It could be fun to take the sleeves and turn them into bolster pillows. Either use fur for the ends as well or find an interesting contrasting fabric. I agree, a small throw or more pillows from the body material would be easy to do. You might also keep the collar and try pairing it with a sweater or over the collar of a winter coat.

How about a mini "sheepskin" rug or the top of an ottoman?

Have it made into a teddybear. My mother-in-law does that and I know there are many out there that have the patterns and sewing skills to do it. My daughter has a teddybear in her room that was made with her great grandmothers coat. It's really sweet. Good luck!

Seconding the teddy bear idea. I feel like those end up being more beloved to the recipients than a throw or a throw pillow would be.

Have you taken a really close look at? Is it really worth reusing? Unless it has been stored in a climate controlled environment for most of its life it may be pretty ratty. A ratty coat is going to look like a ratty blanket or a ratty pillow.

And leather and fur are very hard to sew, even if you change your sewing needle or are talented with hand sewing. I can sew well and I've sewed leather before but the thought of a sewing a fur teddy bear just thinking about it. BAH.

Seriously, unless you are uber talented let the project go or find someone one etsy to do it. Otherwise you'll end up with a cut up coat and and no finished project.

(I had to repeatedly turn down ratty mink coats from our family.)

I love the teddy bear idea

You could use it to line something or for the under-side of a blanket. That way, you get the softness of the fur without the look of it (especially if it doesn't look fresh anymore).

Maybe it's just me, but if you don't plan on using it (I know I have some similar coats that will eventually be passed down to me I sure won't wear!) doesn't it ruin the memories/family meaning by chopping it up? I know its common- heck I've seen friends butcher their mother's wedding dresses into skirts or things they could actually wear, but I just think to myself would the person who had this/ gave it to me approve of it being treated how you plan on treating it?

Coats like this in my home, my mom stores in her closet just like my grandma did and I'm sure I will too. Just couldn't bring myself to cut it up.

How about donating it to the Humane Society to help rehabilitate animals? http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/fur_fashion/donate_fur_coats_for_cubs_11042010.html

As a huge animal lover I would love for people to see the comment above mine and donate it to the Humane Society!

However this person seems to want to hang on to it. I completely get what a few are saying about preserving it as a coat, as it is intended to be. I really love the teddy bear idea, but that sounds like a lot of work? THere's probably a nice template somewhere, that would be perfect for a child! Otherwise I like the editors idea, a couch throw.

Alyssa
coolproducts.com

I have a similar mink. It's a short coat and is in beautiful condition as my aunt kept it forgotten in a closet for about 20 years. It's not very fashionable but it's one of the few (literally, two) things I have of my grandmothers'. I think I might take the advice of making somei nteresting pillows from the sleeves and see about using the rest as a small throw for the back of the chair. I think I'd love seeing it used in my home in the winter.

I also agree with Teddy Bears. We did this with some of my husband's military uniforms. Tammy Hendrick's made our bears and the quality is outstanding. http://www.tammybears.com/custom.html

I like the idea of making it into bolster pillows. A fur teddy bear sounds really creepy to me. Someone else mentioned how difficult it will be to work with, though, and that thought definitely bears repeating.

I also like the Humane Society idea. ;)

How about a baby blanket. It could be fur on one side and silk on the other. You could have it monogramed with your mother's initials and pass it to every baby in the family. Could be gorgeous on a winter day. Someone gave me a fur (I think rabbit) blanket for my little one and I always used it when I was pushing the stroller in the winter. It was so warm.

I love CurlyVanessa's idea. I'm a total non-fur person, but we were lent a children's fur hat made in a traditional native way when we first moved to Montreal, and I LOVED putting that thing on my baby because it was literally the warmest thing anyone in our family has ever had, before or since. That would make a wonderful baby blanket.

oh I love the teddy bear idea!

Pillows. They will be very chic.

If you have little scraps left over, you can use them for the tops of Christmas stockings (especially beautiful if the stockings are made of velvet).

I have an old mink and those things can really fall apart. So turning it into a pillow or blanket or teddy will only hasten its eventual shedding and demise. I think you should keep it as a coat.

I mean, one day it will be the perfect Hagrid costume.

my mother-in-law had her mink coat made into heirloom teddy bears for all her grandchildren- they aren't exactly play-with-me toys, but it was a sweet way to reuse something she wasn't ever going to wear again. The bears even have shawls on from a beaver stole she had. I especially liked that they were made to look like old fashioned teddies, with movable arms, legs and head :)

I'm so happy to learn about the humane society idea! That just made my year! I have this old mink from my mother. She passed in 88. I have plenty of things to remember her by, I don't need this mink. It may have been chic in the 80's, but it is hilariously ugly now- I swear it has puff sleeves- how do you even do that with fur! Thank you for the link!!

My mother had my grandmother's mink coat (which was no longer wearable, the lining was a disaster) made into heirloom teddy bears as others have mentioned. They are not meant as toys, but mine is now more than 10 years old and is still in perfect condition. I should also mention I am not a big fan of stuffed animals but I love this repurposing. Mine also has moveable arms & legs.

Thank you so much for these great ideas! I'll probably either go the teddy bear route or perhaps donate it, not sure yet. Thanks for all the wisdom!

Here's another attempt at the Humane Society link- looks like it got snipped off above.
http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/fur_fashion
/donate_fur_coats_for_cubs_11042010.html

My mother inherited a mink coat and she had a furrier repurpose it into another, more modern jacket. She had it shaved and they used it as a liner for a black microfiber coat that's far shorter and doesn't scream 'fur coat'. It's super warm and very stylish. She'd never buy a new fur coat, but I think justifies it by reminding herself that it's a very, very old coat and it brings back fond memories of her grandmother. I also like the bear idea. :)

all i can think about are christmas decorations. like a tree skirt, stockings, tree ornaments. I also thought about those fake trophies for animal heads. I would freaking loooove a fur coat! My grandmother has one and i would totally rock that coat! dont get me wrong i am not a fan of how most fur happens. but if my hubby were hunting and we used every bit of the animal including the fur it would be a great thing!

I made a teddy bear for a friendand her sister out of her mothers fur coat. Quite easy, really, and i attached the initials from inside thr coat onto the bottoms of the feet. She burst into tears when she saw it, and just loved it!

I have been repurposing fur for a couple of years. I have turned fur coats into scarves that have received many compliments. I have made throws for my home, earmuffs, make-up bags and purses...these items are wonderful. I agree, you want to make sure the fur is in good shape, otherwise all your efforts will be for not, when your creations fall apart. But sometimes the previously owned furs are just too beautiful to take apart, so I shorten them and wear them casually over jeans etc. I love the idea of creating a keepsake from someone's estate.

Kijijiprincess--are you interested in a commission? I have a coat of my grandmother's that means alot to me. I'd love to have it turned into something I can use. If not, where can I find a textile artist to help me? kind regards, fontenot@post.harvard.edu