4 Needle Felting Secrets to Save you Time, Money and Headaches (2024)

Hello! I am just getting started. I’m trying to read everything I can while I wait for my Sheep kit. I feel calmer just reading about needle felting. So therefore I am looking forward to actual needle felting being kind of a meditation! Haha I guess you can’t get too relaxed or that’s when you may find a needle in your finger. Anyway I am anxiously awaiting my kit and cannot hardly stand it!!! I just want to say thank you to all who share tips, ideas and experience here.

This is a wonderful site and I am very tempted to join your academy ! I am a year into the joys ( and frustration ) of self taught needle felting . Having practiced wood and clay sculpture , adapting this material is fascinating ( and much cleaner ) . My visions for my creations are more human than animal with long limbs , clay hands feet and faces , an armature is pretty essential for the “ poses” and the flexibility I hope to achieve and , generally , I work only in core wool . I do find the wire to be a nuisance so in some cases where the felt is “ fat “ enough I felt the body parts then using a pointed thin ( as possible ) knitting needle I force a channel through the felt then pass my wire through this , then link the arms and legs to the body ? Don’t know if this concept helps anyone else out there ….

I’m just starting out on a new journey – needle felting:
It’s exciting but don’t know which way to start:
To begin a landscape do I begin on a felt sheet ?

Hi Teresa, I subscribed to your newsletter, and not sure if I downloaded your free book. Could you please let me know. Thanks.

I saw a photo of a felter on Pinterest, and behind her, her wool was in a clear plastic hanging shoe holder (the one that has a pocket to hold each shoe separately). If I had space , I think this looked like a great idea. Right now, I keep bins with separate colors but have to dump the wool out to see what I want to use. If anyone has any suggestions, that would be great.

oi Teresa,adorei as dicas e também sou uma iniciante,gulosa em aprender,gosto de fazer bichinhos para minhas bonecas waldor e estou começando a fazer suas roupinhas e sapatos em feltragem molhada adoro trabalhar com fibras,bjinhos e obrigado

I am extremely new to needle felting. I started out trying to make little balls to attach to acorn caps. I made three balls the perfect size and now I made two that are too big. Is there a way to pull the roving out of the needle felted ball to make it smaller, or should I just put it aside to use in another project later? Thank you very much for your great tips. I am using the leather finger covers as I am sure I would destroy my hands, plus I have lymphedema in my left arm which I use to hold the roving while I needle felt. I don’t need any unnecessary injuries. I am really looking forward to perhaps making a felted snowman for the holidays. But that will have to come after I am better at felting. I am so glad I found your site.

So glad I came upon your site! Gotta love Pinterest! GREAT info.
I am just discovering felting & very interested. Haven’y started it yet, so coming across your site is PERFECT because I didn’t even know where to start 🙂

Good evening Teresa
I’m looking at trying to start this great craft having never done this before, and feel blessed to have found this blog.. as there is no one near where I live ( Clacton on sea…England) that teaches this… so I’m trying to go it alone , I’m either crazy or brave.. trying to find what I need to buy to start on my journey, and reading this page makes me feel like I’m not on my own.. enjoying all your tips, I have signed up for your newsletter and will down load your ebook..
Many thanks jason.

Hi. You have mentioned using wet felting techniques with your needle felting? Could you clarify please? At what stage would you do this? Am very interested.
Many thanks,
Natalie

I am a beginner and am having a problem knowing what needle size I am working with. I try to see if it is the shape of the picture but can’t seem to see the difference between them. Also, I live in Alaska and order my wool on line or pick some up whenever I am on a trip to the lower 48. This has left me with pits of this and that and I would like to know how to store my colors in a way that is easy to find. Please help me or point me in the right direction. I signed up for your news letter today, and am looking forward to all your tips. Thank you for your help

I have just found this page.my hands are crippled with arthritis.And read a lot of people use wire ,which im unable to use.very happy to have found this blog,so helpfull.

I just got into felting and i am now addicted to it. I also felt very solid but the problem i come across is while i am handling my item it starts to get tiny balls (like sweaters get Pilling) does anyone have this problem and how fix it.

Great tips. I use upholstery foam too. I like your core idea with the felted wool. I too have sheep. What I use for core wool is southdown that my shearer sells to me after he has them made into batts. It isn’t great quality stuff but almost packs itself for a tight core. I do run out though and I also teach a lot with young ones and the ball idea would work well. I make my dryer balls that way. The pen idea is good too. I have a needle holder I like for one needle but I plan to try it. When I work with kids I use bits of dowel and masking tape a needle to it. The pen idea would take some collecting but sounds really fine notional. I love your animals! The moose is spectacular.

Thank you for all the wonderful tips, I look forward to your upcoming tips and tutorials.

Do you have any experience adding weights (some sort of mystery beads that feel like Beanie Baby style weights) to your felted sculptures? I saw some at a craft show and they “sat” better than just a wool core. I’d love some suggestions. Love your beautiful work!

I really enjoyed the tips. I’m learning as much as I can to improve my technique.

Thank you for your tips ,I have only started to needle felt and found them very helpfull.

I like your pen idea and many other ideas. I have been teaching beginning needle felting classes for a year and find so many of your points exactly in line with my opening information.
Each new session starts in a different season so I start woth something simple, pumpkin in October/November, Snowman in December, hearts in Jan/Feb. Now in April I will work on flowers and birds. I will be listing your site in my references. Have you done flat felting? I use the term, painting with wool. I am curious to se if you have done anything besides animals. Also wonder if you have a trick for standing up figured on 2 legs?

Great tips. I especially like the needle in the pen tip. Why didn’t I think of that. This will really help arthritic hands.

I love your site! What a blessing to find. I’m now a beginner and loving this wool roving. Do you happen to know where I can get about 2 pounds of wool for a very low price?
Thank you

I’m just about to make myself a burlap & rice bag cushion to use instead of foam for needle felting. Have you tried this & if so, do you have any comment?

Thanks Genie! I haven’t had a lot of issues with fibers staying in my foam. I can usually just pick out the fibers or switch sides for different colors.

Just a thought, I’ve been using armatures (pipe cleaners really) for several years with no problem. My tip is: I use wool yarn I’ve picked up cheap at garage sales to wind around the armature several times to make my base to felt on. So the first half inch of figure is wool yarn which makes it easier to felt the wool into. I use this instead of core wool I guess. My figures have more heft and solidness because of this. I also use the natural wool to shape the figure and just use my colored wool for the end “coat”. I also like taking my “too dirty ” to use wool and toss in the washer. They make wonderful dreadlocks for my sheep!

I have been needlefelting for years and it’s always nice to find out how others tackle things! I agree with you about armatures. I am currently tackling the first thing I have ever made over an armature (it’s a human form which needs to be pose-able) and it’s driving me crazy! I keep on stabbing the wire so it’s taking forever. I’m beginning to think it would be easier to start again and just make it extra firm.

Wonderful tips, Thankyou! I am new to needlefelting and really appreciate your ideas.

thanks for the good advice, I need to learn more as I felt more

Thank you so much for your blog and great info! My name is Carol a beginner at needle felting and having so much fun . Not sure if I am doing things right , but pleased with the look I have made a sheep, baby duck,and small bird. Gave a gift of a sheep to a friend for a Christmas ornimant they loved it ! But I want to learn more ! Have not found anyone to work with, just been following tutorials and pictures,I fell hooked on it,,find myself felting ever time I sit down. Would like to stay with you as long as I can to continue to learn more . Thank you again Carol

I found your tip about wool balls really helpful and yes it does save a lot of work and money. Many thanks.

I have seen felting kits with leather fingers to protect fingers from stabs of the needles. Have you ever tried these?