Needle Felting
Needle felting is like sculpting with unspun wool, known as 'roving'. Unlike wet felting, it requires no water or soap—just a single felting needle with barbs that mesh the wool fibers together as you sculpt. This method, though rooted in ancient crafting, gained popularity in the 1980s through American artists Eleanor and David Stanwood, who pioneered using felting needles for shaping loose wool. By the early 2000s, needle felting reached the UK, riding the wave of craft blogging and Etsy.
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It's a beginner-friendly craft with affordable supplies, making it accessible and portable. Needle felted creations are typically small and transportable, fitting easily into a bag for crafting on the go. Many find needle felting to be a calming and therapeutic hobby, perfect for easing anxiety. The joy of creating your first needle felted piece is truly magical! Below you can see some of the things we learned in our previous needle felting workshop.
Needles
In our needle felting workshop, we explored the versatility of needle felting needles, each equipped with varying sizes of barbs tailored for different parts of our projects. These specialized needles allowed us to meticulously shape and refine our wool creations, from intricate details to broader textures, ensuring every aspect of our designs came to life with precision and charm.
Controlling The Wool
During our needle felting workshop, we delved into the art of controlling wool using felting needles. We discovered that the angle and pressure applied to the needle significantly influence how the wool fibers mesh and compact. By learning to adjust our grip and the depth of our needle insertions, we gained control over shaping and detailing our designs. Whether aiming for fine lines or dense textures, mastering these techniques allowed us to bring our creative visions to fruition with precision and artistic flair.
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Wool Types
Understanding wool types is essential in needle felting workshops. we learnt about different breeds of wool and their unique qualities, such as merino for softness and fine details, and corriedale for structure and texture. This knowledge guides them in selecting the right wool for achieving specific artistic goals, from intricate designs to sturdy shapes, enhancing their creativity and confidence of the craft.
Are you ready to learn?
If you find all of this intriguing and enjoyable, and we've piqued your interest, why not explore our needle felting kits or join us for a workshop? We'll guide you through every step in small, intimate sessions and you even get to take home all the tools and materials to use for future projects!