Unveiling the Magic: What is Needle Felting? (FAQ #1)

Have you ever seen a fluffy, lifelike animal sculpture and wondered, “How was that made?” If so, you’ve probably stumbled upon the fascinating art of needle felting! As a needle felting artist specializing in bringing wildlife and livestock to life, I’m often asked about the basic principles behind this craft. That’s why I’ve created a new video series dedicated to answering your frequently asked questions.

Here’s the first FAQ in this series!

In this video, you’ll discover:

• The fundamentals of needle felting: Learn the basic techniques and what it takes to sculpt with wool.
• The surprising history: Uncover the origins of felting – from the ancient practice of wet felting to the industrial revolution’s impact on the process.
• A glimpse into the world of artistic needle felting: We’ll look at a truly influential book by Ayala Talpai and some of its projects to see how she helped popularize this craft.
• A quick demo: Watch as I walk you through the basics of felting with a single needle, demonstrating the technique in action.
• Inspiration: I’ll showcase some of my own finished sculptures and portraits to give you an idea of the amazing possibilities of needle felting.

Whether you’re a complete beginner, or simply curious about this technique, this video provides a great introduction. It’s a quick and easy way to understand the basic principles of this unique craft.

Tutorials for the needle felted animals shown in this video

My free tutorials are videos. Each of them include a free PDF pattern you can download, a list of tools, a list of supplies, and step-by-step instructions.

• Fennec Fox free video tutorial
• Barn Owl Ornament free video tutorial
• Baby Chick free video tutorial
• Rabbit Wool Painting created following a tutorial in Dani Ives Painting With Wool Course

Tool and supplies

I have included Amazon affiliate links for some of the items below. This means I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you click through and make a purchase. Thank you in advance if you decide to support my work using these links. Doing so helps me continue to create content for you!

Tools used in this video

• Pink American Crafts Self Healing Cutting Mat, 18 x 24-Inch 
• Small Woolbuddy Felting Mat 
• 38 Star (Medium) Felting Needle 
• Dritz Sewing Gauge 

Supplies used in this video

• LivingFelt Cobweb Scarf Kit 
• Off-White Chunky Core Wool 
• Sarafina White wool roving (dyed with PAAS Neon 6 tablet Easter Egg Decorating Kit) 

Do you have any questions about needle felting? Is there another question that you want answered? Open the video on YouTube and leave a comment there. I’ll be answering your questions in upcoming videos!

Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel and bookmark this website so you don’t miss future tutorials and content!

The photos in the video are from the following photographers

• Video thumbnail photo of a handful of washed wool is by CSIRO, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. I edited and cropped the photo to only use the washed wool.
• Felt Yurt is by Alexandr frolov, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. I cropped the photo.
• Women’s wool felt hat circa 1940’s is by Auckland Museum, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. I cropped the photo.
• Wool felt slippers is by Naturpuur, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. I cropped the photo.
• Illustration of 19th century English Powerloom Weaving is by the Illustrator T. Allom, Engraver J. Tingle, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Carpet with felt base is from the Internet Archive Book Images, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons. I cropped the photo.
• 1898 Handbook for Architects and Builders is from Internet Archive Book Images, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons. I cropped the photo.
• Merino wool fiber and human hair is by CSIRO, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Last Updated on January 17, 2025