Needle felting tip: Be a project felter, not a stash builder
When you’re new to needle felting, it’s easy to believe you need dozens of colors of wool, every needle size, and all the tools that catch your eye. Before long, you have drawers and shelves full of supplies. Looking at them, you feel overwhelmed and unsure what to make with all of this stuff. Ask me how I know!
Instead of building a stash, focus on building projects. Choose an animal or tutorial you’d like to make and buy only the materials needed to complete it. You’ll spend less money, feel less guilt, and gain experience using your supplies rather than simply collecting them. As your skills grow, you’ll naturally build a stash based on the types of projects you actually enjoy creating.
In the past, I bought gorgeous wool that I loved but have never used. In the end, I gave it away. I purchased a set of 30 different needles thinking it would up my felting game. Honestly, 99% of the time, I use the same 3 needles: a 36g star, a 38g star, and a 40g spiral (or twist). Those fancy needle assortments still tug at my heart but I’ve learned to resist.
The goal isn’t to own the most supplies—it’s to make more felted animals. A small collection of well-used wool and tools will teach you far more than bins full of materials you’ve never touched. Especially early in your felting journey, let your projects guide your purchases, not the other way around.
The photo above shows what is needed to make my narwhal. If you’d like to learn more about this PDF tutorial, take a look at my post: Chilly, charming narwhal tutorial available on Etsy
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