Anyone know where to start with needle felting?

[ThisIsNotWhatIWasAfter]

Because i don't have enough unfinished projects cluttering up my life i'm thinking about giving felting a go. Does anyone have any tips?

No but am thinking of giving it a go too so marking my place!

I've ordered some needles from an ebay shop so they should arrive soon. I don't have to worry about fibre, got all the fleece i'm likely to need and it's nearly shearing time again. But i don't want to buy bits of kit that i won't really need to start out.

I bought some bits for DD at Xmas time & improvised with others, for example you don't need to buy the felting brush - use a block of polystyrene instead - works just as well for a beginner, though obviously won't last so long so if you find you DO like felting, you can always buy a brush later

We did wet felting first - using a big tray, bubble wrap, hot soapy water & a bit of tulle - though I thought the tulle a bit hard to remove & will use calico next time & once we'd done that, DD did the detail with needle felting - she used THIS NEEDLE which I think was a good buy & DD found it really easy to use (she's 9)

I did also buy a book, but I won't recommend it as I found the tutorial a bit hit & miss & DD couldn't understand it at all - it did have some nice images, but nothing you can't find on the internet, I ended up googling & she loved these tutorials

Theres lots more if you nosey around the links.

She had great fun criss crossing & layering up different colours to make the pattern & colours she wanted, so that it looked like an animal & ended up as a mask

HTH

can't get it to link - search for "forest fibres" on ebay.

Great wee shop. They do nice kits, lots of extras and deliver fast.

Needle felting is better than prozac. Just imagine you are stabbing the person/thing that's bugging you - vaireee therapeutic.

I have ordered my needles for starting from forest fibres Then made the mistake of checking out the website too. I never thought about the therapeutic value, could save dp a load of grief when he leaves all the drawers open in the morning

It's brill.

youtube dry needle felting - there's loads of clips showing you how to do it. But, you basically just jab it and squish it and - ta daa!

Wet felting is a messy process, but also good fun, and easy and the results are amazing.

I've made a couple of really nice (even if I say so myslef) landscape pictures out of wet felt, and then dry felted and embroidered and beaded on the top. DH hates them, but what does he know?

Glad you liked Forest Fibres - I can feel an expenive purchase coming on...

oh, and there' s a stuff on craftster about felting too - great for inspiration.

I've just dragged myself away from that Craftster site, some of the stuff is amazing although i'm curious about wet felting.

Cookie cutters are a good place to start. Put the cutter on a thick mat - I use a 3 inch thick piece of foam and stuff it with wool - start jabbing! This method is particularly good for making hearts and other defined shapes. Just remember to turn the piece regularly - this ensure that it stays more even and also prevents you from ending up with half of the foam mat embedded in your work

Or you can choose a 3D shape - ladybirds are good for starting - just roll the wool into a ball and start jabbing (watch your fingers) - as it starts to knit together you can start to shape it and then add on the details afterwards. Again turn regularly.

I love it - it's very theraputic (but comes a bit sharp when you accidentally jab your fingers)

Argh! I daren't look, I've only just taken up crocheting and am finding it very addictive.

Must...tear....myself...away....

This is on my list of Things To Try. I do like to flit between crafts :)

It's great! We make all sorts of things. At the moment we're making a tree (with hollow) using both needle and wet felting around wire armature. We like making scenery best.

I'd recommend buying a few different books to start, just to give ideas.

All i've done so far is vandalise a cushion. . My excuse is that i'm still breastfeeding and the thought of a wriggly 5month old and big barbed needles on my lap at the same time doesn't fill me with confidence. I'm on a pretty tight budget, which wools are best to use? I tried some Wensleydale locks but they stay really fuzzy (and it seems a shame not to spin them)

Hello this
I am a demon needle felter and most of my left hand fingers are perforated to prove it :)
I make teeny tiny dog portrait models (IYSWIM) and jewellery.
Would you like me to send you a small bundle of wool rovings to get you started?
You wouldn't believe how much of the stuff I have hanging about. Pm me and I will bung you a lump. No charge, just spreading the woolly joy

Please don't tattoo the baby with felting wool :o

Thank you for your lovely offer Norks (great name btw). I do have lots of bits of fleece we're not drowning in it at all i'm just not sure if what i have will be any use. I do handspinning but i'm not sure if what i already have will work for felting or just make life difficult. I have access to fleece from a limited range of breeds but i'm curious about the prep, do i have to use roving or will hand carded be ok?
a fuzzy woolly baby

Good Morning,
In theory, your carded fleece should work even better. I have used undyed fleece for my little dogs.
But I don't know about your type of wool.

I suggest a swapsie! I will send you rovings dyed mad colours, and you send me original, gorgeous, just-off-the sheep stuff, and I will have a play with it. What do you think?

Am going to try to get a pic of one of my pooches up on profile page

Photos on my profile.

Those are lovely . A stash swap sounds like a great idea. I have some Wensleydale, some Jacob and Hebridean and Hebridean/Shetland cross. I don't know if you've had raw fleece before, it does still have bits of feed and hay in although I have washed the worst of the grease out . Sorry if that sounds negative but i don't want to mislead you.

sounds GREAT...all adds to the character
have PM-ed you my address, please do the same and I will send you a rainbow

Oh, they are fabulous!