And How to Transfer Your Image to the Fabric

Needle felting is a versatile and creative craft that allows you to create textured, pictures on a wide range of fabrics. The choice of fabric you use can significantly influence the final look and feel of your project. Additionally, knowing how to transfer your design onto fabric is essential for achieving precise and detailed results. Choosing what is the best fabric for needle felted pictures can seem a little confusing. This guide explores the best fabrics for needle felted pictures and explains how to transfer your image to the fabric using simple techniques.

Whilst you will see my supplier recommendations, please note that I am not affiliated to any of them. They are businesses that I have personally used for all the products mentioned.

Felted artwork pieces are showcased on a table, featuring a coastal scene with colorful houses and a landscape with sheep. Various fabric materials demonstrate the best fabrics for needle-felted pictures. Two picture frames are visible, one leaning empty against the other, with a sofa in the background.

Quick Link Guide

Watch The Video Tutorial Or Keep Scrolling To Read More

Shop Needle Felting Patterns

All of the photographed projects on this post are my own designs and are available as NEEDLE FELTING PATTERNS ready to be downloaded instantly. They are available as complete step by step patterns and detailed photographs or, for more confident needle felters, a template and simple guide.

A felted sheep with colorful wool sits among rocks and grass on the left, showcasing what is the best fabric for needle-felted pictures. On the right, a black and white sketch of a sheep in a similar pose. Text reads "Template & Size Guide" at the top.
A person holding a colorful felt art piece depicting a seaside village with boats and a seagull. The art, crafted from the best fabric for needle felted pictures, is attached to driftwood. To the left, there's a black-and-white illustration of houses and a boat. Text reads: "Template & Size Guide.

My Favourite Needle Felting Suppliers

So, where to buy the best needle felting supplies? In essence, I’ve done all the legwork so you don’t have to. This post is my ‘secret sauce’ list of the best suppliers in the needle felting industry, which I have accrued over more than a decade.

What Fabric Should I Use For Needle Felted Pictures And Portraits

The fabric you choose for your needle felted picture can impact the ease of felting, the appearance of your design, and the durability of the finished piece. However, your choice of fabric very much depends on your project. Some fabrics are suitable for lots of different projects so check what you have first, before spending on new fabric. Let’s dive into fabric options commonly used in needle felting and discuss their pros and cons. Ultimately helping you decide what is the best fabric for needle felting pictures.

1. Pre-Felt

What is Pre-Felt?

Pre-felt is a partially felted wool fabric that is soft, stretchy, and ideal for needle felting. It provides a great base for both beginner and experienced felters. This partially felted surface makes it ideal for creating textured backgrounds, or less detailed projects like landscapes and seascapes. It can also be used to create a wet felted background to needle felt onto. Pre-felt sheet. Approximately 3mm thick.

A folded, off-white wool blanket lies on a pinkish surface, perfect for exploring what is the best fabric for needle felted pictures. The background boasts a wooden texture, adding a rustic touch to the image.

Wet felted pre-felt ready for needle felting onto.

Explore a vibrant felt artwork depicting a landscape with abstract trees. The foreground blends green and teal tones, while swirling red and orange hues in the background create a dynamic scene. A masterpiece showcasing what is the best fabric for needle felted pictures.

Laying down wool fibres for a needle felted picture. A rough drawing guide created with a sharpie and the wool fibres are needle felted straight onto the pre-felt.

A variety of colorful felt and wool materials, perfect for needle felting, is laid out, featuring brown, yellow, purple, green, and blue fibers. The arrangement rests on burlap and patterned fabric—ideal for needle-felted pictures. Scissors and a pincushion are partially visible.

The finished Herdwick sheep landscape result is a combination of 2D and 3D needle felting. This is also available as a needle felting pattern.

A felted art piece shows a sheep peeking over a stone wall, crafted with the finest wool—considered by many as the best fabric for needle-felted pictures. In the background, vibrant hills in shades of green, yellow, and purple complete the cozy scene.

Why Choose Pre-Felt?

  • Pre-felt is stretchy, which makes it easy to needle felt onto.
  • It’s ideal for creating simple background scenes, such as skies, fields, water and general landscapes.
  • Can be used for creating beautiful wet felted bases which you can then needle felt onto.

For instance, a simple seascape felted onto pre-felt captures the soft, flowing nature of water and sky. Pre-felt works well for these types of designs, providing a soft and pliable surface to work on.

A felted wool artwork depicting a serene seascape hangs from a natural wooden branch. The scene boasts blue sky, two white sailboats, and a wavy ocean in blues and greens against a brown shoreline. The soft colors blend seamlessly, showcasing why wool is the best fabric for needle felted pictures.
A framed piece of wool art depicting a landscape stands on a wooden shelf. In the background, books like "What Is The Best Fabric For Needle Felted Pictures" and "The Field Guide to Fleece" nestle beside "How to Draw Animals.

Where to Get Pre-Felt?

Pre-felt can be purchased from many craft suppliers, including World of Wool, and Heidi feathers, both popular UK needle felting suppliers. See my favourite NEEDLE FELTING SUPPLIERS GUIDE.

2. Calico/Linen

What is Calico?

Calico is a plain-woven fabric made from unbleached cotton. It’s firm, durable, and has a smooth surface, making it a great option for more detailed needle felting projects. I usually get mine from Jomil Felts

Four images showcase hands crafting art on linen fabric. The top left features pressing with a blue tool, while the top right highlights needlework using orange thread—the best fabric choice for needle felted pictures. The bottom images demonstrate stitching and a vibrant waterfront scene in progress.

Why Choose Calico?

  • It provides a smooth surface, which is ideal for creating detailed needle felted pictures.
  • The firmness of the fabric helps maintain precision in your work.
  • It’s relatively inexpensive and widely available.

If you’re working on a detailed picture, like a harbour scene with fine lines and small features, Calico is an excellent choice. It allows for neat, intricate work without the fabric stretching or moving under your needle. It was ideal for this needle felted harbour scene (Cornwall By The Sea) is also available as a needle felting pattern.

A person holds a colorful felt artwork depicting a coastal scene, complete with vibrant houses, a sailboat on turquoise waters, and two seagulls on a branch. Expertly crafted using the best fabric for needle felted pictures, the art hangs gracefully from driftwood. Soft-focus crafts decorate the background.

3. Luxury Belgian Linen

What is Belgium Linen?

Belgian linen is a high-quality, durable fabric traditionally used for painting. It has a fine weave and smooth texture, which makes it an ideal surface for special needle felting projects that require precision and detail. It is used by many felters for animal portraits. These types of projects also provide better results when using the foam mat. This linen can be ordered from RUSSELL AND CHAPPEL in London.

Close-up of a package of fine artist linen, milled in Belgium. Ideal for those wondering what is the best fabric for needle felted pictures, it’s folded neatly and covered with a white label featuring a sheep illustration, displayed on a light green background.

Why Choose Belgian Linen?

  • It’s a premium fabric, perfect for commissioned or high-quality pieces.
  • Its smooth surface allows for intricate needlework.
  • It’s long-lasting and durable.

Belgian linen is on the expensive side, but it’s worth the investment for projects that require a refined and professional finish. Whether you’re creating commissioned pieces or preparing a special gift, Belgian linen provides a stunning backdrop for your needle felted artwork.

Transferring Designs onto Belgian Linen

Transferring designs onto Belgian linen is similar to the process used for other fabrics. Use carbon paper or a fabric pen to trace your design onto the linen. The smooth texture of Belgian linen ensures that the design transfers clearly, making it easier to follow as you begin felting.

4. Wool Felt

What is Wool Felt?

Pressed wool felt is excellent as a topper to protect your felting mat, a good base for your needle felted pictures (doesn’t stretch or distort) and brooch backs. It is especially good for needle felted hoops as it can be pulled really tight without distorting your work. I have also used it as the base for flower and dog brooches and felted my design straight onto it. You can see examples in the photos. It doesn’t have to be 100% wool but I would suggest a minimum of 30% wool (pretty standard), as this will hold the fibres better to allow your felting to be really secure.

Explore the four-step needle felting process to craft a bird shape: 1. Create a bird cutout on felt. 2. Add brown and white wool inside the outline. 3. Felt brown wool carefully. 4. Finish by felting white wool, ensuring your choice of fabric enhances your needle-felted picture's detail and texture.
A felted bird figure in shades of brown and white with black eyes rests below a paper sketch of a similar bird shape. Crafted with the best fabric for needle-felted pictures, both are placed on a textured gray surface.

Also known as craft felt sheets, wool felt is a dense, firm fabric made from compressed wool fibres. It’s usually around 1.2mm thick, making it ideal for projects that require more stability. It is also ideal to use as a backing to make brooches, and wearable designs.

A piece of white felt in the shape of a dog or animal head is placed on a larger gray felt square. Surrounding it, enhancing the artful scene, are bundles of wool roving in white, brown, gray, and black—all resting on a wooden surface—demonstrating what is the best fabric for needle felted pictures.
A felted dog's head sits on a white cushion, surrounded by colorful balls of wool and three felting needles, inviting creativity. As it rests on the wooden surface, one might wonder: what is the best fabric for needle-felted pictures to bring such charming creations to life?

Why Choose Wool Felt?

  • It’s firm and easy to transfer designs onto.
  • The density of wool felt allows for crisp lines and accurate details.
  • It’s versatile and comes in every colour, from black to lime green.
Neatly layered on a light wooden surface, four pieces of felt fabric in varying shades of gray and dark gray showcase their soft, slightly fuzzy textures. Ideal for needle-felted pictures, these felts highlight what can be considered the best fabric choice for this craft.

Wool felt is particularly useful for making small items like brooches or badges. The firm texture ensures that the shapes remain defined, and it’s easier to keep proportions accurate.

5. Hessian

What is Hessian?

Hessian, also known as burlap, is a coarse, woven fabric traditionally made from jute or hemp. It’s a textured fabric that adds depth and interest to needle felted projects. However, it is important to choose a hessian with a fine weave for more expert results.

Close-up of a piece of burlap fabric with a white towel partially rolled on top. The burlap's coarse, textured weave stands in contrast to the soft, smooth towel, reminiscent of experimenting with textures when choosing the best fabric for needle-felted pictures.

Why Choose Hessian?

  • Hessian adds texture to your needle felted picture, creating a more rustic or natural look.
  • It’s durable and suitable for larger projects, such as wall hangings.
  • It is also perfect for making needle felting mats filled with rice, lentils, or similar.
A wooden handle needle punch tool with three needles inserted into beige burlap fabric, which is sprawled on a white surface, alongside a single metal needle.
RICE FILLED HESSIAN MAT

When choosing hessian for needle felting, it’s important to select a close weave. A close weave ensures that the fibres don’t pull apart too easily, allowing you to create finer details in your work.

Where to Buy Hessian?

Jomill Felts is a reliable supplier of high-quality hessian, specifically suitable for needle felting. If you plan to work with hessian, purchasing a good quality fabric will make your felting experience much smoother. You can find the website link on my FAVOURITE NEEDLE FELTING SUPPLIERS GUIDE

How to Transfer Your Design to Fabric

Once you’ve chosen the fabric for your project, the next step is transferring your design onto the fabric. There are several methods for transferring images, but one of the most effective and simple techniques is using carbon paper.

Carbon Paper Transfer Method

The carbon paper method is an easy and accurate way to transfer your design onto your chosen fabric. It’s especially useful for fabrics like Calico and Belgian linen, where you need a precise, clear outline to work from.

A sketch of seaside houses features a boat in the water and two birds perched on a post, all set against a backdrop of black and beige fabric. Curious about the best fabric for needle-felted pictures? These textures offer inspiration.

Step-by-Step Guide to Carbon Paper Transfer:

  1. Prepare Your Design: Print or draw your design on a piece of paper. Make sure the design is the size you want for your final project.
  2. Position the Carbon Paper: Place the carbon paper on your fabric, with the ink side facing down.
  3. Lay Your Design on Top: Position your paper design on top of the carbon paper.
  4. Trace the Design: Using a pen or pencil, carefully trace over the lines of your design. The pressure from your pen will transfer the carbon ink onto your fabric, leaving a clear outline.
  5. Remove the Paper and Carbon Paper: Once you’ve traced the entire design, lift the paper and carbon paper to reveal the transferred design on your fabric.

Fabric Pens

In addition to carbon paper, you can also use fabric pens to transfer designs. These pens work well on lighter fabrics like Calico and Belgian linen. Simply draw your design directly onto the fabric using the pen, and the marks will disappear as you felt over it them.

Additional Tips for Needle Felting

My Favourite Felting Mat For Flat Felting Pictures

When needle felting a picture or portrait I usually favour upholstery foam. The foam mat provides a soft but firm backing, allowing you to push the felting needle through the fabric without damaging the surface beneath. It is also available in really large sizes allowing you to create bigger flat and 2 dimensional projects. Always use a protective topper on the mat which will significantly extend its life, and prevent the wool fibres getting stuck in the mat when needle felting.

Foam Mats for Precision

Close-up of a square upholstery mat showcasing a felt topper with text reading "Firm upholstery foam and felt topper to protect the mat." Discover what is the best fabric for needle-felted pictures, ensuring your art pieces remain flawless and protected.

Using a foam mat beneath your fabric is essential for precision in needle felting. The foam mat allows the needle to pass through the fabric easily, without damaging the surface beneath. It also helps you maintain control over your felting, ensuring that you can create clean lines and detailed shapes. Additionally, working on a firmer, flat surface ensures that the fabric remains taut, helping you achieve more precise results, especially tiny details.

A felted artwork featuring a textured landscape with a blue sky, green and brown land, and a patch of red wool resembling plants or terrain. This piece showcases what is the best fabric for needle felted pictures, beautifully mounted on a light blue frame.
This 30cm by 30cm felt artwork beautifully captures a beach scene, showcasing the best fabric for needle felted pictures. With a blue sky and ocean, white waves, and a sailboat, it features sandy tones and textured details that vividly convey the seaside atmosphere.

How To Display Your Work

Once you’ve completed your needle felted picture, you’ll want to display it properly. Deep box frames from stores like Hobbycraft, Ikea, The Range etc. are an excellent option for showcasing your work. Wait for the frame sales which happen a lot, especially Hobbycraft where the frames in the photos are from. These frames allow you to display your artwork without damaging the fabric, and they make it easy to swap out pieces when needed. I also love to hang my pieces loosely on driftwood, wooden stick or similar. This is especially useful when you can’t find a large enough frame.

Two framed landscape artworks with vibrant colors, crafted from felt, are displayed next to a potted plant. The frames are positioned at an angle, with one upright and the other slightly tilted—a stunning example of how felt can be the best fabric for needle-felted pictures.
Two images showcase a wooden frame with a magnetic front opening. The top image highlights the side view with the frame open, unveiling felted art inside, encouraging thoughts on what is the best fabric for needle felted pictures. The bottom image shows it closed, lying flat.
A felted wool artwork depicting a serene seascape hangs from a natural wooden branch. The scene boasts blue sky, two white sailboats, and a wavy ocean in blues and greens against a brown shoreline. The soft colors blend seamlessly, showcasing why wool is the best fabric for needle felted pictures.

Felt Along With Me

These picture tutorials are perfect for beginners and confident needle felters. Felt along with me, or make it your own with personal touches, or a seasonal twist.

A felted art piece shows a sheep peeking over a stone wall, crafted with the finest wool—considered by many as the best fabric for needle-felted pictures. In the background, vibrant hills in shades of green, yellow, and purple complete the cozy scene.
Make It With Me! Herdwick Sheep Landscape
Four images showcase hands crafting art on linen fabric. The top left features pressing with a blue tool, while the top right highlights needlework using orange thread—the best fabric choice for needle felted pictures. The bottom images demonstrate stitching and a vibrant waterfront scene in progress.
Make It With Me! Cornish Harbour Scene
A framed piece of wool art depicting a landscape stands on a wooden shelf. In the background, books like "What Is The Best Fabric For Needle Felted Pictures" and "The Field Guide to Fleece" nestle beside "How to Draw Animals.
Make it With Me! North Sea Coast

Final Tips For Beginners

If you’re just starting out with needle felting, it’s important to begin with simple designs and techniques. Allow yourself to be a beginner, mastering the basics before moving on to more complex projects will help you build confidence and improve your skills over time.

Take Your Time

Rushing through a project can lead to mistakes and frustration. Needle felting is a craft that requires patience and attention to detail, so take your time and enjoy the process. Start with basic shapes and gradually work your way up to more intricate designs.

Practice on Different Fabrics

Each fabric behaves differently when needle felting. Experiment with various fabrics, such as pre-felt, Calico, and wool felt, to see which works best for your style and projects.

A collection of fabric swatches arranged on a wooden surface, featuring cream-colored, light brown, and gray felt. Ideal for exploring what is the best fabric for needle felted pictures, this selection also includes rustic burlap materials.

More Tutorials

To continue improving your needle felting skills, follow along with my tutorials and learn from experienced felters. Subscribe to online channels or my Facebook community for tips, inspiration, and support from fellow crafters.

To Sum It Up

Choosing what is the best fabric for needle felted pictures and mastering the process of transferring your design are crucial steps in creating beautiful needle felted pictures. Whether you’re working with soft pre-felt, firm wool felt, or luxurious Belgian linen, understanding the qualities of each fabric will help you achieve the best results, and decide what is the best fabric for needle felting pictures, and portraits. With patience, practice, and the right tools, you can create stunning needle-felted art that lasts for years to come.

A close-up of folded fabric and felt pieces, embodying the essence of needle felted art, in various colors and textures on a table. In the background, a felt artwork beautifully displays sheep in a grassy landscape under a blue sky.
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