What Felting Needles Do I Need? Complete Guide

No more confusion over felting needles

What felting needles do I need? It’s the one thing that gets us needle felters confused when we first start this fabulous craft. A gauge for this, a star or triangle for that. What’ s the difference between a size 32 and size 38, and what on earth do I do with this reverse needle felting needle I bought? Well stop tearing your hair out because I am going to dive into what to use, as well as my own personal preferences. I will also tell you about the felting needle tools I couldn’t live without!

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Summary

• What do the different sizes mean?
• What Needles Do I Already Have? Video Tutorial 1 Minute
• What Felting Needle Should I Start With? Video Tutorial 5 Minutes
• How Do Felting Needles Work?
• Best All Rounder
• Best For Fine Details
• Reverse Felting Needle
• Twisted Felting Needle
• My Favourite Tools
• My Favourite Needle Felting Mat Make one with me
• Needle Felting Patterns
• Find Out More About Needle Felting

WHAT DO THE DIFFERENT SIZES MEAN?

In short, needle sizes work like this: The higher the number, the finer the needle, and needle sizes range from as low as 19 up to 42. You will hear them referred to as:

• Triangular: 3 sides 
• Star: 4 sides 
• Reverse needle
• Twisted needle

WHAT DO THE SIZES MEAN?

In short, needle sizes work like this: The higher the number, the finer the needle, and needle sizes range from as low as 19 up to 42. You will hear them referred to as:

• Triangular: 3 sides 
• Star: 4 sides 
• Reverse needle
• Twisted needle

What Size Felting Needles Do I Already Have?

This is a common question as you may have a stash of felting needles without any clue of the sizes. This short video explains how easy it is to identify the felting needles you already have. Quick rule of thumb: The more a needle bends the finer it is.

What Felting Needle Should I Start With?

This is one of the most common questions I get asked, along with “What wool should I use?”, and it can be confusing when you first start needle felting. I prefer the simple approach and advise just one, or two sizes to start with. The 38 star is a good all rounder, and a 40 triangle for finishing your work; more details on those below. Once you are more confident with your needle felting you can start to introduce others into your felting stash.

The 38 star is my favourite as it will complete most needle felting projects from start to finish. TOP TIP! Always have a spare felting needle in case one breaks as you can’t just nip to the Co-op for a new one.

How Do Felting Needles Work?

Felting needles are designed specifically for wool which is full of tiny scales that run up and down its length and these scales just love to tangle together with each other.

A felting needle is a long, thin needle with notches or barbs at the tip that’s used to create wool felt by tangling wool fibers together by hand, whilst creating almost any shape and detail you can imagine. This is also known as dry felting which is completely different to the more traditional process of wet felting. The wet felting process uses water, soap and agitation to create felt.

Felting Needle Safety and How to Use Them

Felting needles are incredibly sharp, so it’s important to handle them with care. Always work slowly and deliberately, ensuring you are focused on where you are poking the needle. Make sure to use a proper needle felting mat to protect your workspace and, more importantly, your fingers. Always keep your fingers in clear view as you work, and avoid rushing, as this is when accidents are most likely to happen. When using the needle, be mindful of the angle—pierce the wool in a straight line and avoid bending the needle as you go. Bending can weaken the needle and is a common reason they snap, especially with finer needles. By taking these simple precautions, you’ll protect both your tools and yourself, making your felting experience safer and more enjoyable.

Use A Good All Round Felting Needle

They are suitable for most needle felting projects, and less prone to breakage. A 38 or a 36 star (or triangle) can be used to start, shape, and build up any three dimensional needle felting project, or flat felted picture. I use 38 star needles (I like the four sides for faster felting) all the time, and they are the ones I also used in my needle felting kits. A 38 star felting needle will complete most projects from start to finish; a 36 gauge is too robust for finer details.

TOP TIP! Reduce needle marks by inserting your needle diagonally when finishing/smoothing the top layer. Rolling the body part in your hands (before attaching) is the fastest and most efficient way of smoothing your piece; your hands are just as important a tool as your needle!

Best Felting Needle For Finer Details

A 40 triangle is ideal for much finer detail: be careful with it as it bends more easily so don’t be heavy handed with it.

I use this when I am finishing delicate eye and nose detail. Especially if the head is quite soft and I don’t want to distort the lovely shape I have made. It is also great for reducing needle marks on the top layer. You will notice that this needle is thinner, bends more easily than the 36/38 and is much more prone to breakage if bent too much. TOP TIP! Be careful when using it around a wire armature to avoid breakage.

What Is A Reverse Felting Needle?

The barbs go in the opposite direction and pull the felted wool back out. There is also a great blog post dedicated to this fabulous needle felting tool

It took me a while to get used to this one, but now I wouldn’t be without it. It’s a little gem of a tool and I just love subtle effect it gives to, an otherwise, smooth finish. It all depends what wool you are using but I used mine to rough up the top of my moon gazing hares head to add character and dimension. I think it worked really well… The wool is natural Grey Jacob and which is one of my favourite wool tops to needle felt with. I also include it on my flamingo to ‘fluff’ up the body and base of the neck. Also great for use on 3D cats and dogs, perfect for hedgehog spikes, and adding detail and dimension to my fox head.

Twisted Felting Needle

The first barb on a twisted needle is slightly closer to the tip of the needle than the 38 and 40 triangular, reducing the penetration required to start tangling the fibres together. It is just personal preference but if you are just starting needle felting I would recommend starting with a 38 star and 40 felting needle; you can try other sizes once the needle felting addiction has taken hold…

What Are My Favourite Felting Needle Tools?

None of the following are necessary but I use them all the time for certain projects and they really help speed up the felting process. Especially useful if you are now a needle felting addict (you know who you are…) and unofficial member of the Lincolnshire Fenn Crafts NFA group, ‘Needle Felters Anonymous’. Hmm, I’m thinking T-shirts and badges…

Wooden Multi Needle Tool

Can be bought from felting needle suppliers with 3 or 4 needle holes, uses standard needles (supplied) and needles are removable and interchangeable.

My preference is the 3 needle holder (using 38 or 40 triangular or star) as it can be used for starting off your 3D shapes quickly, as well as being used for flat felting e.g. big bunny or hare ears. Top tip: If flat felting, try starting with a coarser gauge needle, such as a size 36, which will speed up the process.

Needle Felting Pen

Does pretty much the same as the wooden needle holder (above) but the needles are closer together making it great for faster flat felting. It also works really well on wool batts and the hessian felting mats filled with rice. Save money: You will see these in pink (Clover tool) and blue. The blue is half the price of the pink and the difference…one is from Hong Kong and one is from China?

Multi Needle Punch Tool – Use for fast flat felting

Bring on the big guns! You can use from 1 to 7 needles (replaceable and interchangeable) with retractable guard. I can’t tell you how much I use this for flat felting ears, brooches, legs (before they are rolled and shaped), pictures etc. I use this one on my hessian felting mat. You will need to use fewer needles on foam otherwise it has a tendency to bounce without penetrating the wool. It powers through ears, wings, legs, gnome hats, poppy/flower petals, and pictures at a rate of knots! TOP TIP! Ideal for teaching the kids because of the locking, retractable guard and much less prone to breakage.

Single Felting Needle Holder

This is very useful if your fingers are sensitive to the thin top of the felting needle, you have dexterity problems, or you are felting for long periods.

Best All Round Felting Mat

I use several mats, depending on the project. But, for a good all rounder you can’t beat a rice filled hessian mat. There are lots of different mats available but, for me, this is the best all rounder and can be used with all the multi tools. I use it for all of the above as well as my foam. I make my own Hessian felting mats with a piece of hessian/burlap, sewn around the sides with a small gap left to fill with dried rice. Always use a protective topper to extend the life of your felting mats.

Make A Needle Felting Mat With Me

Video Tutorial

Needle Felting Patterns

If you love working from a pattern then you will love my inspiring needle felting patterns. There are 60 to choose from and you can instantly download and get started straight away. Website and Etsy Shop.

Find Out Moure About Needle Felting

Here are some useful guides and tutorials:

• GUIDE TO NEEDLE FELTING WOOL
• 5 THINGS YOU NEED TO START NEEDLE FELTING
• BEGINNERS TUTORIALS
• FREE NEEDLE FELTING PATTERN

Happy creating and please watch those fingers, not Netflix.

Est. 2013
© 2013 Lincolnshire Fenn Crafts