In this article, we'll learn how to needle felt a dog. Begin by making a simple armature with pipe cleaners. Use a profile picture of the dog as a guide and then adjust it so your dog stands by itself. Now begin adding wool fibre in thin strips, winding it tightly around the wire skeleton.
Once you have covered the skeleton with fiber, tack the ends in place with a felting needle. You need to work on a sponge work surface when felting, to prevent needles breaking. Add more fibre to thicken the body and legs. The tail will need more at the base than the tip.
Now you have well covered the skeleton, begin adding muscles. A dog is fatter below the spine than above, so to continue winding around the spine would create a cartoon shape. Add pads of folded fibre under the spine, to thicken out the ribs and belly. Back legs also need thicker haunches, so add pads of folded fibre here too. Keep felting as you add each layer and build the body up gradually. Keep referring to the picture.
Take a close look at the shape of the head. This is what distinguishes one breed from another. It begins round, and then shapes into the snout. The snout is added once the top of the head is established on the neck wire. Eyes are added either with dark fibre rolled into tiny balls, or use black glass beads and stitch them into the head.
Ears are created by laying out two equal amounts of fibre. You don't need much! Fold each pad into a triangle and felt it into the ear shape, leaving the wide edge loose, for attaching to the head. Felt the ears in place and give the dog some character! Who can resist a tilted head and a cocked ear?
It's easy to personalise your pet: add spots, extra big feet or whatever brings the dog to life or makes it look like your own beloved pet. Give him a collar in leather, too! Maybe a leash for walking will finish off the look. The same method can be applied to make a cat, pig or whatever animal you wnat. A bigger animal will require heavier wire, that's all. Using a profile picture, you can create many kinds of animals in all sizes and having a pet scale to the right proportions will give your doll the perfect finishing touch. That's it, we're done! Wasn't that easy?
Edwina Sutherland is an internationally known figurative artist. Edwina uses textiles and wool fiber to create her unique sculptures. You can find more information on needle felting in my earlier articles: Get the basics Rigth With Needle Felting and Needle Felting Needs The Right Wool.
Edwina's work may be found on her Etsy store http://www.etsy.com/shop/NotCarvedInStone?ref=pr_shop
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