be kept!
Liners can, in some cases, help increase comfort, and is a level of finish folks who are professionally creating, or later selling their costumes wish to do for their clients. It does serve to help keep polyfil contained, and foam hygienic, by giving it a barrier that can be wiped down or washed easily after wearing.
I hope this explanation helps! Happy crafting!
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