Needle Felt A Basic Body Shape

VIDEO TUTORIAL

WRITTEN TUTORIAL

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See photographs below:

1 & 2: Start with a long length of wool and roll into a TIGHT rough oval/cylinder shape, stopping and tucking in the ends as you go; to get it really tight, push down into the foam pad or whatever surface you are using.  Do not start to poke with the needle until you have rolled half way. If it is loose, unroll and start again. This will save you so much felting time and give more control over the shape.

Top tip: Start with less than you need and add to it as you go; you can add but not take away! Stab the wool as you turn – this is the felting process which tangles and locks the fibres together – keeping the needle straight until the wool fibres start to lock together and it starts to holds its shape. Keep turning as you felt so as not to make dents in one part of the body.

3: Continue to felt until you have achieved the desired shape and size for your project

4 When you have achieved a rough oval shape (the narrower end will usually become the neck of the body) gently roll it between your hands; this helps to smooth and shape the body and covers any deep needle marks.

Tip: If you are using Merino, which is a much finer wool, you will need more wool and usually have more needle marks. It will also take longer to felt. I prefer to needle felt with a more robust wool which is much more forgiving. Some of my favourites are Grey Jacob, Shetland, 56’s English, Swaledale, and Lincoln; all natural and un-dyed. If it is colour you want then Corriedale is a good compromise as it is a blend of Merino and Lincoln and comes in a large range of colours.

Now you have your basic shape, continue to felt whilst turning the wider end and felt it flatter underneath to help your finished animal to sit; the legs and tail (if required) will also assist with this.  Your finished body shape should be soft but springs back to shape when you squeeze it.

I have used a dark brown dyed Shetland wool in the tutorial photographs below and 38 gauge start needle (good all rounder and the ones I put in all my needle felting kits). However, this is personal preference and a 36 triangular would also do the job just as well. Tip: The higher the number the finer the needle

Featured photo (top) is light grey natural Swaledale and it is sat on a home made hessian rice bag.

how to make a body shape

Top tip: Don’t worry if you have created a lumpy look due to over felting in one area. You can fix this by laying a very thin top layer of wool (see below) and gently felting all over that area until it is just secured and lightly felted on. Expect this to happen; you are just learning and you will continue to do this even as an experienced needle needle felter. The beauty of needle felting is that the majority of issues can usually be fixed; the biggest problem is caused by starting with too much wool…less is always more!

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Lincolnshire Fenn crafts on Etsy

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14 thoughts on “Needle Felt A Basic Body Shape

  1. Cheryl

    I agree with Blair I have looked for this information for awhile and just stumbled on your blog today. Thank you for your easy-to-use information.

  2. Jeanne Potter

    Wow! Thanks so much! I have always wondered how this was done. I live in the rural mountains with lots of sheep! I have cleaned and pulled wool to work with….is this wool ok to use? I didn’t watch the video…will now…hope it shows me how to add a head and arms and legs! Thanks again, Sandy! Stay safe!

    • Lincolnshire Fenn Crafts

      Hi Jeanne. How lovely to have wool all around you. It’s perfectly fine to use as long as you have removed most of the lanolin. If you card it with a couple of the metal dog brushes it should be lovely for needle felting. What sheep breeds do you have? 🙂

  3. CSmith

    found all this info very informative; can’t wait to get the materials. Thank you sooo much for sharing1

  4. Gail Owens

    Thank you for this tutorial! I’m thinking of trying wool felting. I appreciate that you gave good company names as vendors for the wool!

  5. Eleanor de Vere-Madej

    Thanks again for allowing us to see what we could achieve as I couldnt find the info anywhere

  6. Blair

    Hi! Thanks so much for making this craft so available. Some crafters are so secretive about their craft knowledge, thus making you feel as though you’re some kind of, would be, craft criminal. 😣 I really hate that, because all I want to do is learn something new, fun and interesting. Thanks again for not making us jump through hoops to learn this wonderful craft! 👍🏼😄💖

    • Lincolnshire Fenn Crafts

      Hi Blair and thanks so much for your lovely message. Crafts, of any kind, are so important to take us away from the stresses and strains of every day life, and I’m so glad you are enjoying the blog. Happy felting. Sandy 🙂

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