Forums » Smalltalk » Needle Felting!

Anybody else into this hobby on here? I've been doing it for so long and have basically never met anybody else who does, I'd love to make some friends with skills and tips I could steal for my own grow as an artist using!

If you don't know what needle felting is, here's a couple examples of things I've done I have a lot more pieces than this, but I also don't have my own camera so it's rare I can take photos of things I work on...(also, just so you know, these were set up to display on my weasyl account so that's why there's a cute batty background X3)



I'M NOT JUST HERE TO TOOT MY OWN HORN, I SWEAR. I'm not that great anyway, I just really love this hobby and want to share it with others!

.... aaand I just realized that this is the smalltalk board and not the art board, like I thought it was. Great way to make a first impression, Cru... GOOD JOB SELF. *facepalm*

I'm not, but your work is amazing! It makes me want to do this. How hard is it, and how expensive are the materials? I'm rather artistic, sketching and knitting are my current outlets along with playing the piano, and this seems like it'd be really fun to do and like it'd fit in with my current artistic hobbies! Also incredibly rewarding!

Also, any websites that you recommend that I can look at?

Oh hey, well I can definitely tell you that much! Honestly, the basics of needle felting are very easy in my opinion! Getting started is super rewarding and quick, you can put together some simple pieces without much in the way of technique or skills. The materials themselves also aren't SUPER expensive, but it can be hard to find exactly what you need. If more people ask I can put together an in-depth tutorial sometime, but for now I'll just leave it at that.

If you're in the US or Canada, I can very highly recommend the website LivingFelt.com . They're based in Texas, and sell some of the best felting tools and supplies you can get! As a beginner, they also sell some really great starter kits with everything you need to figure out if felting is for you. There are a lot of good websites though, the only thing I can recommend you NOT to do is buy supplies at places like Michaels or other major craft stores. Their felting supplies are very limited and VERY overpriced.

For tutorials and things, there are a TON of great YouTube channels on the topic. I'd recommend Sara Renzulli for more realistic/less cartoony pieces(her website also has some great tools for more advanced felters) and -bear with me- ちまちま羊毛フェルトチャンネル for cartoony Japanese style felting that's much easier for beginners X3 there's only spotty English subtitles on their videos but it's very clear what's going on in them anyway.

Thanks! I hope to get started soon! Like I said, what you did looked amazing and it seems like something that is fun to do. I'll definitely check out those sites, I might just have to wait a bit to get the supplies. I'm a bit tight on money right now. Looking for a job.

Oh boy, I definitely know the 'looking for a job' feeling... I wish you luck on that! When/if you do get around to picking up some supplies (all you really need are two or three needles, wool in a couple colors, and foam to work on which you might already have laying around) feel free to hit me up for more complete advice on how to get started! I love sharing the knowledge~

Great! Thank you so much!

Upon clicking the Collapse:

Aw, thank you Phoenix!





*hoards up dem doge coins*

Oh my Gaia, that's adorable! ;A; I would love to know how to do it as well! Is it kinda like sewing? 'Cause I can definitely do that!

I used to love doing little crafting hobbies like this; crocheting, paper crafts and the like were also fun to do. I need to get back into those kind of things so drawing doesn't take over my life. (And let me stop before I ramble.)

Anyway, I wanna give it a shot now too! (Just need my hands on some cash.) And I would love to see a tutorial of this from you sometime if people gain enough interest!

Crotcheting. Even grannies instantly become super cool cats when they have said skill.

IT'S JUST THAT AWE-INSPIRING.

This is just a little better than I can do *proceeds to hold his hands as far apart as possible* just a little... lol. One quick question: HOW??!!?! I've been told I can't draw a stick figure, so it's pretty incredible to me that people can do anything artistic at all... it's just not in me to do anything like this. Great work!

Hey Lotus!
It's nooooot really like sewing, but there is definitely an equal or greater chance at stabbing yourself. Only in this case, the needles literally have sharp spines on them. But you don't really get yourself deep so it's not a problem usually. It's definitely a super tactile art though, maybe like a cross between sewing and sculpting with traditional clay, which I think is so neat.

Peacock, it requires a little bit of spacial knowledge, you have to be able to visualize the parts of what you're making, but it's much much different than any other art form so even if you don't have much drawing or other experience you can get good at it~

Seeing as how people seem curious I'm definitely considering making a tutorial now X3 I just have to decide how to do it, since I've never done anything like it before. Eh, should be fun

Oh yeeees~ Unless you stab yourself, needle felting is like the best thing~ It's stress relieving and the sound that it makes is just Awesomely soothing
I've tried it myself yeeeears ago, I don't have time or the money to continue it, but I must say that I still love everything about it

I tried it in school when i was younger xD and it was really fun! Even though i had no idea what i was doing and i just though it was fun to create something by stabbing it multiple times with a needle xD and i liked the sound o:
I did think about trying it again.. but i don't really have the money and i don't think my mom would like me to start on something new again xD i think i'm kinda driving her crazy with all my ideas and projects, heh oops

But the things you made looks awesome!