Miniature Needle Felt Dog Tutorial

Judy & Roz from Woolly Felters about Needle Felting

If you missed my last newsletter, here is what the fabulous Judy & Roz from Woolly Felters has to say..!

1. What are your favourite needles to use?

We keep it simple. Our work is usually small, so we love working with a 40 Triangle felting needle most of the time. To achieve a smooth finish we use a 38 Star felting needle. We also use the latter when working near wire.

2. What is your favourite type of wool to work with?

Norwegian wool, graded as C1 and available from the Norwegian Wool website in a beautiful range of colours. We also like the wool that you sell. Both types of wool are easy to use, felt well and we love all the colours.

3. What is the worst piece of  advice you keep hearing for needle felters?

Some say that Merino wool can be used for needle felting. Yes, it can - but because it is so fine it takes much longer to needle felt, and the finish is not as smooth as the finish you can achieve with the coarser wools that we use. This advice can often put beginners off continuing the craft.

4. What common mistakes do people make when they start out?

We find that beginners do not use their felting needles properly. It is so important to keep the needle straight as it is stabbed in and out of the wool. Bending the blade will cause it to break. Another mistake is not listening when we say 'Beware the air'. Better, quicker results can be achieved if the wool is rolled tightly before needling. Not stabbing evenly and all around shapes is another common error. Keep stabbing even to keep work smooth is best.

5. What is the one thing a beginner could learn today that would make a difference to their work?

Follow these simple instructions:

Use the right sized felting needle and the right wool.

Do not rush.

Stab the needle straight in and straight out, do not bend the blade.

Stab evenly all around each shape.

About Me:

We are happy for our name to be used - the best place for our work to be seen is on our website: www.woollyfelters.com

We are happy to be contacted through our website contact page: www.woollyfelters.com

Or we can be contacted on Tel: 01622 620455 at Felty Towers, 2 Princes Street, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1UR

We are active on social media and can be messaged on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

We look forward to seeing the published project.

With best wishes

Roz

You can find previous Q & A here

CUTE NEEDLE FELTED BAT - DIY

The Felt Box Group Lock Down Challenges

The Felt Box Group

Lock Down Challenges

To keep your spirits up and you minds active!

The Felt Box is are aware how difficult this period of isolation can be and so we are posting challenges for you at least once a week to keep you going. You can participate in any or all of them, it's entirely up to you!

The best thing to do is to join our facebook group so you can follow the challenges when they are posted and also enjoy seeing everyone else's creations. You can also read them on this blog post. Just book mark it in your browser and you can return to it whenever you wish. 

If you feel like sharing, please do send us photographs of any of your makes so we can see what you are all up to! 

The challenges so far:

Rainbow

You may have heard about the rainbows popping up in windows around the country to spread hope and offer some contact with those who need it. Can you do the same? This doesn't have to be a window based exercise but maybe something you can share here, gift to someone in isolation or hang on your door. Whatever floats your boat and spreads a tiny seed of joy. Anything with even the hint of a rainbow will do the job so go wild! We all need the extra contact with the outside world at the moment so do share your progress, ideas and creations with us as you go and make our Felt Box Group smile.

Pocket

This challenge is about making something pocket sized. This can be for a teeny tiny pocket or a great big outdoor coat. The only catch is it needs to bring a smile to the face of the person whose pocket it lives in! We all need a little reassurance sometimes and wrapping your fingers around something filled with love can be just what we need. Over to you, our lovely inspiring felters!

Words

A mini challenge. How many words can you make from the letters in 'needle felting'? 

The Great Outdoors

You have two hours to make something inspired by the great outdoors. Something that reminds you of outside that can give you a lift when you need it. It could be 2D, 3D, real or imaginary. Whatever takes your fancy but something to make you smile. We all need that. 

Edible

Time to create something edible. It could be something you have been craving, a special treat, something you like to make for someone else but most of all, something delicious!

VE Day

In recognition of the 75th anniversary of VE Day, we are giving you a very special lock down challenge - make something nostalgic. It could be something that celebrates VE Day itself, something from a forgotten time, something special to you or others, perhaps even a character from a childhood book. Sometimes we need reminding that although we are apart, we are together. We have shared history, experiences and compassion. 

The Farm

It must be something to do with hearing the sheep in our village that prompted this weeks theme. The challenge is 'The Farm'. As ever, this can take you as far as your inspiration allows. It could be a sheep, a bucket, a tractor, a 2D field of golden crops, a weather vane or a glorious rooster! It's up to you entirely, enjoy and be happy whatever you get up to!

A Flying Friend

The air is warm, the bees are out and the great outdoors is calling. In the spirit of all things nature, your challenge is to create a flying friend. Not actually flying, don't panic! This could be a bumble bee, ladybird, beetle, butterfly or dragon fly - whatever you are inspired by!

Still Life

This weeks challenge is a still life....DON'T PANIC! This could be an apple from your fruit bowl, a whimsical cat strolling along your windowsill (one hopes it stays extremely still mid jaunt), a 2D portrait, your feet as you watch a Downton Abbey re-run or an epic 3D scuplture! It's a great opportunity to hone your observational skills. As ever, make it suit your personality, your interests and flood it with creativity! 

Your Favourite

Time for a little self care. This one is all about you and what makes you feel good. Pick your favourite and make! 'Favourite what?' you may ask... Favourite anything! Something that is all about you. Your favourite biscuit, cake, person, bird, house, season, pet, chair - the list is endless but we suspect something has popped into your mind already! 

Seaside

'Oh I do like to be beside the seaside' so the song goes... Time to create something nautical, be it a fossil, rock pool inhabitant, mermaid, Neptune, pirate ship or a felted picture of the sea at sunset, the choice is yours. The seaside really is a glorious place to be and it's time to channel your inner salty sea dog and take yourself there through the medium of wool.

Wild

This could be anything from a wild animal, a wild night out (or in), the rain forest, a member of your family (would apply here!), a wild hideout or anything else you can think of. So, go wild, feel wild, be wild and share your makes with us! Grrr..!

Planet Earth

Inspired by the wonderful 'Greta in Wool' by Gemma Bee at Buzzy Feltz. As always, there is no limit to what you can make. It can be anything from endangered animals such as bats, tigers, sea turtles, or rhinos to landscapes of ice or climate change. Our planet is precious, we are all on it together, lets celebrate it. 

Something Beginning With

The idea here is to create something beginning with the first letter of your name. Sounds simple but it also needs to be something about you - something that sums you up, something you like or something that shows the inner you. The beauty of this is that you will all have your own individual challenges and we can't wait to see what you all make and learn more about you!

Movement
As we are all finally beginning to stretch our lockdown legs and slowly but surely enter the real world we thought it would be a nice idea to use the theme of movement! This can be a mid action pose of a person or a critter, something you saw when you were on your way to see a friend, something that expresses the feeling of moving in the big wide world or just a photo of your work moving really quickly!! Whatever it is and however you find yourself inspired by this theme please share your creations with us and the group, we love them!

Wearable Fluff
Make something wearable and spark some joy! This could be a pair of earrings, a necklace, shoes, brooch, headband, hair clip, hat, scarf, bracelet or anything else. It could even be a key ring! You could adapt a current work in progress, re-purpose an old (dusty?) one or start from scratch. Sometimes it is nice to add a bit of us to the world so go out there, wear your creations with pride and brighten the place up - the world needs you and your fluffy magic!

Superheroes

It's been a crazy few months all around the world and we have all seen more superheroes about. From the key workers, postal workers, charity volunteers, nursing home staff, community workers, neighbours caring for neighbours to those sewing scrubs, they are everywhere! So lets celebrate the superheroes in the world by adding a mask and cape to your current project, making something special for someone who supported you or by covering your work in rainbows. We have all been in this together and we are all grateful.

Snapshot

As we are all now (hopefully) getting out and about more we have chosen this week’s theme to celebrate this - 'snapshot'. This can be something you have taken a quick photo of on your phone, something someone sent you that you found inspiring or even a little camera or phone! Why not re-create a 2D painting with wool depicting your favourite lockdown snap? We can’t wait to see what you have made!

Badge of Honour

This will be the final challenge for the time being. The world has been full of new, strange and often challenging things over the last few months and this challenge is your chance to create a lasting token of lockdown, something you can reflect on in the days and years to come. Make yourself, or someone else a medal, badge, trophy or card to commemorate the crazy time that has been lockdown 2020. You did it, we did it, give yourself a big hurrah! We would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to our lovely felting community. We have loved seeing how you have responded to our challenges and how your beautifully crazy, creative minds work!

Twenty twenty one-wards and upwards!

Not the start to the year we all hoped but we are cracking on nonetheless. This challenge is a celebration of you and your resilience. Bye-bye 2020, bring on the great game of 2021 - we are ready and will take you on with our fluff and needles at the ready! Choose a celebratory object- a bottle of something fizzy, a golden star, some rocketing fireworks, a great big smiling face or the piece of work you are most proud of making. You are brilliant, you are strong, you can do this and we are with you!

Squeezy Hugs

Anyone feeling the need for a hug? It is hard at the moment, our arms can feel very empty. So, something to keep your arms busy, you mind active and your smile alive. Your challenge is to make something squeezable. It could be a real life sized polar bear (good luck with that!) or maybe something hand sized. Something you can send to a friend, neighbor or keep for yourself. A rainbow heart, a Brussel sprout, a felted button or maybe an octopus (is that easy or tricky to hug one wonders?) Something to remind you that you are not on your own. Every time you squeeze it we hope it reminds you of all the crazy stabbing fluff fiends that are part of your world!

Snow World

We had a lovely snowy weekend here at Felt Box HQ. It was more wonderful than usual to hear the children's laughter as they played in the snow. Needless to say, inspiration has struck with this week’s lockdown challenge. This could be snow itself, a wintery hat, something light and airy, a wintery animal, a snow person, a fine pair of boots, a carrot (always needed on a snowy day) or a cup of something warm (not all of us go wild on the slopes!) Whether you are indoors or out, the snow brings a touch of magic and we want to share a bit of our magic with you.

Blooming Marvelous

If you have braved the sometimes cold and wet weather over the last week you might have noticed there have been little signs of hope all over. The daffodils are making their way into the world again and the snowdrops are getting ready to say hello - definitely something to celebrate! Your challenge this week is to make a little something that is brightening up your garden or walks. It could be a 2D composition of a sunny winters day, a snow drop brooch or a daffodil for your kitchen table. Nature gives us the most beautiful gifts, right when we need them. 

Decimalisation

It's the 50 year anniversary of the decimalisation of UK currency. A confusing time for many but a challenge we overcame nonetheless (does that sound familiar?!) Times have changed yet again, with many of us shopping online and using contactless payments - handling physical money on a day to day basis seems like a long time ago! Your challenge this week is to create something in recognition of this. Money itself might be a tricky task indeed but how about something that reminds you of shopping? A tin of beans, a pair of shoes, a loaf of bread, maybe even a wallet or purse! Why not take inspiration from the marvelous needle felting artist Lucy Sparrow who created a whole shop full of items! Sometimes it is important to recognise that life moves forward. Change can be scary but it often turns out to be a little more positive than we imagined! We are firmly crossing our fingers here for upbeat, positive times to come! 

Sheeptastic

The Felt Box HQ is lucky enough to be surrounded by fields and it's this time of year we start to get really exited as they are filling up with lambs! There is a happy sprinkling of these little lovelies all over and we are delighted. Your challenge this week is to create something 'sheepy', probably something many of you have tried before, I know we have! If you are not feeling sheepish (haha, sorry) why not try another baby animal? There are lots of little critters out and about at the moment so get your binoculars out and have a good gander! 

Click on the image to go to The Felt Box Group

 

If you have any felting friends who might appreciate the challenges please send them this link so they can find out all about them: https://thefeltbox.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-felt-box-group-lock-down-challenges.html  

Stay safe and well everyone.

DIY Rainbow Pastel Unicorn - Needle Felt Tutorial

Carded NZ Wool Different Weights

New Zealand Carded Wool Batting

by The Felt Box

Our New Zealand carded wool batting is brilliant for needle felting, wet felting and other crafts. It's fibres are coarse, short in length and mixed together. This means it not only provides a good finish but also a good level of stability for three dimensional pieces. 

Highly recommended by ourselves and our customers it is available in over 100 colours. Printed colour charts are available and for more accurate colour matching we sell colour charts with real wool samples. 

This is 100% real wool from non-mulesed sheep. The batting may contain vegetable matter as part of the processing. 

We sell in a variety of weights, the larger the quantity the more value for money we can offer. 

Wool is available to buy here 

I "Felt" Cute ~The cutest needle felting~