Hello Twinkle Chops!
With Christmas just around the corner, it’s time to bring out the festive spirit and get creative with handmade decorations. Let me introduce you to this gorgeous needle felted character: Twinkle Chops, the needle-felted pig bauble that’s as cute as its name suggests! Felted Christmas ornaments create a real wow factor to your handmade Christmas decor and, whether you’re new to needle felting or a confident felter, this is a Christmas craft project you will love.
This blog post walks you through the materials you’ll need for this project, and provides an overview of the steps involved. If you’re ready to dive straight in, there’s a full step-by-step video tutorial at the bottom of this post guide you through the process.
Do You Enjoy Working From A Pattern?
Needle felting patterns are an excellent way to begin, and I’ve been designing and creating them since 2014. I’ve also taught thousands of nervous crafters how to needle felt through my workshops, patterns, and video tutorials, many of which are completely free. These patterns include everything you need to get started: including a materials and wool list, incredibly detailed instructions, and video tutorials to guide you step by step. Projects can range from just an hour to as long as six hours, and with over 60 exciting patterns available, there’s definitely something for everyone, regardless of your skill level or personal taste.
Keep It Simple Or Go Off Piste
Needle felting is the perfect way to add a personal touch to your Christmas decor. Twinkle Chops can be as simple or as intricate as you like. Beginners will appreciate the straightforward steps, and for those with more experience, there’s plenty of room to add your own flair—think wings, glitter, or a festive scarf!
Materials You’ll Need
- Wool dryer ball or make your own with 20g white carded wool – Mine is quite large at 7cm but smaller would work just as well and be less weighty.
- Pink carded wool 10g
- White carded wool 2g
- Pinch Black/dark wool
- Pinch light grey wool
- 1 x Coarse felting needle
- 1 x Fine felting needle
- BBQ Skewer for shaping
- Felting Mat
Optional
- Wings: 15g extra white wool if making the wings
- Sparkles – I used Ranger Stickles
- Blusher
- Sparkly fibre
Quick Overview
1. Prepare Your Base
- If you’re using a wool dryer ball, this step is quick and easy. It forms a perfect base for the head, saving you about an hour of felting.
- If you prefer to make your own base, roll core wool into a tight ball and use a felting needle to sculpt it into shape. This is excellent practice for beginners, as it helps you develop control over your needle strokes. Watch how on the video tutorial below.
2. Shape the Pig’s Features
- Wrap pink wool roving around the base and needle felt it evenly until smooth.
- Create a small firm barrel shape around a BBQ skewer with pink wool for the snout and secure it in place with your felting needle.
- Felt black circles for the eyes or use black glass beads if you prefer.
3. Add the Ears
- Create two small triangles using pink wool, then attach them to the top of the head. Make sure they’re symmetrical for a balanced look.
4. Optional Wings
- For a magical twist, add wings! Shape small wing-like pieces from white wool and attach them to the sides or back of the pig.
5. Finishing Touches
- Attach a ribbon or string to the top of Twinkle Chops so it’s ready to hang on your tree.
- Add any extra embellishments, like sparkles, rosy cheeks, or a scarf and hat – My sparkles are Ranger Stickles which have a great range of products, available in the US and UK. I am not affiliated in anyway, I just love their products and have used them for many years.
Who Is This Project For?
- For Beginners: The simple shapes make this a great first project, especially if you’re learning how to sculpt with wool.
- For Confident Felters: You can add your own creative spin, from intricate details to quirky accessories.
- For De-stressing: Needle felting is a wonderfully relaxing and mindful craft, and what better way to spend a chilly afternoon than with a cuppa, cake, and a bit of festive sparkle?
- Eco friendly Christmas decorations: Beautiful, sustainable, and will become a favourite family decoration.
Top Tip!
Using a wool dryer ball as the base is a real time-saver, but making your own from core wool is a fantastic way to practice the basics. Choose whichever option suits your mood and experience level!
Ready to Get Started?
Check out the full step-by-step video tutorial linked below. I’ll show you exactly how to create Twinkle Chops from start to finish, whilst you felt along with me at your own pace.
A Handmade Christmas Decoration To Treasure
I hope this project brings a touch of joy to your seasonal handmade decor. Whether you make one or an entire herd of flying pigs, Twinkle Chops is sure to add charm, originality, and quirkiness to your Christmas tree.
Storage After Christmas
Keep your bauble in tip top condition every year and wrap in tissue paper, or put in a box, when storing – Avoid plastic bags as they will cause condensation in the warmer months if stored in a hot place.
Happy felting, and don’t forget the tea and cake!
Discover more seasonal needle felting projects right her on the blogs Christmas needle felting section
More Needle Felting Video Tutorials
You can discover my full range of video tutorials over on YouTube at The Felt Hub. It is bursting at the seams with tutorials, guides, top tips, and easy playlists for needle felting beginners and improvers.
