Needle Felting Tips and Techniques

Although needle felting in industry has been around for a while, home crafters are embracing this technique more and more. They are finding all kinds of uses and projects in which to incorporate it into their creative work. It's easy to understand because it is such a satisfying technique that gives beautiful results. Working with soft, luxurious carded wool is a pleasurable, sensory experience! Give it a try soon.

A Note of Caution: This activity is for adults or older children (age 10 and up) only with strict adult guidance and supervision due to the long and very sharp needles. Do not allow your child to attempt this project alone!

Materials Needed:

Barbed felting needle

cleaned and carded wool, can be dyed

a piece of 2" thick dense, spongy foam 12" x 10" (can be purchased at a craft store)

Directions: Please read completely before you begin.

1.) Begin by deciding what shape you'd like your finished felt piece to take, for example: a heart. Draw this on a piece of paper and cut it out. (If this is your first time to needle felt, I suggest that your shape be at least 3" in diameter. If it's too small your fingers might get in the way later.)

2.) Next, tear a sheet of wool that is about 1/2" thick and at least 1/2" bigger on all sides than the shape template you've created.

3.) Lay the wool on your foam and poke the needle (up and down) into it in a random pattern. You don't need to be forceful, not at all! Instead, allow the needle to penetrate the foam only about 1/4" with each poke. Also, this is important, only move your needle straight up and down, not at an angle. If you move your needle sideways, while it is in the foam, the tip will break off. And watch your fingers!!! Always know where they are in relation to your felting needle so you don't stick yourself. As they say in Maine: That needle is "wicked sharp!" Poke the wool a few times to secure it to the foam work surface.

4.) Now, with straight pins, pin your shape template in the middle of your wool. Going around the outline of the shape, poke the felting needle up and down until the fibers have compressed and you can see the outline of your shape. Remove the template.

5.) Use the felting needle to poke up and down in the middle of your shape until the inside has been compressed and your shape is well defined.

6.) Fold the excess wool that extends beyond your shape into the inside and use the felting needle to incorporate it into the shape. This will give your finished piece a nice, rounded edge. (If you want a straight edge, just flatten your wool sheet completely and you can cut it into any shape later.)

7.) By this time, your shape is probably securely felted into the foam. Lift it off and turn it over. Use your felting needle to push the "fuzzies" into the back side of your shape. You might want to use straight pins to hold it to your work surface, especially if the shape is small and there's a chance your fingers will get in the way. But make sure the needle doesn't hit the pin, or the tip might break off! You'll have to lift, turn and work your piece several times until it's finally smooth and finished. That's it! No water -- no mess!

Needle Felted Mushroom Fairy House

Finished house measures 10½" high & 5" diameter at base.

This unique mushroom has a hollow stem, which provides just the right space for a tiny fairy to live quite comfortably. The curved doorway is approximately 4½" tall. The whole house is constructed of wool fleece and dry felted, using the needle felting technique (no sewing required). The completed house is amazingly strong because the wool is felted directly to a stiff interfacing, which provides a sturdy, durable structure! Skill level: Suitable for all levels, Beginner to Advanced. The finished Mushroom House is recommended for ages 4 and older.

Pattern and kits available!

Click on photo to learn more and see larger photos.

Needle Felted Flower Hill Hideaway

Finished house measures 10" wide & 9" high.

Imagine hiking along a wooded trail and spotting this vine & mushroom-covered fairy house hidden among the wildflowers at the base of a tree. You can create this two-story fairy hideaway easily, without sewing or the soapy mess usually associated with traditional wet felting. This is an easy needle felting project, even for a beginner!

Skill level: Suitable for all levels, Beginner to Advanced. The finished Flower Hill Hideaway is recommended for ages 4 and older.

Pattern available!

Click on photo to learn more and see larger photos.

Tips for 3-D Needle Felted Figures:

The technique for making 3-D felted objects is much the same as above, except you will be working "in the round," so to speak. You need to take extra precaution to watch your fingers because, as you hold and turn your project, there is a greater chance of poking through the wool right into your finger! Ouch!

You can produce the different parts of your project separately, such as a head, legs, body, etc. Then, when they are well formed, attach them to the main base of your figure. For example, in the mouse pictured at left, the body, head and ears were formed separately, then needle felted together (much like working with clay). When I attached the head, I laid it where I wanted it, then poked my needle through the head entirely into the wool of the body. By doing this many times and from different angles, eventually the two pieces joined (no glue required). (Remember to always poke your needle in a straight line, up and down, no matter the angle, so as not to break your needle.) To seal and smooth out the joint, I wrapped a thin layer of wool around the neck and needle felted it into place. This strengthened the joint, as well.

Details can be added by using different colors of wool or, as in the case of the eyes and tail for the mouse above, I used cuttings of embroidery floss and needle felted them in place. For my mouse, this worked fine, because it isn't going to be handled roughly or by very young children (or pets) who might pull them out and swallow them. It is important to keep safety a top priority when designing toys! For greater strength and durability, only felt wool to wool. The unique property of wool that allows it to "stick" to itself creates a stronger bond than wool to other materials, such as the cotton floss. Please keep this in mind when you design your figures.

For ideas, I have used the books Magic Wool and More Magic Wool (pictured at left). Although it is not suggested in either book to needle felt your figures, the combination of their techniques and needle felting I have found creates a stronger more durable result. (Click on the book cover to be transported to the page where a detailed description of that book can be found.)

Most importantly:

Be safe and have fun!

www.thesilverpenny.com

Needle Felting Starter Kit

Everything you need to start needle felting immediately! The kit contains three high-quality Colonial brand 36-gauge felting needles that have 50% more barbs for faster felting (you'll love these needles). Each needle is slightly different for use during different stages in the creation process, one general all-purpose, one "Blue Point" and one finer surface sculpting needle. The kit also includes a 6” square sturdy, reusable foam pad; 100% wool fiber in seven colors; a white felt backing for your creations; step-by-step instructions and iron-on designs for completing the two projects pictured (butterflies and felted flower pins). This is a great starter kit for anyone interested in learning more about this exciting and fun craft! Due to sharp needles, this kit is recommended for ages 12 and older.