What is Needle Felting?

What is Needle Felting?

In very basic terms, needle felting is a process which uses barbed needles to knot or interlock wool fibres to form felt. Wool fibres have scales which when rubbed against each other catch and lock into place to create this denser material.

Felting needles are used in a stabbing motion, into the wool, commonly over a foam pad, the wool is worked or stabbed, over and over again to produce a felt piece that can be shaped into anything you chose!

There are many sizes of needles available to use for needle felting, but the most popular are the #36, #38 and #40 triangle points and also the #38 Star Point. Varying in detail quality (the higher the number the finer the detail). There are also multi needle products that can be purchased which will speed up the whole process but single needles will still be required for fine detailing.

Felting needles are very sharp and should not be used by children or anyone with a visual handicap. It only takes one jab to cut your finger. It's necessary to keep your eye on the needle at all times when it's moving! No exceptions to this rule.