Ruth Lane - First Time Felting: the Absolute Beginners Guide - Learn by Doing * Step-By-Step Basics + Projects

The most important piece of equipment in needle felting, and the only tool that is strictly necessary, is the needle. However, there are other tools that will help speed the process and also protect you from accidental needle sticks.

Felting needles (below) are available in a variety of brands. They are made from carbon steel with a very sharp point. Needles come in a variety of gauges and blade styles and can have a variety of barb placements and depth. Further discussion about felting needles is included in the basic techniques section (shown ). Often, needles are color coded, but unfortunately there isnt one single system of coding. A yellow-coded needle from one company may be a completely different needle from a yellow needle from another. Buy needles that are marked for gauge and blade style so you know what needle you are buying. Needles often come in sets with a variety of gauges and blade styles. When first beginning to needle felt, buying this type of set allows you the opportunity to try different needles for different types of projects and to see which size and type you prefer.

Foam pads (1) are used in needle felting so that the wool being felted is placed on the pad instead of being held in your hand and to provide support for a two-dimensional felt piece. This makes it less likely for a needle to poke all the way through into your hand. Many different types of foam pads are available, and some are denser than others. Dense upholstery foam will work, as will a stack of interlocking foam floor pads. Different sizes of felting pads are available and can be fit to the size of felted items being made. Pads should be 2" to 3" (5 to 8 cm) thick for the best protection.

TIP

Use two foam pads, one for lighter colored wool and one for darker wool. Stray bits of wool from the pad tend to adhere to the item as it is being felted. The stray wool wont show as much if a lighter colored wool item is needled only on the pad used for light colored wools.

Brushes (2) are also made to needle felt against. These seem to work best when needle felting wool to a base fabric.

Multineedle holders (3) come in a variety of shapes and sizes. These holders allow the use of more than one needle at a time. Using several needles at once speeds up the needling process and allows more surface area to be covered per poking action. Look for handles that allow the needles to be changed in and out easily. A handle could be made from polymer clay by shaping the clay around the ends of the needles and then baking. However, if a needle was broken, it could not be replaced.

A darning needle or a doll needle (4) is used in needle felting for pulling already needled wool back out to reshape if the original shape isnt as desired. Darning needles are large blunt needles with a big eye and can be found with sewing supplies. Doll needles are extra-long needles with long eyes and are found with doll-making supplies.