FREE FELTING PATTERNS

 

Beginning Steps Needle Felting

Hello & WELCOME! Before we get started with any project specific instructions, let’s take a moment to go over some basic points to note.

WORKING WITH WOOL

Wool may come in many forms: raw unwashed fleece, washed and even dyed but still in the lock, batting, roving, top, sliver, etc. Below is a demonstration of pulling off the wool that is in the form of top, roving or sliver.

We will pull off the wool in thin layers. If this is new for you, practice a few times, it should pull off easily and not feel like you have to use force.

If your hands are too close together, the wool will not pull off because the length of the fiber is greater than the distance between your hands, move your hand back a bit and it will be easy.

BASIC NEEDLE FELTING TECHNIQUES

Before beginning your project, you might experiment with some basic techniques.
Many things can be made by starting with some basic shapes, such as: Rolls or tubes, balls, folds and cones.

To make a ball, start with a	Then tuck in the sides and	Continue to roll, then needle	Use your skewer to make
tube. Roll firmly 2-3 turns.	roll it firmly into a ball or egg shape.	to hold the shape. Needle your shapes firmly.	rolls. They can be tiny or large.
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Use your fingers to wrap the fiber around and around.	Needle felt at an angle while still on the skewer. PUSH the fiber off the skewer rather than pulling it off.	Continue to needle felt and firm up the wool after it is off the skewer. This is where most of the shaping happens.	Make a cone with the same wrapping method but only apply pressure with your fingers on one side and leave the end loose.
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Cones can be attached to other pieces and form great shapes. Needle felt the wide, loose to another piece..

LEARN BY DOING….

I love to learn and I love to DO….and I believe that trial and adjustment is one of the BEST ways to learn! So lets get started on your project!

 

Online Workshop, Beginning Steps for Needle Felting Copyright Marie Spaulding, 2004