Monday, October 29, 2012

Teaching myself needle felting



A couple of years ago I became fascinated by images of needle felted creatures.  Everybody that writes about it says how easy it is to get started and how therapeutic and rewarding it can be, so I was very intrigued to give it a try.

I actually made these little chaps when I was first teaching myself needle felting, but I wasn't blogging at the time.  I saw them sitting on my windowsill this morning and, with Halloween approaching, I thought it was the perfect time to share them.

Before I began, I spent quite a while looking at videos of needle felting on You Tube - looking up how to make eyes, teeth, and noses in particular - but I was desperate to get started...


This was my very first attempt at needle felting...



...my second attempt...



...and finally, my third attempt.

It really was very inexpensive to get started.  All I needed was a few needle felting needles, some different coloured roving - (I used coloured merino tops from World of Wool) - and a memory foam pillow that I wasn't using... (Obviously memory foam would be an expensive choice if you were setting up, but this was an unfortunate purchase from years ago that I was glad to finally put to good use.)

I cannot describe how therapeutic it is to spend half an hour stabbing a piece of wool roving - moulding and rolling it until it becomes, vaguely similar to the object you set out to make.

I also cannot describe how painful it is to stab yourself with an incredibly sharp, barbed needle felting needle - you don't do that too many times!




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2 comments:

Jak said...

They are so cute! and wow briliant for a first time needle felter.

Ive not long started needle felting and love it too, though youre right about the pain if you stab yourself, ouch indeed!!

Have you made anything else? x

Kathryn - Craftmehappy said...

Hi Jak!

Thank you! I've made a few needle felted flowers for Maisie's hair, but I'm still perfecting my technique... x