Good advice so far especially on hook quality.

A few thoughts though.
Do any of your relations have old fur coats (real or rabbit will do) this is
a great source of fur, next what about old mohair jumpers and the like
again a great cheap souce. Next get down to a carpet shop and ask for one
or two of their old samples - shag pile is good and in quite a few colours.
As for patterns depends what you want on the day copy what works for you
with a few variations - try longer hairs. For tubes get hold of a few bits
of the stuff carp fishermen use it comes in green, black, brown and clear
and in a number of diameters.

Bob