★ HOW TO Felt Wool | Felting Craft Tutorials & Projects ★
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Introduction to Needle Felting & Wet Felting
If you would like to learn how to hand-felt wool roving into a variety of lovely objects and decorations, you've come to the right place!
Below you will find beginner's guides to needle felting, wet felting and machine felting, plus easy projects you can try straight away. You can then progress onto more challenging tutorial and design your own creations.
I hope this page inspires you to give this great craft a go :-)
Photo by Bric-a-Brac.
Below you will find beginner's guides to needle felting, wet felting and machine felting, plus easy projects you can try straight away. You can then progress onto more challenging tutorial and design your own creations.
I hope this page inspires you to give this great craft a go :-)
Photo by Bric-a-Brac.
Best Felting Books
Wool Roving
This lovely soft wool is what you need to felt.
Photo by Bric-a-Brac.
A Brief Intro
The Different Felting Techniques Available
Felting involves matting wool fibers together into a more tough and durable material called felt. As you are felting, you can manipulate the wool into lots of different shapes and designs.
Hand felting is either wet or dry. Dry felting is where the wool fibers are tangles/matted together using a special barbed felting needle, and you have a lot of control over the final shape, and more detailed designs can be made this way. Needle felting can produce 3D shapes or 2D art.
Wet felting is where the wool is manipulated whilst in hot soapy water, and is a popular way of making simple shapes like felt balls, or flat pieces from which you make other items like toys, coasters, decorations etc.
Wet felting can also be done in a washing machine to save time, although you can't guide the shape of the felt this way unless the wool put into the machine is pre-knitted into a shape. If you can knit, you can turn your knitted bags, purses etc into felt using a washing machine. A popular way of creating flat felt pieces is to put wool sweaters into the machine at high temperature, then cut up the sweaters into workable pieces which you can sew together into whatever item you like.
RESISTS: These are flat shapes cut out of a non-porous and flexible material. Examples include corrugated cardboard (which is flexible when wet), plastic sheet (e.g. tarp, bubble wrap, laminate flooring underlay) and rubber (or even something porous like foam - wrapped in plastic bags to make it non-porous.)
Resists are used to create a hollow object such as a bag, pod/vessel, boot/slipper etc. The flexible cut-out is used to help the wool keep it's shape whilst you are wet felting the roving around it, and it also means you don't need seams in the felt. After felting, shrinkage will mean that the resist doesn't really fit inside anymore, so it is cut out. This means that most resists can be reused.
NUNO FELTING is a form of wet felting from Japan. What makes it different is that the wool fibers are felted onto a fabric which is usually sheer and light such as silk gauze, organza or cotton voile. Nuno felting is used for fine clothing as well as accessories like scarves. The fabric backing means that it won't stretch out of shape. The resulting felted item is lightweight, has a nice drape and is easy to manipulate, rather than the regular traditional felt which is usually bulky.
Both the fabric and the wool will be on display in the final piece, and you could also add embellishments of beads, sequins or embroidery.
REMEMBER: Felting creates shrinkage so if you start with a 24" square for example, it will shrink by about 20% to a 20" square.
And to make this 20" square of felt you would need 5-6 oz. (140-170g) of pure wool roving.
Hand felting is either wet or dry. Dry felting is where the wool fibers are tangles/matted together using a special barbed felting needle, and you have a lot of control over the final shape, and more detailed designs can be made this way. Needle felting can produce 3D shapes or 2D art.
Wet felting is where the wool is manipulated whilst in hot soapy water, and is a popular way of making simple shapes like felt balls, or flat pieces from which you make other items like toys, coasters, decorations etc.
Wet felting can also be done in a washing machine to save time, although you can't guide the shape of the felt this way unless the wool put into the machine is pre-knitted into a shape. If you can knit, you can turn your knitted bags, purses etc into felt using a washing machine. A popular way of creating flat felt pieces is to put wool sweaters into the machine at high temperature, then cut up the sweaters into workable pieces which you can sew together into whatever item you like.
RESISTS: These are flat shapes cut out of a non-porous and flexible material. Examples include corrugated cardboard (which is flexible when wet), plastic sheet (e.g. tarp, bubble wrap, laminate flooring underlay) and rubber (or even something porous like foam - wrapped in plastic bags to make it non-porous.)
Resists are used to create a hollow object such as a bag, pod/vessel, boot/slipper etc. The flexible cut-out is used to help the wool keep it's shape whilst you are wet felting the roving around it, and it also means you don't need seams in the felt. After felting, shrinkage will mean that the resist doesn't really fit inside anymore, so it is cut out. This means that most resists can be reused.
NUNO FELTING is a form of wet felting from Japan. What makes it different is that the wool fibers are felted onto a fabric which is usually sheer and light such as silk gauze, organza or cotton voile. Nuno felting is used for fine clothing as well as accessories like scarves. The fabric backing means that it won't stretch out of shape. The resulting felted item is lightweight, has a nice drape and is easy to manipulate, rather than the regular traditional felt which is usually bulky.
Both the fabric and the wool will be on display in the final piece, and you could also add embellishments of beads, sequins or embroidery.
REMEMBER: Felting creates shrinkage so if you start with a 24" square for example, it will shrink by about 20% to a 20" square.
And to make this 20" square of felt you would need 5-6 oz. (140-170g) of pure wool roving.
Felted Ball Bunting
Photo and bunting by Tuppence.
Christmas Decorations
Photo and ornaments by Evelyn.
Beginner's Guides & Technique How-Tos
- Needle Felting for Beginners
- A good starter guide to creating flat felt shapes.
- Wet Felting for Beginners
- Easy to follow tutorial about creating 2D felt pieces.
- How to Felt Sweater 1
- With lots of useful info on what sweaters work best.
- How to Felt Sweater 2
- With tips on cutting the sweater up before felting to eliminate kinks.
- Needle Felting Tool
- A review of a tool you can buy for needle felting.
- Felting With Kids
- How to wet felt patterned felt inside a plastic bag.
- Needle Gauge Choice
- How to choose the right size of felting needle.
- Resist Felting
- What is a resist? Plus check out the other tutorials - on nuno felting for example.
- Wet Felting With a Resist
- Making a bag with a plastic resist.
Needlefelted Toadstools
Photo and toadstools by Marieke Van Esveld.
Needlefelt Dog Portrait
Why not try and replicate your own pet in felt?
Photo and dog by Erica
Easy Things to Make
Using Needle Felting Techniques
- Needle Felted Acorns
- Lovely items you can display in a bowl, on a dinner table or make into ornaments.
- Halloween Ghosts
- Perfect for making spooky ornaments.
- Pansy Flower
- Pretty design, good for learning how to add different colors.
- Toadstool
- Cute shape which can be used on it's own or in a larger scene.
- Sausage Dog
- Animated gifs help you make this little dog.
- Gnome Ornaments
- Lovely gnome designs in a simple cyclindrical shape.
- Cat With Heart Collar
- Sweet animal tutorial, plus a dog design too.
- Felted Buttons
- Lovely soft buttons to embellish your knitwear.
- Angry Birds
- Fun felted birds based on the popular game.
- Strawberry Pincushion
- Needle felt these cute and useable strawberries.
Felted Duck Pond
What a lovely creation!
Photo and duck pond by Cassie.
Easy Things to Make
Using Wet Felting Techniques
- Felt Ball Display
- Trendy and stylish vase display.
- Cookie Cutter Ornaments
- Felt the wool into shape by using cookie cutters as outlines.
- Felted Pebbles
- You can make them in a whole rainbow of colors.
- Felted Soaps
- Perfect for personalizing and giving as gifts.
- Nesting Bowls
- Using knitting and machine felting.
- Felted Finger Puppets
- Fun makes for kids to play with too.
- Nuno Felt Scarf
- Roll your scarf with a bamboo mat to felt it well.
- Mini Ninja
- Good beginner's idea for a hanging ornament.
Embroidered Fiber Art
Needlefelt wool on felt with art yarns and embroidery.
By Deebs Fiber Arts.
Deer Wedding Topper
This topper stands 6" tall and the deer are made by needle felting wool over a wire armature. The heart shaped antlers are made from sculpy clay and wire.
Photo and topper by Lucky Nielson.
Embellished Bag
This bag was hand knitted in wool, then (washing) machine felted. The bird and flower embellishments were needle felted onto the bag.
Handmade by Mia.
More Tutorials & Ideas
More Creative Things You Can Make Using Felt
- Felt Crafts
- A few pages of fun things you can make from felt.
- Felted Sweater Ideas
- Browse through for the felted sweater how-tos.
- Little Gnome People
- Click the 3 links at the bottom of these instructions for the other tutorial parts.
- Using a Wire Armature
- Needle felting booklet about adding wool around a wire base.
- Adding Details to a Face
- How to add eyes, fangs and hair details to a goblin.
- Needle Felting Embellishments
- How to add felt patterns to bags and other fabric items.
- Shibori Felting
- How to create a bobble effect in your felt pieces.
- Felt Ball Mat
- String felt balls together for large or small rugs.
- Monarch Butterfly
- I love the way this is framed.
- Knitted Sailing Boats
- If you can't knit, make these out of your own handmade wet felted pieces.
Halloween Wreath
Made with felted ghost and pumpkin ornaments.
Photo and wreath by Love In The Suburbs.
Llama Puppet
Puppet made by fiber artist Melissa Gray.
Photo by Chronographia.
Brilliant Project How-Tos
More Things For Your 'To-Do' List
- Hedgehogs
- Make a pipe cleaner body to build the wool up on.
- Mini Racoon
- Needle felted over a wire armature.
- Felted/Fulled Hat
- How to shape your hat after knitting and felting.
- Piggy Ears
- With a little help from your kitchen tools.
- Knitted House Slippers
- If you can knit, make these felted Norwegian slippers.
- Shaped Felt Slippers
- Wet felt slippers made using a resist.
- 3D Tropical Bird
- Using a resist, stuffing and wire legs.
- Wet Felted Pod
- Pretty and practical vessel.
- Mushroom Terrarium
- Whimsical display for your table or mantelpiece.
Woolhenge
Such a fun idea, and the blocks are quite easy to make too!
Photo and felted Stonehenge created by Fibrous Pics.
Merino Wool Vessel
Lovely bowl wet felted with merino wool and ribbons.
Photo and vessel by Woolbrain Knitter.
Felting DIYs
Make Your Own Little Felt Treasures
- Ring Bowl
- How to create a mold using styrofoam.
- Seamless Handbag
- Use a resist to make a handy bag.
- Crochet Bucket Hat
- For all you crocheters out there who want a cozy hat.
- Needlefelted Terrarium
- Adorable scene within a glass jar.
- Pomegranate Vessel
- Adorable storage pod for jewellery or other small objects.
- Sheep Pincushion
- With a curly wool covering.
- Making Felt Food
- Tips for felting fruit and veg.
- Squirrel Brooch
- Needle felt a cute accessory.
Felt Acorns
A great beginner's project which kids can join in with too.
Photo and acorns by Stephanie Congdon Barnes.
Inspiration, Photo Galleries & Blogs
- Needle Felting on Flickr
- Photo gallery of fantastic needle felted creations.
- Wet Felting on Flickr
- Creative and artistic examples of wet felted products.
- Felted Google Images
- Browse photos to get your imagination going.
- Felted Masks
- These needle felted masks must have taken ages!
- The Needle Felting Blog
- A whole list of original project ideas.
- Living Felt
- Featuring the best felted designs from around the world.
- Pebble Rug
- Brilliant idea to recreate the look of natural pebbles.
- Needle Felted Presidents
- You could use this idea to replicate anyone from family to pop stars.
- Fun Pin Cushion Idea
- Using needle felted wool and a cheese grater.
Gingerbread Man
Felting the wool roving inside a cookie cutter is a clever idea for easily getting a perfect shape.
Photo and gingerbread man by Morgan - Click here to see photos of all the steps needed to create a gingerbread man.
2D Felt Art
You can manipulate the wool into flat images of anything you like, including gorgeous landscapes like this one.
Photo and art by Ewes Your Imagination.
Featured Lenses
Needlefelted Waldorf Fairy
Photo and doll by Heart Felt Passion.
Top Felting Kits & Tools
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Please Leave a Comment!
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ResearchAddict
May 12, 2012 @ 12:03 pm | delete
- These are just gorgeous! Love the acorns, the cute santas...Just lovely!
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bakerwoman Mar 26, 2012 @ 12:52 pm | delete
- i love felting wool but have not attempted to do dolls and other 3D projects. This lens gave me a lot of ideas. Thanks for sharing.
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miaponzo
Mar 23, 2012 @ 5:12 am | delete
- Actually I'm just starting to felt and I LOVE it! Blessed!
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jpapadpapa
Mar 7, 2012 @ 7:27 am | delete
- Great information here! I especially love "Woolhenge" and the felted acorns...so cute! Thanks for the work you put into this. I have done a little felting and want to do more with my daughter. This will be a good reference.
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WhitePineLane
Jan 30, 2012 @ 4:35 pm | delete
- Great lens! I will bookmark it as a resource, as I've really been wanting to start felting!
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bikerministry
Jan 6, 2012 @ 8:46 am | delete
- Wonderful lens. I felt wool bags, and I've done some needle felting and felted balls, you've really tackled the art in this lens. Beautiful. Blessings.
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klaird
Jan 4, 2012 @ 5:11 pm | delete
- I thought the needlefelt dog portrait was really cute! I've added your lens to my "50 Craft Ideas for Adults" page. Great job!
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WildFacesGallery
Jan 2, 2012 @ 6:28 pm | delete
- So many cute and clever ideas. Beautifully done.
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JoyfulReviewer
Dec 29, 2011 @ 9:31 pm | delete
- The "woolhenge" was pretty clever. I especially liked the felted duck pond and the Merino wool vessel.
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- The new craft workshop, "Needle Felting," is being offered this Saturday from 10 am to noon. Needle felting is a quick and easy way to add embellishment to fabric or plain felted knitting projects. June Abramson will guide students through the steps to ...
- Needle Felting @ the West Chicago Public Library District
- Just in time for Mother's Day, patrons of the West Chicago Public Library District learned a new craft technique last Saturday called ?Needle Felting.? Natasha Lehrer of Ester's Place Fiber Arts Studio in Big Rock, Illinois, patiently led the group ...
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