Best Needle Felting Tools (Back to Basics)
My Favorite Needle Felting Tools
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Welcome to the second episode of: Back to Basics! Where I go into more detail about a basic crafting technique that will help you start your next creative project or hobby. Last month’s episode was all about how to make a pom pom. You can see it HERE. This month I am focusing on needle felting with my favorite needle felting tools!
Side note: I created a beginner friendly needle felting course called Needle Felting 101. You can enroll HERE and use the code “needlefelt” at checkout for 50% off the course!
Click HERE if you want to learn more about the course.
How to Needle Felt
Needle Felting for Beginners
Before we get started on my favorite needle felting tools, I wanted to showcase some fun projects from the Country Peony archives that may spark some needle felting project ideas for you. Enjoy below:
Needle Felting Tools for Beginners
Please enjoy this video showcasing my favorite needle felting tools for beginners.
Needle Felting Tools
Please enjoy this blog post all about my favorite needle felting tools to get you started on your needle felting journey, and where to purchase them from.
I love the whimsical and sweet look of felt, but I was always intimidated by the crafting process to create it. However, Clover has made it so easy to create your own custom felt embellishments with their Needle Felting Tools.
The first tool I want to highlight is from Clover and it is called the Pen Style Needle Felting Tool. I love this tool because you can customize the needles to fit your project. You can use all 3 needles for faster felting. You can use 2 needles to create outlines, and 1 needle for very intricate details. It also comes with a guard to protect your fingers. You can also adjust the needle length to two different sizes. I like using this tool when I am working with cookie cutters or felting stencils.
The second tool I want to highlight is also by Clover and it is called Clover’s Needle Felting Tool. This is a really fun tool when creating appliques or attaching felt to each other. There are 5 needles in this tool which allows for faster felting. This tool also comes with a locking feature which I love when my children make their way into the Country Peony Studio.
felting needles
Felting needles are unique from other needles in that they have barbs to help grab the wool and felt the wool together. I recommend purchasing some extra felting needles to have on hand. You may accidentally break a needle during the needle felting process, and it is so helpful to have extra needles on hand.
The extra felting needles are also a great tool to use on their own to pierce delicate areas of your project.
After you purchased your needle felting tool, I recommend finding a mat. I like Clover’s Large Needle Felting Mat because it allows you to work on larger projects. Mats help protect your work surface so the needles have a place to land. This brush-like mat allows for smooth punching without breaking the needles to allow the fibers to connect.
The wool fibers can get easily caught inside the mat, and so I recommend purchasing a mat cleaner like Clover’s Mat Cleaner & Claw to help release the fibers from the mat.
This other side of this tool also works as a claw to help hold fibers in place to help protect your fingers. And, the claw also acts as a blending tool for mixing wool roving colors.
Blending wool fibers to break up the wool, and to create new colors is a really fun process of needle felting. I recently discovered these Wool Carder Felting Brushes and their thin bristles easily allow you to break up the wool fibers, and blend the fibers together. They are also great at breaking up pieces of yarn to create a wool-like fiber to incorporate into your needle felting projects.
People are always surprised when I recommend cookie cutters for their needle felting toolbox. Cookie cutters help create the most beautiful shapes in a really timely fashion. I love to go thrifting, and I am always on the lookout for fun cookie cutters to use in my needle felting projects.
Stencils for Needle Felting
Along the same lines as cookie cutters, there are stencils for needle felting. Stencils are a great option for appliques, and to finish off details on a needle felting project. They are thinner than a cookie cutter but can achieve a similar effect.
One of the reasons that I love needle felting so much is beacuse I am inspired by the fibers and the medium that you use for it, like wool roving. From experience, I recommend using 100% wool roving versus synthetic. However, it is up to you and whatever you have access to. I have found that the synthetic wool roving has larger fibers that don’t blend as well. HERE is a good starter kit with a lot of colorful options, and Clover also makes some amazing wool roving.
I also like playing with yarn in my needle felting projects. You can tear the yarn apart and use the carding brushes to make a wool-like texture.
And, 100% wool felt is a great option for needle felting project bases.
I hope this inspires you to get started on your needle felting journey. Please let me know if you have any questions as I love this process so much, and know you will too!
