Griepentrog Linda - Needle Felting by Hand or Machine: 20 Projects Using Easy-to-Learn Techniques

W ho would have thought I'd be writing about needle felting? I've always shied away from anything related to handwork, and zealously pursued challenging the sewing machine with unusual tasks. I'd always opt to do anything by machine that I could.

Then, one day I was introduced to the Baby Lock Embellisher, a machine dedicated to felting. An astute salesperson was armed with some wonderful woolly samples that got me hooked on the potential. After all, I love anything related to fibers and fabric.

As a weaver many years ago, the lure of fabulous fibers was simmering again and the creative potential with this specialty machine seemed unrivaled.

I was hooked, and began researching the topic, only to find other machine options available, and a huge following of those who needle felt by hand, doing some things not possible by machine. Hmmm sign me up and let me at the tools and fibers. I started wondering, as I often do, I wonder if you could You will find the answers to many of those speculations in this book, as most visions I had for creative options worked out.

My good friend, and now co-author, Pauline Richards immediately took to the machine as well and was equally leery of the hand option, but lo and behold, she now loves it, too. It seems each method has its purpose. Both of us have been strong advocates for machine work in our sewing writing careers, but as we've discovered with needle felting, handwork does have its place.

Our approach to needle felting is that it's great fun and that's what should be explored. We have included some technical information in the book as well, just so you know the facts about what could easily become your latest creative addiction.

So, join us in this wonderful, woolly adventure and felt your heart out creating some easy-to-learn projects we've developed to help you explore a variety of techniques. Grab the fibers, and let the barbs begin (on the needles, that is).

~ Linda

T here's something very soothing about working with fabric, fibers or yarns and for me, needle felting by hand or machine is wonderful therapy because it brings these three elements together in a unique way. Needle felting has opened a new avenue for self-expression.

I always enjoy visiting fabric or yarn shops even when I don't have a project in mind. I love to look for inspiration and enjoy spending time feeling the fibers. Needle felting allows me to build, layer, coax, combine and create using all parts of my abundant fiber stash.

What could be better than co-authoring a book on a technique I love, with my friend and mentor, Linda Griepentrog. Together we see unending possibilities to combine needle felting with many other creative techniques. This book is just the beginning of our ideas and it's a privilege to share our creative journey with you.

Let the felting begin!

Pauline

Warning!

Needle felting can be very addicting,
so plan storage space for the fibers,
fabrics and tools you'll accumulate.

Conjoined Creations Soy Silk photo

There's a buzz about needle felting that creative people can't ignore. Colorful, fuzzy fibers lure us into the have-to-do-it mode, but how did it all start?

We can probably blame the first remnants (no pun intended) of felting on the cavemen who used sheepskins to protect their bodies and feet from the weather. Add in precipitation and the friction of walking around in the wild in their daily pursuit of prey, and you have the first stages of the felting frenzy.

Felt can be created by two processes: dry felting and wet felting, and our cavemen utilized the second for their wardrobing.

When water is added to wool fiber, it raises the scales. When accompanied by friction and heat, the fibers interlock to form a dense mass and felting results. In the case of our early ancestors, the felting process was likely accidental. As they stomped around in the wild and laundered their clothes on wet stones, fibers of their wooly body coverings matted and shrunk, creating primitive felt.