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Frequently Asked Questions Needle Felting Q&A with Kay Solving the mysteries of sculptural needle felting one poke at a time... |
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General Needle Felting Questions
What is Needle Felting?
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Simply put, needle felting is the art of crafting felted objects out of un-spun wool or other fibers using repeated jabbing action with barbed felting needles. Objects can be flat or three dimensional; fun or functional. The possibilities truly are endless. My focus and expertise is creating dolls made of wool using sculptural needle felting techniques. CLICK HERE For more info and links to my favorite supplies Make sure to watch the videos that demonstrate needle felting in action. (COMING SOON!)
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I just discovered needle felting and have never tried it before. How Do I Get Started?
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I wish I could say to
just run down to your nearest craft and hobby store and pick up
everything you need. Unfortunately, it's not that easy. You
may find small packets of fibers and expensive felting tools that hold
several needles - these are generally for flat needle felting techniques
used in embellishing garments and accessories. Even if you happen
to have a fiber shop in your neighborhood, the chances of having the
best wool selections for needle felting are slim. I have found
that most shops carry wool prepared for spinners and the properties of
wool prepared for felting are much different. But you will find
exactly what you need on the internet. My Supplies page has
information and sources for my favorite wool for needle felting. Once you get an idea of the supplies you need, then you might consider some type of workshop or book. Needle felting is very intuitive and can be easily learned without any instruction but books, videos and workshops are always helpful. There are many websites that offer both inspiration and helpful hints for teaching yourself how to needle felt. I suggest narrowing it down to a few of your favorite artists that specialize in the subject matter you are most drawn to. Bookmark their sites so you can study their work - I have spent hours gazing at my favorite needle felting artists' websites and found MUCH inspiration in doing this. Don't be shy to contact them for advice and if you ever get an opportunity to take a live workshop from one of your favorite artists, jump on the opportunity. Online groups and forums can also be of great value. I personally recommend one that is near and dear to my heart. I am the owner/admin of The Felting & Needle Felting Forum. A large group of felting enthusiasts from around the world, creating, sharing and inspiring. Please join the fun - www.feltingforum.com Understanding the concepts of needle felting and a great imagination is really all you need but learning specific techniques is quite helpful. CLICK HERE for more about Felt Alive Needle Felting Workshops |
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What kind of wool do I need? |
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Nearly any type of wool
(or fiber) can be used for needle felting. Wool comes in a great
variety of breeds, blends and preparations. All of this causes great
confusion for new needle felters. And there really are no right or
wrong answers - ask 50 different needle felters what fibers they prefer
and you will get 50 different answers.
CLICK HERE For more info and links to my favorite supplies Make sure to watch the videos that demonstrate my favorite wool and supplies in action. (COMING SOON!)
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Fleece, Roving, Tops,
Sliver and Batting. What's it all mean? |
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Typically wool (aka fleece) has either been prepared for spinning into yarn or for traditional wet felting. For spinning into yarn, the wool has typically been cleaned, perhaps dyed and then carded (brushed) into long ropes of fibers called roving - if the roving has gone through the additional process of combing to remove the shorter fibers leaving the remaining long fibers running in the same direction, the end product is long, luxurious ropes of fiber often referred to as tops or combed tops and also sliver. Merino wool is often prepared this way. Strangely enough, however, more often than not, you will see combed tops referred to as roving. Besides being used for spinning, tops, roving or sliver are used in traditional wet felting. Batting is another preparation of wool that is used primarily for wet felting and spinners love it too. It is carded (brushed) using large machines that make flat, wide sheets of wool batting. Un-dyed, it is often sold as quilt batting. So if the terminology here in the US doesn't make your head spin - it's all different in the UK and other parts of the world and I'm not well-versed enough to offer much help there. CLICK HERE For more info and links to my favorite supplies Make sure to watch the videos that demonstrate my favorite wool and supplies in action. (COMING SOON!)
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What is your favorite wool for needle felting? |
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My hands down favorite
wool for needle felting is known as Norwegian C1 Felting Batts. It
comes from Norwegian crossbred sheep - the C1 is a classification which
indicates the wool is shorn in autumn. The wool is consistently clean,
dyed in a gorgeous array of colors and beautifully carded into batting.
It is known to traditional felt makers for its fast-felting qualities
as well as its durability; making it perfect for rug-making or heavy
tapestries. These qualities also make it perfect for needle felting
dolls. It felts fast with felting needles and the durability
factor gives them much flexibility. The wool also has a great
sheen to it. The flesh tones shine nearly like skin when finished
properly.
CLICK HERE For more info and links to my favorite supplies Make sure to watch the videos that demonstrate my favorite wool and supplies in action. (COMING SOON!)
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What are the best color choices for flesh tones? |
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I nearly always use
Norwegian C1 Felting Batts for the flesh layer of my dolls and get asked
this often. The answer is brief- Buff (pale complexion,)
Beige Peach (medium complexion) and Light Brown (dark complexion) are
perfect. (In the UK the equivalent is Complexion, Beige and Brown)
CLICK HERE For more info and links to my favorite supplies Make sure to watch the videos that demonstrate my favorite wool and supplies in action. (COMING SOON!)
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What is Core Wool? |
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Core wool
is simply plain, un-dyed wool batting I use to sculpt the basic structure of nearly all
of my creations - it gets buried beneath the outer layers so it makes
good economic sense to use a less expensive wool for the core and save
all the pretty colors for the outer layers. The core is a good use
for scraps of wool from other projects.
But it isn't necessary to use core wool - I could easily sculpt entire characters out of Norwegian C1 and really, the specialty wools aren't that expensive. So besides saving me a little money, the core wool I choose has properties that work perfect for sculpting the core of my characters. It is springy, nearly spongy and makes strong and flexible needle felted joints. It is free from any long, hairy fibers and it tears off the batting easily, handles easily and felts quickly. I rarely use it for sculpting a complete character because the surface has a rather dull, yellow appearance and the surface tends to pill quickly. CLICK HERE For more info and links to my favorite supplies Make sure to watch the videos that demonstrate my favorite wool and supplies in action. (COMING SOON!)
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What kind of foam pad or work surface do you use? |
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I use a high-density charcoal grey-colored foam (again, see
the supplies page) It offers a bit of resistance to
the needle and I actually use it as a tool to control fiber for certain
techniques. Basically, any type of spongy, foam surface will work. Upholstery foam works fine but make sure to get a piece at least 3 inches thick - the needle travels through this stuff effortlessly so it should be thick enough to protect the table or your lap. There are brush-like devices designed for needle felting, the needle pierces into the bristles of the brush. I haven't tried one but I've heard they work great. I don't recommend using Styrofoam - the needle will mutilate it in a hurry. CLICK HERE For more info and links to my favorite supplies Make sure to watch the videos that demonstrate my favorite wool and supplies in action. (COMING SOON!)
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Why do you prefer batting over roving or combed tops? |
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The fibers are less orderly in batting form
and batting tends to be loftier, containing more air, than roving.
I use these features to my advantage in keeping the wool lifelike and
flexible. The wool tears of the batt in sheets and is much easier
to shape and sculpt into 3-D shapes than long ropes of wool.
Besides making denser, stiffer objects, using combed roving (aka tops) tends to leave a rather stripey
effect. Because the fibers all run in the same direction, the wool
shrinks along those lines leaving grooves and stripes; with batting, the
fibers shrink evenly in all directions. If roving/tops/sliver is
all you have available, it is beneficial to tear or cut long fibers into shorter strands and
brush them into a messy batting using wool carders, dog brushes or even
your fingers before using.
CLICK HERE For more info and links to my favorite supplies Make sure to watch the videos that demonstrate my favorite wool and supplies in action. (COMING SOON!)
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Felting Needles?
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Felting Needles are
manufactured for industrial felting machines. They are designed to
fit into large plates that hold many needles. Industrial felt has
many applications; so next time you open the trunk of your car, the felt
liner may take on new interest to you!
Felting needles are made of steel and have a tip with multiple blade edges that run partially up the shaft. The blades have barbs which grab fibers and tangle them together; creating felt. The blades are very sharp and very brittle. Felting needles can easily pierce through skin and they also break very easily. *The opposite end of the blade is "L" shaped with a blunt end. Felting needles come in many blade/barb/gauge configurations which are useful for different techniques but they all look pretty much alike. Felting needles were not designed to be held in human hands and that "L" shaped end is uncomfortable to use. Several types of handles have been introduced to the market that hold single or multiple needles designed for needle felters. Felt Alive has even jumped into the felting needle improvement fray - see the next question. Much care needs to be taken to learn how to handle the needles. Really, the old adage applies - "It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye." I've never heard of an eye injury from needle felting but vigorous or improper use can result in injury and the tip could potentially snap and hit your eye. CLICK HERE For more info and links to my favorite supplies Make sure to watch the videos that demonstrate my favorite wool and supplies in action. (COMING SOON!)
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What kind of felting needles should I use? |
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If you are like me, you
picked some random felting needles up along the way but really have no
idea what you have - after all - all felting needles look pretty much
alike.
I take the mystery out of felting needles with my Felt Alive Super-Duper Felting Needles They come in variety packs. The three different gauges of needles are color coded and come packaged in a folder with a guide that explains their uses. And the ends are cushioned for comfort and ease of use. I use only the highest quality, Foster Brand Felting Needles, so you are sure to get the sharpest, strongest most reliable needle on the market. I offer three different sizes - 40T for general felting, 38 star for finish and surface felting, 36T for deep, fast felting and attaching parts. I find this variety to be quite sufficient for sculptural needle felting. My Super-Duper Packs contain two of each. And best of all - I use my Super-Duper needles in all of my workshops so you can always be follow along without any doubt as to what needle you should be using. CLICK HERE for more about Felt Alive Super-Duper Felting Needles |
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Felt Alive Workshops FAQs |
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I recently discovered needle felting and have never tried it before. Which workshop do you suggest for a total beginner? |
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Any of my Felt Alive
Workshops are easy enough for a total beginner. So it's really how
ambitious you feel!
CLICK HERE for more about Felt Alive Needle Felting Workshops |
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How much wool does it take to make an average doll? |
| An average 12" Felt Alive Doll usually weighs between 3-5 oz. This is without the use of wire armatures. | |
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Can I make a doll even if I don't have any artistic abilities? |
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I am a firm
believer that we all have artistic abilities, some of us just haven't
connected with that part of ourselves. It took my discovery of
needle felting to discover the artist lurking in me. Felt Alive
Needle Felting workshops are not pattern-based, the instructions are
based on series of techniques. Following these techniques doesn't
take any special skills yet the wool has a way of
coming to life in a unique way every time. Wool seems to have its
own idea of what it wants to be and somehow it will help you discover
your artist within. Soon you will be creating anything you can
imagine.
CLICK HERE for more about Felt Alive Needle Felting Workshops |
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Do you sell your dolls? |
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My first instinct when asked this question is to shriek - "What??? Sell Them?? Noooooo....." I can't help it; I fall in love with them. The dolls I share here on my website are typically not for sale. But I am always open to creating a custom Felt Alive doll especially for you. Click Here for more info |
