What In The World Is Needle Felting?!

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What is needle felting?

I like to describe needle felting as sculpting with fiber -- at least when making three dimensional pieces, which is mostly what I do. Needle felting, also known as dry felting, uses a special type of needle with tiny barbs near the tip to poke at animal fibers and bind them to each other. As you repeatedly stab at the fibers, they mat together and can be shaped into different forms. You can also needle the fibers and attach them to a backing to create a flat piece.

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What is the difference between needle felting and wet felting?

Wet felting is a process that binds animal fibers together, just like needle felting, but it uses water and soap to do so instead of a barbed needle. You add hot water and soap to layers of perpendicular fibers and agitate them, causing the friction to bind the fibers to each other.

I personally prefer needle felting because I don't have to wait for the fibers to dry or have a space to leave them out while they do. Wet felting is better for projects like creating a scarf or other clothing items, while dry felting is best for creating various three-dimensional forms. My favorite creations are small, three-dimensional animals or characters which is why I stick with needle felting. 

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What is felt painting?

Needling fibers to a felt backing to create a flat piece is often referred to as felt painting. When felt painting, crafters usually trace their design onto the backing piece and then fill it in with different colors of fiber, much like you would complete a paint-by-number project. 

Pet portraits and landscapes are a popular subject matter for these types of felting creations. The finished piece can be completely flat or have a slight three-dimensional shape to it if the artist wants to raise certain features by needling extra fibers into those areas.

What can you make by needle felting?

There is almost no limit to what you can make through needle felting! If you can imagine it, you can probably find a way to bring it into existence! The only real challenge can be creating larger pieces. Larger items would require A LOT of wool and countless hours of needling. But even working on smaller items still provides so many fun possibilities. 

From felted play food to adorable little animal figures, Christmas ornaments to pet portraits, and holiday garland to baby mobiles, there are plenty of different things you can create. Jump in and give it a try! 

You'll find there is something really relaxing and cathartic about stabbing a little bundle of roving wool over and over. Once you've released any pent-up frustration AND found that you've created something to be proud, you'll enjoy the process even more!

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For more crafting articles, check out these other posts:

What Punch Needle Is And What It Isn't

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