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It’s that time of year when the new spring seasons awakens our creative senses. Whether you’re looking for a new hobby, DIY Easter and spring décor, or brightly coloured, handmade by you gifts, needle felting covers it all. Frome cute Easter egg bunnies, to quirky spring chickens, there’s something for everyone to fall in love with.
SPRING INTO CREATIVITY
Just keep scrolling to see my favourite spring projects, and their tutorial links. Pick your favourite, and start creating.
ARE YOU NEW TO NEEDLE FELTING?
Then you have come to the perfect place to get started, and will also find a materials list and the needle felting kit linked to each project. MORE GREAT BEGINNER PROJECTS
EASY EASTER BUNNY
Make time: 30 minutes Skill Level: Easy
Grab you felting needles, BBQ skewer, and wool and make these gorgeous Easter egg bunnies. They look fabulous as part of your spring and Easter displays, as garlands, or pretty brooches.
With this simple technique you can create perfectly shaped balls every time, and in just 3 minutes. Ideal for your spring garlands balls anymore trying to achieve the perfect finish. Just grab your secret weapon – a wooden BBQ skewer – and in 30 minutes you will have ten balls ready for your garland. Add bees and bunnies (check my YouTube spring playlist) for some extra special creative spring and Easter magic.
YOU WILL NEED:
Wool tops or carded wool, various colours – Find out about wool HERE
Wooden BBQ skewer for easy shaping
Standard felting needle – size 38 is a good all-rounder
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Learn how To Needle Felt With Wire – Easy step by step guide
Welcome to The Felt Hub with Lincolnshire Fenn Crafts, here to feed your passion for needle felting! This easy guide to using wire for needle felting will give you a god grasp of what wire to use, and when. From realistic horns, using only wool and a pipe cleaner, to full fox armature.
FREE DOWNLOAD
Links for free download, video tutorials, and felting wire are at the bottom of the post.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO USE WIRE TO BE GOOD AT NEEDLE FELTING
It may seem an odd place to start but it is important to know that many needle felters, including myself, rarely use a full wire armature. Many new needle felters – mistakenly – think that using wire means you are better at needle felting. This is not the case at all, and the truth is, most needle felting projects don’t need it. In fact, the trustee wooden BBQ skewer can completely change the finished look and stability of your needle felting projects, without the need for any wire. Just check out my Parsley Hare needle felting tutorial on YouTube to see how amazing this tool really is.
NEVER BE WITHOUT A WOODEN BBQ SKEWER
The humble wooden BBQ skewer is in my top 3 needle felting tools. It enables you to quickly, and easily create firm needle parts for your project, without the need for wire. Using one of these will change the way you needle felt. Find out more HERE
PIPE CLEANERS CAN BE YOUR QUICK FIX FRIEND
A BBQ skewer wont work for everything though and a pipe cleaner, or two, makes it possible to add some really clever touches to your project. Especially tails and horns, flower stems, or to stop your legs doing the Fandango every time you try to get them to stand, or when your project is top heavy; why do I feel like I am talking about myself?
ADD STABILITY AND POSEABILITY
Using wire for your needle felting projects will allow you to pose your animal and add more stability. It can be used for just a tail, the legs, neck, or the whole project.
TINY FINGERS, TOES, PAWS, AND CLAWS
This requires a much finer wire and the paper covered steel wire in your pack is just the job. No need for wax, and the wool sticks well to the paper, allowing you to get those delicate details. It also works well for super thin bird’s legs and claws.
Wire gauge refers to the physical size of the wire; the smaller the wire gauge number, the larger/thicker the wire diameter.
METAL TYPES
Whilst thicker is usually stronger, the type of metal affects its flexibility. Working on a like for like gauge size, Aluminium is the softest and most flexible, copper a little stronger, and steel (the paper covered wire) is stronger still.
GOOD OLD GARDEN WIRE
The plastic covered garden wire is a great substitute if that’s what you have lying around and can’t wait to try needle felting with wire. The plastic is also quite ‘sticky’ so holds the wool well.
12 GAUGE ALUMINIUM ARMATURE WIRE: 2.00mm
Ideal for medium to large lightweight sculptures. Strong but still easily shaped by hand, and with pliers.
Ideal for medium lightweight sculptures. Strong but still easily shaped by hand, and with pliers. Pipe cleaners can be wrapped around the armature so the wool sticks and does not slip and slide.
20 GAUGE ALUMINIUM ARMATURE WIRE: 0.8mm x 10 metres
Great for smaller projects. A finer wire that can be easily shaped by hand. Pipe cleaners can be wrapped around the armature so the wool sticks and does not slip and slide.
STEEL 0.5mm PAPER COVERED WIRE (approx. 26 gauge)
Ideal for tiny fingers, toes, and claws. Wool sticks well to the paper so you can keep your limbs, hands, and toes as small as possible.
STEEL 1mm PAPER COVERED WIRE (approx. 18 gauge)
A very strong paper covered wire that is ideal for projects that are heavier, or taller, or top heavy.
PIPE CLEANERS
Where would we be without the old faithful pipe cleaners which are perfect for small, lightweight armatures, and especially useful for wrapping around wire armatures so that the wool sticks. Also adds extra strength and stability to neck, back, and limbs, whilst allowing you to felt smaller feet, toes, hands, and claws.
It’s perfect for quick horns and tails, or if you just want part of your project to be poseable or have more stability. Cotton covered pipe cleaners are all pretty much the same with regards to flexibility, unless you opt for a slightly stiffer pipe cleaner.
TOP TIP:DON’T GET HUNG UP ON THE NUMBERS
It really doesn’t matter the size of the wire, as long as it works for your project. It is also very much trial, error, personal preference, and practice.
You will find lots in The Felt Hub on YouTube. Just look for the NEEDLE FELTING WITH WIREplaylist.
DON’T BE TOO AMBITIOUS
Start with a small simple project, such as horns or tails, and legs. Get used to wrapping the wool and working around the wire before trying tiny fingers and toes. Even the most competent of needle felters usually has a little sigh before starting on those, and it takes practice to get them right, lots of practice, so be patient. Each time you try those tiny paws and claws you will get better.
ALWAYS LEARN THE BASICS OF NEEDLE FELTING FIRST
This is so important, and I can’t tell you the number of people I have seen give up because they have started on a complicated armature project before even using a felting needle for the first time. You have to walk before you run but the basics are quick and easy to learn.
SIMPLICITY CAN BRING OUT THE BEST IN YOUR PROJECTS
The mouse and cat pictured have thin wire in their legs and tail. It is super simple but adds an extra special touch. If in doubt, add a scarf as you can’t go wrong with one of those.
JOIN THE VIP FELT CLUB AND GET YOUR FREE DOWNLOAD HERE
Easy template to create an armature for your fox or dog. Making an armature is easy, with the right technique, and you can use almost any flexible wire, or pipe cleaners you already have. This simple template will make sure you get the proportions of your needle felted fox, or dog, right every time.
Exclusive free downloadsGet your proportions right every time
FILL YOUR HOME WITH HANDMADE NEEDLE FELTED DECORATIONS
As soon as Autumn arrives I am already full-blown, pumpkin spice latte sweater dresses and jumper mode. It is my absolute favourite time of year as we start to hibernate and get really creative, filling our homes with cosy homemade fall and autumn décor! Without doubt, nothing says it better than pumpkins filling the rooms of your home, especially the ones you have made yourself, and there is no better time than now to grab a cuppa, and start creating with me.
MAKE A NEEDLE FELTED GNUMPKIN WITH ME
Make time: 90 minutes (20 minutes for the pumpkin)
It is full on pumpkin season, or should I say Gnumpkin season. Basically, it is a pumpkin, gnome hybrid but, and I am sure you will agree, they are a match made in heaven. It is my absolute favourite needle felting project at the moment, and I love it more because it can stay up as part of your DIY Christmas décor. This one has a full on Autumnal flavour but I am already making one in cool winter colours.
NO CRAFT OR DRAWING SKILLS NEEDED
This super easy needle felting tutorial will have you creating your own needle felted Gnumpkin in no time at all! Making needle felting easy is what it is all about, and you don’t need any craft or drawing skills. This step by step needle felting tutorial will help build your creative confidence, whilst teaching you all the needle felting basics, and no sewing, I promise! My easy techniques tips and hacks will have you felting in no time!
DO YOU NEED THE WOOL OR FELTING KIT?
If you have just started needle felting, kits are an especially great way to get started so you can get a real feel for a new craft. In addition to this, you are only spending a small amount to get going. The website is full of inspiring kits and inspiration for every ability.
The pumpkins alone are really fabulous but let’s take it up a notch and turn it into this super stylish, Gnumpkin. In addition, the full video tutorial is at the bottom of the page – my easy step, by step, felt along with me guide. I had so much fun designing and making these, and I know you are going to love it just as much!
NEEDLE FELTED PUMPKIN
This forms the body of the gnome and is one of the easiest ever needle felting projects; you can make one of these in just 20 minutes, even complete beginners. Scroll to the bottom of the page for the video tutorial.
MAKE THE PUMPKIN BODY FIRST
LET’S GET STARTED – YOU WILL NEED:
Carded needle felting wool and wool tops – Felting needle – Felting mat – Wooden BBQ skewer or similar; this makes creating shapes so much easier.
1 Lay a handful of core wool on your felting mat and create a rough bread roll shape with your hands. With your free hand start to felt with your needle.
2 Continue the process until your wool retains its size and shape. TIP: It needs to be secure but very soft.
TIME TO ADD THE CARDED WOOL BATTING
3 Sit your shape on top of your piece of wool batting and start to wrap the batting sheet around it, pulling towards the centre of, what will be, the bottom of your pumpkin.
4 Felt the batting into the centre of the wool until it holds. Continue the process until all the core wool is covered and pull away any excess. Tip: White patches are fine as they add contrast
5 Pumpkin ready for shaping, smooth side up.
6 Using your felting needle ‘draw’ a clearly defined line around the entire pumpkin, starting from middle centre and finishing where your line started.
7 Repeat until your pumpkin is divided into eight sections.
8 Take a long, thin piece of contrasting wool top and felt securely into the lines you have just created. Again, work from centre top and finish where you started, leaving any loose strands. TIP: Any loose strands can be trimmed for neatness, but also look good as decoration. Your pumpkin is ready. Time to make a Gnumpkin.
MAKING THE PERFECT GNOME HAT
I tried a few techniques before deciding which one would give me the best result in the most simple way. I found using the trustee wooden skewer allowed me to create the perfect cone shape that didn’t flop around. The needle felted acorn is the perfect finishing touch and only takes minutes to make.
WATCH THE VIDEO TUTORIALS BELOW
GNUMPKIN VIDEO TUTORIAL
PUMPKIN VIDEO TUTORIAL
ACORN VIDEO TUTORIAL
Last but not least, learn how to add a super seasonal acorn to your Gnumpkin hat; the cherry on the cake so to speak.
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It’s that time of year again, and Christmas at Lincolnshire Fenn Crafts wouldn’t be complete without a needle felted snowman. This is my simple, but stylish take on frosty, complete with hat, scarf and carrot nose. Subscribe at the bottom of the page to receive notification of new tutorials.
Time to complete: Approx 1 hour and the easiest DIY snowman you can make!
You will need: Core wool or toy stuffing but wool is much easier to felt with. WHAT IF YOU DON’T HAVE ANY CORE WOOL? No problem as this can also be done with white wool top/roving by following my basic ball shape tutorial (4th picture down) and increasing the size accordingly. TAKE ME TO TUTORIAL
Scroll to the bottom of the page and watch the video tutorial
TOP TIP: Always read the top tips!
Lets get started and remember, the needle are very sharp so keep your fingers out of the way. Always keep your needle straight; bend it and it will break.
How To Make The Snowman Body
1- Start with three pieces of core wool and make sure they are different weights/sizes. I started with 5g (handful), 3g and 2g.
2 – Roll each one into a chunky doughnut shape with your fingers. Hold with one hand and poke (felt) with your needle to secure. Don’t over felt or worry about lumps and bumps as the whole thing will be covered. TOP TIP: It only needs to hold it’s shape and should only take a couple of minutes to felt and shape each one.
3 – Make sure they are all different sizes, from large to small.
4 – Start with your large piece and lay it on top of a piece of wool batting.
5 – Pull the wool batting around your shape and felt only to the centre. This will keep the rest of the shape nice and smooth with no needle marks.
6 – Gently pull away any excess wool TOP TIP: Any bald patches can be covered up with a little more wool batting.
7 – Repeat for the next two pieces
8 – Your snowman should increase in size from the top down.
Attaching Your Pieces Together
9 – Place the bottom two pieces on top of each other (smooth side down) and attach together by pushing your felting needle through the centre of the top piece and into the bottom piece; this will tangle the fibres of the two sections together. Keep moving your felting needle around the centre and continue until both pieces are securely attached to each other. TOP TIP: Pick it up and give it a gently shake and, if they stay together, this is firm enough.
10 – Repeat step 9 and attach the head.
How To Make The Mouth
This is a little fiddly but worth spending time on. If it doesn’t look right the first time, remove and start again. TOP TIP: Only push the needle, gently into the very top layer. This will avoid distorting the shape of the head.
10 – Take a very, very thin piece of black wool (longer than you will need) and use your felting needle to gently tack into place, where you want his mouth to start TOP TIP: Leave a little bit of overhang which you can trim when you have finished. Create a curve and tack gently as you go. Once you are happy with the shape, trim any excess.
CARROT NOSE
11 – Take a tiny piece of orange wool and roll into a seed shape; press and roll firmly in the palm of your hand with your forefinger.
12 – Poke one end gently into the face until secure; the nose will straighten as you do this.
13 – Give the end of the nose a little twist with your thumb and fore finger to shape and trim any stray fibres.
Adding The Eyes
14 – Roll a teeny, tiny amount of black wool into a loose ball and felt onto the face, using your needle to bring in the edges and create a circle.
TIME TO MAKE THE SCARF
15 – Lay a long narrow length of your preferred colour along your mat or foam pad. TOP TIP: Check the length around the neck of your snowman before starting to felt.
16 – Fold over the ends for neatness and felt until just secure.
17 – Continue to felt the whole scarf on both sides. Keep turning and felting until nice and firm. TOP TIP: Felt with two needles at the same time to speed up the process
18 – Punch tools have 7 needles and save so much time if you are making lots of scarfs or flat felted items. However, it is not suited to foam pads as it has a tendency to bounce.
MAKE THE EASY HAT
There are lots of techniques to making a hat but, at a recent workshop, we tried three and voted unanimously for this one.
19 – Lay a thin (the thickness will double as you felt) piece of wool on your mat and ‘draw’ a rough circle with your felting needle: Approx. double the size of the snowman’s head.
20 – Use your fingers and needle to bring the rough edges to the outline of your circle.
21 – Continue until your circle is formed TOP TIP: Pull off any excess to avoid it becoming too thick. Keep felting, turning and neatening the edges until you have a firm circular shape.
22 – Felt on a little bobble of your colour choice. TOP TIP: Only felt around the edges of the bobble so as not to flatten it.
TIME TO SECURE IT TO THE HEAD
23 – Place the circle on top of the snowman’s head and felt around the edges to secure; you can neaten and shape later.
24 – Create a brim with a thin strand of wool. It needs to be longer than the diameter of the hat so you can overlap it at the back of the hat.
25 – Roll the length of wool firmly between the palm of your hands to quickly matt the fibres together; no need to use your needle.
26 – Place at the front of your hat and felt to secure
27 – Continue to felt until both end meet at the back. If it is too long then overlap and felt until secure.
28 – If your hat needs shaping or tidying then push downwards towards the base of the hat; this will create a nice shape TOP TIP: To keep a nice shape keep the hat loose and don’t flatten onto the head.
29 – Create some tassels (optional); lay a few thin strands of wool on your mat.
30 – Lay the end of your scarf on the tassels TOP TIP: Lay your scarf front facing up so the contrasting colour remains underneath.
31 – Wrap your scarf around your snowman’s neck and secure with your felting needle, where the scarf crosses over.
FINISHING TOUCHES
You can leave your snowman as he is or embellish to your hearts content. I have added some little stick arms and some smart black buttons.
WATCH THE VIDEO TUTORIAL BELOW
The variations are endless and I have created a Christmas scene with this one. Hat and scarf are made from an ethical Merino and silk blend, but you can use any wool you have in your felt box.
Do You Want To Try More Christmas Crafts?
There’s a needle felting project to suit any seasonal taste and ability. This great POST is full of seasonal projects to add stylish, cute, or quirky handmade decorations to your seasonal home, or to give as one of a kind gifts that will be treasured forever.
This is one of the easiest needle felting projects you can make. These gorgeous needle felted pumpkins are utterly addictive and make for some really show stopping Autumn/Fall décor! Imagine having these plump beauties dotted around the house, made into garlands, or given as gifts to only your best friends.
HAVE A PUMPKIN CRAFT PARTY
They are so much fun and so easy, why not have a craft party and needle felt the afternoon away. Imagine how many of these you could make in just a couple of hours, and more fun than you can shake a witches broomstick at.
VIDEO TUTORIAL
You will find my step by step video tutorials at the bottom of this page Make time: 20 minutes
1 Roll a small handful of core wool into a very rough ball and felt to hold in place. This will only take a minute as you need to keep it soft; this is what helps create the pumpkin shape.
2 Wrap a thin piece of carded batting around the core wool and felt at the base.
TOP TIP: Don’t cover up any patches as this will enhance the finished look once you add a second layer
3 Continue to felt the wool batting towards the centre and pull away any excess. Sit it ‘bottom’ down on your mat and check the shape.
4 Working from the top to the bottom, repeat the previous step with a different colour, making sure it is pulled thin enough for the base layer to show through.
CREATING SEGMENTS
5 Lay a very thin piece of wool top across the centre of your pumpkin and felt to secure. Wrap it quite tightly around your pumpkin and felt the two ends together at the base.
TOP TIP: The base won’t be visible so you can felt really firmly. Pulling it tightly around the pumpkin creates the ‘segments’.
6 Continue as in the previous step until you have eight distinct segments. Because the core was left really soft you now have a very obvious pumpkin shape.
7 Work gently around your pumpkin with your felting needle and tidy up any loose, untidy, or lumpy sections. It needs to look good from all sides, but don’t worry too much about the base as it won’t be seen.
8 Create a stem for your pumpkin
1 Blend a little wool together2 Roll firmly and felt into a rough stem shape, keeping the end loose3 Roll firmly in your hands to firm and shape4 Continue to felt, flatten the top, and narrow the base
9 Felt the loose wool (at the narrow base) into the centre of your pumpkin. feel free to add any embellishments. I have added a lovely crochet leaf which really finishes it off. You could also add curly locks and different fibres, or acorns.
I hope you really loved this tutorial. For more pumpkin tutorials click HERE If you want to felt alongside me, workshop style, just click on the video links below.
Yes, it’s back – the pumpkin edit is here! Autumn and Fall is the time when we really start to get stuck into or craft activities again, and there’s no better place to start than my super easy tutorials, ‘How To Make DIY Needle Felted Pumpkins – Easy Autumn Crafts’.
From wool to needle felted pumpkin in just 30 minutes
Watch the tutorial below, or order the needle felting kit form the WEBSITE or ETSY
This is a super easy needle felting kit with a full, step by step, hold your hand video tutorial so you can felt along with me workshop style. These gorgeous needle felted pumpkins are utterly addictive and make for some really show stopping Autumn/Fall décor! If you order the kit you have the option to add the gorgeous crochet leaves that I bagged from another fabulous handmade maker.
Wool looks great blended for different colours and effects. Video tutorial is suitable for complete beginners to needle felting. Ideal as décor, gifts, garlands or for seasonal markets.
Watch the tutorial below, or order a Winter Wonderland needle felting kit form the WEBSITE or ETSY
Pumpkins are most definitely not just for Christmas and, with my Winter Wonderland pumpkins you can keep them up right through to the new year.
They are cool, wintry, glamourous, and look like they came straight out of a Disney movie. They are also one of my most popular Autumn craft kits, and why wouldn’t they be?
WATCH VIDEO TUTORIAL
FIRE AND ICE NEEDLE FELTED PUMPKIN – MORE GLAMOUROUS THAN AN EPISODE OF DYNASTY
Make a seasonal statement this year and create a bold and glamorous, full size ‘Fire And Ice’ pumpkin.
MAKE TIME: 1 hour
Your autumn and fall handmade décor just got super stylish.
YOU WILL NEED:
Core wool – enough for full size pumpkin, approximately 30g
Carded red wool – 15g
Wool tops – 5g
Silk fibres and silk throwsters waste
Felting needle – 38 star is a good all rounder
Felting mat
Watch the tutorial below, or order the needle felting kit form the WEBSITE or ETSY
Totally unique, your autumn and fall handmade décor just got super stylish. Watch the needle felting tutorial below and can create your own ‘Fire And Ice’ full size pumpkin in just 30 easy minutes.
This one wouldn’t look out of place in a Homes And Gardens feature and, as always, I have carefully selected the wool and fibres and, for a touch of seasonal glamour, it is topped with fiery strung beads.
WATCH VIDEO TUTORIAL
EASY DIY AUTUMN WREATH
In just two hours you will have your own beautiful DIY wreath. You can adapt and change the colours, or go for pastels which look gorgeous. Whatever colours you decide on, you will have a beautiful seasonal arrangement that is unique and looks like you have just bought it from a boutique craft shop. You could even create a beautiful autumn/fall garland with pumpkins and acorns, to finish the look.
MAKE TIME: 2 hours
YOU WILL NEED:
Core wool – 30g
Carded wool in seasonal colours – 5g of each
Wool tops – 5g of each
Vine wreath
Acorn caps
Felting needle – 38 star is a good all rounder
Felting mat
Wooden BBQ skewer
Hessian ribbon
Watch the tutorial below, or order the needle felting kit form the WEBSITE or ETSY
Create stylish autumn/fall décor with this beautiful DIY needle felting kit, which is incredibly easy to make and an ideal needle felting project for any ability. Full written instructions plus a video tutorial will make this project a breeze, even for the most nervous of beginners.
It’s perfect for you if you’re looking for an exciting new creative outlet to bring some color into your life! With easy instructions, step-by-step video tutorial, and plenty of supplies, anyone can create their own beautiful Autumn wreath in just a couple of hours. Why not add an acorn garland for that extra touch of handmade seasonal creativity and, with my easy needle felting techniques, each acorn only takes a few minutes to make.
WATCH VIDEO TUTORIAL
TOTALLY TRADITIONAL DIY PUMPKINS
MAKE TIME: 30 minutes
YOU WILL NEED:
Core wool – 10g for medium pumpkin
Carded orange wool – 10g
Wool tops – 5g
Felting needle – 38 star is a good all rounder
Felting mat
If totally traditional pumpkins are your thing then these are ideal. It is one of my first pumpkin tutorials and is as popular as ever. As with all of my DIY pumpkins, it is a super easy, super fast, and fun project.
Watch the tutorial below, or order a Winter Wonderland needle felting kit form the WEBSITE or ETSY
Once you have made one you won’t be able to resist making another, then another… Soon you will be buried under a big pile of pumpkins and wondering if you have enough friends, and family to give them to. Watch the tutorial below, or order the needle felting kit form the WEBSITE or ETSY
Learn how to needle felt a picture and create your own stunning 2D needle felted Cornish seascape, bursting with colour and character. Video tutorial links are at the bottom of this post and this beautiful project is suitable for beginners, and experienced needle felters, taking around eight hours to complete. I have carefully selected all the materials, wool, and fibres to give you the best possible outcome for your project, so if you are working from my Needle Felting Kit everything you need is already there. That also includes to linen, printed design and carbon paper to trace it onto your fabric, ready to start needle felting.
VIDEO TUTORIALS ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST
If you haven’t tried needle felted pictures before, I know you are going to love this design. It was a joy to create and the bold colours, and design, really sing. Adding the cheeky three dimensional Seagulls really brings it to life, as do the rolling waves with the gorgeous silk strands. The result is a mix of Cornish impressionism meets Balamory, and my love of the sea.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED/CONTENTS
If you are working from the kit, everything you need is in your box. If you are working from the pattern, and your own supplies, you will need:
Approximately 40g of mixed wool colours. I have used approximately 18 different colours: a mix of carded wool, wool tops, silk blends, and silk throwsters waste.
Carbon paper for tracing the design but you can copy directly onto the fabric
Frame, driftwood, or similar to display. It can also be mounted onto card using double sided tape
HOW TO NEEDLE FELT: THE BASICS
Caution: This activity is for adults and older children – 12 years and older – and then only with strict adult guidance and supervision due to the very sharp needles. Do not allow children to attempt this project alone!
HOW TO USE YOUR FELTING NEEDLE?
Felt is made using the barbed needles and repeatedly and by carefully stabbing into the wool fleece. This will tangle the fibres together until the wool becomes firm, and, following the instructions, create your own needle felted project.
Before you start you project it is important to know a few basics about needle felting but equally important is that this is YOUR creation. You may decide to make changes. BRILLIANT! Make it your own. If you make a mistake, then remove it by gently tugging with a standard dress pin and try again. Most importantly, be patient and enjoy this gorgeous project. Take your time and remember “the devil is in the detail” so tempting though it is, don’t rush when you are getting near the end of your project. Sit back and decide on your finishing touches. Make it simple, quirky, or as detailed as you like…
You need to take extra precautions to watch your fingers because, as you hold and turn your project, there is a greater chance of poking through the wool right into your finger; use finger guards if this helps.
Use the foam pad wherever possible and remember to always poke your needle in a straight line, no matter the angle, so as not to break your needle.
The finished project will be unique to you so feel free to use your imagination. Be patient as these lovely creations deserve the time they take to make, and you will quickly get used to the needle felting process. Once you have finished this project there will be no stopping you!
Upon completion sit back, admire, and tell your friends and family “I did that!”
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THESE PROJECTS ARE COLLECTABLES, NOT TOYS! KEEP THEM AWAY FROM PETSAND SMALL CHILDREN!
3 Feel free to add your own details and use your own artistic license for the finishing touches.
4 ENJOY! If this is your first needle felting project allow yourself to be a beginner and build your creative confidence. It’s not a sprint to the finish and you are going to learn some fabulous new skills. Hopefully, this will be just the start of your needle felting journey.
5VIDEO TUTORIALS – You will find so many helpful tutorials on my YouTube channel, from nervous beginners to intermediate level. Have a look at the playlists and find what is most suitable for you on the: Lincolnshire Fenn Crafts YouTube channel
ABOUT THIS PROJECT
Skill level: Beginners to confident needle felters
Make time: 6 to 8 hours
STYLE
Think Cornish coastline meets Balamory, which was actually set in Tobermory. Full of vibrant colours and details, I approached it like a paint by numbers, colour between the lines, sort of project. It is beautifully simple and, apart from the seagulls and some sea detail, this project is completely flat felted. It is not difficult and is soothingly repetitive. You can pick it up whenever you feel like it, have a break and do some more.
TECHNIQUE
As the technique for most of the project is the same, video tutorials and the pattern will guide you through the different sections, from tracing the picture, using the fabric, type of needles to use, laying down the fibres, outlining the details, and building up some of the areas to add dimension, detail, and contrast.
ADD YOUR OWN FLAIR
If you are a confident crafter, or this isn’t your first needle felting gig, feel free to blend your own colours, add fabric scraps, beads, and your own details.
IS IT YOUR FIRST TIME FELTING ON LINEN?
If so, it will feel quite strange for the first ten minutes, but you will quickly get used to the different work surface. This is also a popular choice for flat felted animal portraits.
WHY LINEN?
I love experimenting with different fabrics for flat needle felting and, there are several reasons why linen/Calico works really well for this project
It needs to be a close weave linen/Calico so that your needle doesn’t damage the fabric or create holes in the weave.
Perfect for tracing your image onto in detail, which you just can’t do with a wool felt base.
It is also a great base for this project as you want the fibres to lay as flat as possible, with no distortion, allowing for tiny details to be added without getting lost.
THE WOOL
If you are working from the kit you will find mostly carded wool and a few wool tops. In addition there are some beautiful silk fibres, and wool silk blends which add great contrast and interest to the finished piece.
USING YOUR OWN WOOL STASH
Almost any felting wool can be used with ease for this project. Just grab as many bright and bold colours you can from your wool stash.
WHAT FELTING NEEDLES DO I NEED?
The entire project can be completed with one needle. I found the 38 star needle to be my favourite for this project, and I also used the 7 needle punch tool but removed 2 of the needles as I found it penetrated the foam mat surface more easily.
You can also use a needle felting pen tool, or a wooden multi tool with 3 needles. All the needles and tools can be found in the tools section on the Lincolnshire Fenn Crafts website.
WHAT FELTING MAT SHOULD I USE?
I have used a large foam mat – 30cm x 30cm – with a wool felt topper to protect it. However, any felting mat will do, including a soft wool mat, or hessian mat.
ALWAYS USE A PROTECTIVE TOPPER!
Whatever surface you are working on, I always advise using a topper to protect your mat. Anything from a wool/cotton blend to 100% wool is suitable. It will stop your work from sticking to your felting mat and significantly extend its working life, saving you money and reducing landfill waste. Your wool topper can be sustainably and easily replaced.
LIFT YOUR WORK REGULARLY FROM THE FELTING MAT
This is especially important when flat needle felting. If you don’t lift your work regularly you will find it much harder to peel from your mat. It is normal for your work to stick but this is reduced if you keep moving it, especially when using a multi needle tool.
YOU WON’T GET IT WRONG
Because there is no right and wrong when it comes to this project, and adding your own preferences and details. It is more important that you work on your technique to give you the best possible result. Take your time and make sure to take regular breaks. I would recommend you complete this project in three or more sittings.
WATCH THE VIDEO TUTORIALS
I love questions so please feel free to message me at:
Welcome to The Felt Hub, here to feed your passion for needle felting! This easy felting tutorial will show how to needle felt with wire, and create realistic needle felted horns, using only wool and a pipe cleaner. It’s easy, fun, and a great way of getting more detail and dimension into your needle felting projects.
A GREAT TUTORIAL FOR BEGINNERS, TO CONFIDENT NEEDLE FELTERS
Need help to start needle felting, or improve your existing needle felting skills? My easy techniques, tips, and hacks will have you felting in no time, showing you how to needle felt with wire and create these realistic animal horns. The design on these animal horns would often need to be done with clay, but I’ve found a way that’s much easier and no waiting for clay to dry. It is also lighter than clay, so avoids any stability issues, plus you can pose, and move them to any shape and angle you want. All you need is a little felting wool and a pipe cleaner and you can make your own realistic horns in no time at all.
Scroll down for the tutorials or read on if you are brand new to needle felting.
JUST LEARNING TO NEEDLE FELT?
Click to get started with easy tutorials
I have been teaching needle felting, with absolute passion, since 2014 and I’m here to help! From the novice who has never needle felt before, all the way up through an experienced crafter – I have tutorials for every skill level. You can start by checking out myHOW TO START NEEDLE FELTINGguide or if you’re looking for some simple basic shapes to get you started check out THE BASIC SHAPESsection on this blog I get really excited about teaching people how easy and fun it is to create beautiful items with wool and a felting needle and, my hope is that you will feel empowered after learning these new skills to try lots more craft projects.
Just saying… Once you get started you may lose hours, even days. However, it is one of the best rabbit holes you can fall down!
Creating realistic horns for your needle felted sheep is really quick and easy, and doesn’t require the use of clay or wax. Plus, I always prefer to work with wool whenever I can and found that using wool, rather than clay, allowed me to be more creative with the details.
HEBRIDEAN SHEEP
I have put together a written tutorial, and a video tutorial, for this technique which I have used to make the impressive horns for my needle felted Hebridean Sheep. These sheep are stunning, and many have two sets of horns. They have luscious black coats which turn to shades of black and golden brown in the warmer months. However, you can adapt this needle felting technique for whatever needle felted animal you are making.
You need to take extra precautions to watch your fingers because, as you hold and turn your project, there is a greater chance of poking through the wool right into your finger; use finger guards if this helps. Always use your felting mat to work on.
FELTING NEEDLES WILL BREAK IF NOT USED CORRECTLY
Remember to always poke your needle in a straight line, no matter the angle, so as not to break your needle.
Both horns will be made as one piece on one pipe cleaner; this technique means that you won’t need to make two separate horns that would need to poked, then be glued into the head. It’s also much simpler and quicker.
1 Mark a 2cm gap in the centre of your pipe cleaner and do not attach any wool to this area. It will make attaching the ears to the head much easier.
2 Wrap a little around the centre of the pipe cleaner and felt with your needle two or three times, until it holds.
3-4 Keeping your fingers close to the pipe cleaner (so the wool doesn’t pull away), start to wrap the wool tightly around the pipe cleaner. TOP TIP: Keep the wool flat between your thumb and finger so the wool doesn’t twist and become lumpy and uneven
5-6 Continue wrapping until you get close to the end of the pipe cleaner. IMPORTANT! Keep the overhang at the end of the pipe cleaner to a minimum as this will be the tip of the horn, and will be the narrowest part.
7 Wrap the wool back down to where you started, felting as you go, and thicken at the base.
8 Continue to shape, aiming for approximately 1cm diameter at the base to just a couple of mms at the tip. Make sure it is felted firmly and smooth by using your needle at a diagonal angle.
9-11 Firm the end by rolling in the palm of your hand with the tip of your finger. Repeat for the other horn.
12 Time to add some surface detail.
13 Take a very thin strip of your light carded wool and attach to the base of the horn. TOP TIP: Make sure it is thin enough for the darker brown to show through.
14-16 Turn and wrap along the horn leaving small gaps as you go. Felt very gently too secure.
18 Your horns are now complete and ready to attach to your project.
The gap you left in the middle of the pipe cleaner allows you to attach to the head without any lumps and bumps. The overall effect looks as if the horns are actually part of the head, instead of just plonked on top.
VIDEO TUTORIAL
If you are more of a visual learner you can felt alongside me in The Felt Hub on YouTube, which is packed with needle felting video tutorials for every skill level!
CONCLUSION
That’s it! You now know how to create a needle felted animal horns with wire. This is a great technique to use if you want to add some extra realism and detail to your animals, and no need for any clay, wax, or tricky techniques. Just beautiful natural wool, a felting needle, and enthusiasm! I can’t wait to see what you create! In the meantime, be sure to check out more of my TUTORIALS for other simple and exciting ways to add details to your needle felted animals. Have you tried adding wire before? Let me know in the comments below?
Join me for this easy needle felted gnome craft project. Felt alongside me and create this beautiful gnome in a hoop, which is so much fun to make and beyond cute. It is such a simple needle felting project, made easy by my step by step needle felting tips and techniques. I will also show you how to make the easiest needle felted hearts, without a cookie cutter! You can adapt it to your own style, using whatever felting wool you have to hand, keeping it simple or embellish the heck out of it. Materials list and video tutorial is below and it only takes around 90 minutes from start to finish, and imagine this as a beautiful homemade Valentine’s gift… 💜
This gorgeous project could just as easily be made on a piece of felt (just as in the tutorial) and popped in a lovely frame. It would look so lovely as a cushion design, or sew the finished project onto a jacket or bag. The options are endless so don’t be afraid to experiment, and swap the colours to suit.
So don’t be nervous. Starting a new craft can be exciting but also a little confusing. Needle felting is no different and the array of wool, tools and accessories can send you into a confusing tailspin.
The truth is, you don’t need a lot to get started with needle felting, and it is also a budget friendly hobby. That is until you become addicted, which you will, and then no amount of felting wool will ever be enough!
That’s why I always recommend a needle felting starter kit to get you going, so you can test the needle felting waters. They are inexpensive and have absolutely everything you need to complete each project from start to finish. It avoids you feeling overwhelmed and helps to build your creative confidence. All you have to do is open the box and add enthusiasm.
MY TOP 5 FELTING KIT RECOMMENDATIONS
Here are my top 5 recommendations for beginners kits. They all come beautifully boxed and are perfect for storing your supplies! No sewing, no tricky patterns and they take just a few hours of your time! They also use our gorgeous British wool, carefully selected for its excellent needle felting properties.
Complete stunner and he knows it! This, along with the Herdwick Sheep, is the most popular beginners kit. It is such fun to make and you can follow the instructions to the letter, or add your own touches. As well as detailed instructions you can felt along on YOUTUBE by following the beginners playlist.
My favourite sheep from the Lake District is an ever popular needle felting kit. Great for building your needle felting confidence, this super kit will soon have you warmed up and ready for your next project. As well as detailed instructions you can felt along on YOUTUBE by following the beginners playlist.
A gorgeous little project that has enough wool to make two of our favourite UK garden birds. A perfect project to create with your bestie or, one for you and one to give away. There is also a great video tutorial HERE showing you how easy it is to create a perfect wing shape without the need for a cookie cutter.
What’s not to love with this design? Even better, you can change the markings to represent your own four legged friend. As well as detailed instructions you can felt along onYOUTUBE by following the beginners playlist.
If you are looking for a home for the wee little fairies and forest dwellers, then this is right up your street. Lot’s of different techniques and a great needle felting kit for beginners. Any self respecting gnome or fairy would be thrilled to have the keys to this house! As well as detailed instructions you can felt along to the video tutorial HERE
WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT NEEDLE FELTING?
Join the THE FELT HUB with Lincolnshire Fenn Crafts
Join me this Friday night in the new FACEBOOK GROUP, 21st January, 7.30pm GMT, for a live felt along: HOW TO NEEDLE FELT-FREE WORKSHOP. We are going to cover some techniques for quick wins when making and attaching your animal legs. No need for glue, wax or a full wire armature (I rarely use one). Smooth wool, symmetry, and nicely covered joins are key and I will be showing you my favourite ways to achieve it on your animals, or any other project.
YOU WILL NEED
Any coarse wool top or carded wool lengths
BBQ Skewer
Pipe cleaner
Felting needle
Scissors – Not your best ones
Plus the obligatory cuppa or glass of something nice… Starts 7.30 GMT until 8.30 ish. Hope to see you there. As always, it will be available as a replay after the event.
Well almost ‘ultimate’, I’m not the oracle, but I have been needle felting since 2013 so I know quite a lot about needle felting wool, and it’s a pretty decent guide, even if I do say so myself.
It’s quite special and I spent many hours putting it together so, to access it you need to be part of the Facebook live workshop and events group, or a member of the VIP Felt Club news letter. It is just another way of being part of the LFC (Lincolnshire Fenn Crafts) creative community where I am on a mission to get as many people as possible involved in this amazing craft. Both groups are completely free to join and, to access the guide just enter your password, or find it in the Facebook group topics section.
Please note that this is for personal use only. Do not share anywhere online, in groups or on social media.
It’s completely free and when you join the needle felting and free workshops group you will benefit from exclusive access to my free live workshops, all in one place, including all previous workshops. I hope this group will inspire and develop your needle felting confidence (whatever level you are at) and encourage others to get involved, in a more private space. You will also be able to comment and share your WIP creations during and after the live workshops and ask for help and support from myself or other members.
Join The Needle Felting Group And Watch Free Live Workshops
Plus so much more! Whilst the group will be primarily for live workshops events and updates, I will also be dropping in with some impromptu live sessions sharing needle felting techniques, quick wins and ideas. You can also drop into the group anytime to access all the tutorials in one place as each will be available to view after the event. It’s pretty busy in there some come meet the flock and put the next live workshop date in your diary.
P.S Click below to join. It’s completely free and a great way to enjoy some creative community in a more private space! Let’s start 2022 as we mean to go on? Creatively! 💗
Apart from being the most joyful craft ever invented, needle felting is utterly versatile and allows you to create the most simple or complex sculptures with handful of loose wool and a barbed* needle. This is simply done by stabbing the wool repeatedly with the felting needle, shaping until it meshes the wool fibers together creating a firm object.
*They actually have notches but most sites describe them as barbed so that is what I will refer to them as… I will discuss needle sizes and their uses on another page.
CREATE PERFECT PETALS AND EASY NEEDLE FELTED FLOWERS IN NO TIME AT ALL!
The Origin of Needle Felting: Felt is strong and its origins go back to the 1950’s when industrial size felting machines were invented to produce on a much larger scale for many items such as: car and instrument dampers, piano keys, insulation, polishers etc. However, needle felting as a craft is hugely popular and the craft world has been taken by storm by this addictive way to express ourselves creatively.
IS NEEDLE FELTING FOR ME?
Do you want to try a wonderfully addictive craft that has no limits, perfect for absolute beginners and beyond? Are you a first time crafter who’s really nervous of trying something new, but yearning to unlock your creativity and be inspired?
Do you enjoy a laid-back approach to crafts and are you looking for an affordable, no fuss, no sew craft or, craving creative ‘me’ time away from the noise and stresses of daily life?
If your answer was yes to any of the above then needle felting is for you. All you really need is enthusiasm!
DON’T FORGET TO JOIN THE FELT HUB ON FACEBOOK
Become part of the creative community and enjoy free live needle felting workshops!
NEEDLE FELTING ISN’T HARD, BUT STARTING A NEW CRAFT CAN SOMETIMES FEEL A LITTLE DAUNTING
When someone tells me they can’t needle felt, or tried and failed, I can say with absolute confidence that it has nothing to do with ability. In fact, the two most common reasons why people fail at needle felting is lack of confidence and trying to run before they can walk. I really hope after reading this you will be able to start your needle felting journey with a newfound confidence, and enthusiasm.
ENTHUSIASM – It’s all you need to get started; if you have that then you are 75% of the way there. The other 25% is learning the basics first. Once you have done that (and it doesn’t take long at all) you can then start to build towards (in a realistic way) those wonderful projects you have seen on Pinterest. Nobody shows up anywhere with a set of skills already in place, be it learning a new language, instrument, crafts etc. Almost everything we do has to be learned, and practiced to become proficient. Think back to when you learned to tie your shoe laces. It seemed so hard at the time, but soon you didn’t need to think about it. Needle felting is no different, in-fact it’s easier because there are no tricky patterns, or awkward knots to fathom.
DON’T SET UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS OF YOURSELF – Do you know of anyone who has achieved anything without some degree of effort. More to the point, what would be the point in starting out at the top of our game. As humans are programmed to set goals, strive to improve ourselves. Imagine what a boring world it would be if we all suddenly woke up to find we could get to the top of Mount Everest, be proficient at guitar playing, build a house, type a hundred words a minute…
START WITH THE BASICS– The best way to start is with simple shapes that will become part of a whole. In just an hour – yes, you heard that right – you will be able to learn how to create simple shapes, use your felting needle, and attach parts together to complete a project. This hare is one of my most popular beginners projects. Click the button below to learn how to needle felt simple shapes; the start of your felting journey.
TOP TOP TIP – ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE A BEGINNER! It’s often hard to find your confidence when you start needle felting, even harder if you haven’t done any crafting before, so tackling those fears is the first hurdle. The second hurdle is finding a good tutorial and materials guide that will give you the best chance of success. I can help with both of those things but you have the most important job, and that’s allowing yourself to be a beginner. And, as sure as eggs is eggs, if you don’t allow yourself a period of ‘learning’ grace you are setting yourself to fail. In fact, you have to get it wrong in order to succeed and believe me, when it comes to needle felting success comes very quickly.
FEAR OF FAILURE – TIME TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE
We are, so often, our own worst critics, and we use it as self preservation technique so we don’t have to start something i.e. a new craft. We literally talk ourselves out of it before we have even tried. It is like a fail safe but it can be very self destructive. So, time to change the narrative and, when you think to yourself, ‘I’ve failed’ simply change the statement to ‘I have learned’, and see how that self doubt just falls away. Each time you do this your confidence will grow, as will your skill set. Changing the mindset, that makes you way too hard on yourself, is the most important thing you will learn when it comes to starting a new craft, and that confidence will also find its way into many other aspects of our life.
This Calla Lily looks so realistic you would think it had taken months of practice. Not so! It is made using very simple techniques that any beginner can manage. If you fancy trying it then click below to watch the free tutorials and grab the materials list.
We often spend so much time worrying what others will say and, the truth is, they will probably be super impressed that you are learning a new skill. If not then the problem is probably their own self confidence and lack of courage to try something new themselves. Ask yourself who you are doing it for? The answer should always be you! If you really struggle then don’t show your felt creations to anyone until you feel ready, and then not at all if that is how you feel.
CRAFTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE FUN…
Always remember, you are doing this for you and no one else. Crafts are all about you, and the enjoyment of just making, so try and loose yourself in those creative moments.
NEVER COMPARE YOURSELF TO OTHERS!
Be realistic and always remember that they started off exactly the same way as you…as a complete beginner! If you are on chapter 1 and they are chapter 5 then it’s hardly a fair comparison, and it’s a sure fire way to ruin your day, and knock your confidence at the same time. Find your needle felting feet, learn the basics well, then start to look for inspiration. Also, it is completely normal to think ‘I will never be able to make that’. Honestly, time and practice will change your mind.
DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF CRAFTS
Anxiety, loneliness, isolation and depression have never been more prevalent than they are in today’s society, and with good reason; a global pandemic, climate change, rising prices, job insecurity, fear for our kids, caring for others, the list goes on and on… But, amidst all of that, the world is still full of great people and creativity. If we just prescribed ourselves some craft therapy on a regular basis then everything will feel calmer, more grounded, safer. And, if that is just for the time you are involved in something that distracts you from the daily stresses and strains it will allow you to go about your day in a much better state of mind.
IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT YOU DO AS LONG AS YOU DO IT
If not needle felting then a jigsaw, sewing, growing house plants, gardening, reading, knitting, colour by numbers, in fact anything that requires your undivided attention. Even though it can be hard it is so important to create a little time to focus on yourself, even if only for half an hour. And fortunately needle felting is incredibly portable so, if you can’t find a quiet space or the household won’t leave you alone, I have often found the loo to be a good alternative. As I said, needle felting is very portable 😉
ARE YOU READY TO START NEEDLE FELTING NOW?
Let’s get going. The video tutorial below is an introduction to creating a really simple shape that will become the most important technique you will learn when first starting needle felting. It can be made in just 5-10 minutes and will act as the structure, or scaffolding for the rest of your project. My tutorials are very workshop style and are the nearest thing to one of my in person classes. Simplicity and speed are the cornerstone of all my tutorials and I am always looking for new techniques to help improve your needle felting journey as well as give you the confidence to fall in love with this craft as much as I have. I have added links for the playlist that will teach you how to complete hares, sheep, mice, foxes, badgers, gnomes and too many to mention, with ease. You just need to be enthusiastic and willing to learn.
Click HERE for my quick do’s and don’ts guide to needle felting.
NEEDLE FELTING VIDEO TUTORIALS – BEGINNERS PLAYLIST
MAKE ALL THE NEEDLE FELTED THINGS!
Needle felted hares and sheep are always popular for beginners, needle felted gnomes and pumpkins can be made in just 30 minutes, and why not rustle up a macaron or two in just 15 minutes! Needle felting ideas and tutorials are endless so checkout the menus at the top of the page and make all the needle felted things!
Using a BBQ skewer, or chop stick, as a needle felting tool makes many needle felting projects a whole lot easier, and faster to complete. It is also a great aid for creating symmetry, especially when it comes to legs and feet. It is the tool that no self respecting needle felter should be without, whether it’s your first needle felting project or your twentieth. Even better, you will probably find one, or both, at the bottom of your kitchen drawer, along with the sandwich toaster and vegetable juicer…
IT’S SUCH AN EASY PROJECT!
This gnome on a stick is easy to make and the solid hat means you can really go to town on the embellishments without spoiling the shape. Simple embroidery adds another creative and effective element. Time to make: 60-90 minutes. Beginners and perfectionists add on another 30 minutes.
Needles are sharp so keep your fingers out of the way. If in doubt, use finger protectors. Not suitable for young children and older children should be supervised at all times.
When working around your stick avoid hitting the wood with your needle as it could break. Working at a diagonal angle will help avoid this.
Keep the wool firm as you wrap, using thin lengths of wool, and take your time to build it into a cone shape. If your wool is too bulky you will struggle to get a nice smooth shape.
If you start to loose the shape, simply unwind a little wool and do it again.
Enjoy yourself and, if it’s your first project, go easy on yourself; you are only on chapter 1 so don’t compare yourself to others who are on chapter 5.
There is no end to the style of gnomes you can create and how gorgeous are these visions in pink and raspberry! I love the impact created by these simple embroidered snowflakes against the bold raspberry colour.
EMBROIDERED SNOWFLAKES
Embroidered snowflakes are super simple! Just thread a large needle with yarn and criss cross four straight lines until you have a seven pointed star. They can also be needle felted on.
TOP TIP: Keep the yarn loose so as not to sistort the shape of the snowflake.
HAT AND BODY
1 Wrap your wool around the stick and felt into place
2-4 Continue to wrap and felt until you have covered half of your stick, longer if you want a bigger hat.
5-6 Continue to wrap and felt to secure
7 Continue to build the shape but don’t take the wool to the tip bas you want to create a cone shape.
8-9 Create your shape along the stick by using your needle at a diagonal angle.
10 Widen the base as you felt; mine is approx. 6cm diameter
11-12 Create the body the same way but aim for a barrel shape approx. 6cm in height, slightly narrower at the top and wider at the base for stability.
13-14 Remove from the stick and continue to shape and firm
15 Create a cavity at the base of the hat for the body to sit in.
16 Narrow the top, if necessary, by felting at a diagonal angle from the top towards the base.
17-18 Pop some fresh wool on the top of the body and felt into the hat.
19-20 Now felt through the hat and into the top of the body, until it is held firmly.
NOSE
21 Wrap the end of a small piece of wool firmly around your wooden skewer, aiming for a short oval shape.
22 Continue to wrap the wool around the stick (no need to use your needle yet) and use your thumb and finger to stop it from moving down the stick and becoming too long. Felt a little to secure but leave the ends slightly loose. TOP TIP: Don’t forget to keep it tight as this will create a great shape. Make it any size you want.
23 Check you are happy with the size and shape.
24 Remove from the stick and felt each side (where you left the wool loose) just under the brim of the hat.
25 It needs to be a good size as it will soon disappear under the beard, so if it’s too small it will look lost.
BEARD
26-28 Felt the beard wool or locks just under the brim of the hat. This will keep it looking neat.
29 Add in more colour if you want to.
30-31 You can create a beard at the front or, as I have done, create a full skirt all the way around the hat.
Et voila! Leave it simple or add embellishments. I have wrapped wool yarn around this one and created a loose pom pom at the top. Now go forth and make more gnomes; it would be rude not to and they always look better in twos, threes, fours…😉
