Do’s and Don’ts: Needle Felting for Beginners

Hello everyone! Elizabeth here, and I am the DIY and Craft blogger behind Country Peony. Today I am so excited to be back on Clover’s blog to discuss a really fun topic: Needle Felting.

One of my favorite parts of my job as a DIY and Craft blogger is when I get to try new techniques and products. Honestly, I have always wanted to try needle felting, but was intimidated by the process. So, last Fall I tried Clover’s Needle Felting Tools and I was hooked. Much like Clover’s other tools, Clover’s Needle Felting Tools made the process of creating so much easier and ultimately much more fun. I still have a lot to learn about needle felting, but I am truly enjoying the process. If you want to see two recent projects I created using Clover’s Needle Felting Tool, please visit this tutorial and this one. 

Today I want to share some tips for needle felting for beginners in the form of do’s and don’ts.

Let’s start with the do’s!

DO: Invest in Good Tools

As I mentioned above Clover has some wonderful needle felting tools. The first is Clover’s Felting Needle Tool. I love using this tool when I am creating my own felted shapes, and for appliquéd projects.

I also love using Clover’s Pen Style Needle Felting Tool. I use a cookie cutter or stencil for most of my felted projects, and the Pen Style Needle Felting Tool is the perfect tool for those more intricate details.

DO: Purchase Backup Needles to Have On Hand

No matter how safe and careful I am, I have broken several needles while creating my felted projects. It is very helpful to keep backup needles on hand in case you break the needles that come with the set. Clover makes a refill needle kit that you can find HERE.

DO: Clean Your Mat in Between Uses

Because of the way that the wool fibers bury into the mat, it is important to clean your mat after every use. You don’t want the fibers of a different project to integrate into a new project. I love using Clover’s Needle Felting Claw/Mat Cleaner for this.

DO: Tear Wool

Instead of cutting the wool with scissors, I recommend tearing it. It separates easily, and creates a prettier finished product because the lines of the ends are not as crisp and obvious.

DO: Separate the Wool Roving Fibers

Before every project, separate the wool fibers by hand.

I also like to use Clover’s Needle Felting Claw to blend the fibers together, especially if I am using more than one color.

DO: Use Stencils or Cookie Cutters

Cookie cutters and stencils are a very helpful tool when you are creating felted shapes, especially if you are just starting out.

DO: Practice Caution & Patience

Albeit therapeutic and fun, felting can be a tedious process. So, I recommend practicing patience and don’t go too fast.

Be careful not to pierce your finger with the needle. The needles are extremely sharp, and will pierce through your finger if you aren’t careful. I know from experience. It is easy to get lost in the practice of making.

DO: Layer Felted Pieces to Create 3D Shapes

I love to create 3-Dimensional felted pieces by layering separate pieces together. Clover’s Felting Needle Tool is perfect for this technique. 

DO: Combine Different Colors to Create a Multi-Dimensional Effect

I love the beautiful effect multiple colors bring to one piece. You can see two project examples that I created using this technique HERE and HERE.

Now, for the Don’ts. 

Don’t: Use Low Quality Roving Wool

Not all roving wool is created equal. Clover has some beautiful roving wool options. Some wool has thicker fibers that affect the end result.

Don’t: Stab at an Angle. Use a Straight Up & Down Motion.

You risk breaking your needle if you stab at an angle. You also create the most secure hold in the fibers when you stab up and down.

Don’t: Use Too Much To Begin With

I recommend starting with a smaller amount of roving wool, then work your way up. You can always add more, but you can’t take away.

Also keep in mind that the more wool you use the thicker the felt will be in the end. It is a process!

Don’t: Overthink It!

As with all crafting projects, just have fun!

Thank you so much for following along today. I hope you found some of these tips helpful, and I can’t wait to see what you create along your needle felting journey!

Happy Crafting!

Elizabeth

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