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So, you have decided that needle felting is the craft you can’t wait to try, and why not? Needle felting is an incredible craft that has taken the crafting world by storm over the last decade. When I began in 2013, there were only a few businesses selling needle felting supplies and kits. It was a bit of a challenge to find good materials, but those early days taught me a lot. I will share with you here how to needle felt and my favourite needle felting suppliers.
Welcome To My ‘Secret’ Suppliers List
Basically, I’ve done all the legwork so you don’t have to as this post is my ‘secret’ list of the best suppliers in the needle felting industry, which I have accrued over more than a decade. A list I really wish I had access to when I started my own business. There are many others but these are the ones that I can confidently recommend from personal experience buying as a business, and as a maker/creator. Feel free to use the links below to skip to each section. Also, my quick look supplier chart is super handy, and the links for suppliers, and all the cool small business shops I have used over the years, can be found throughout this post.
Never Underestimate The Power Of An Accessory Or Five
My list of accessory shops is a little gold mine of all the things you never realised you needed, or wanted as a needle felter/crafter. They are a treasure trove of haberdashery items, miniature accessories for your felties, beads, driftwood pieces, antique bobbins, lace, wood slices, ribbon, bell jars, plus a whole collection of other inexpensive little craft items and embellishments that will end up in your shopping basket to put by for those ‘future’ projects. Admittedly, said future project may never happen, but as any crafter worth their salt knows, it is better to have it and not need it, rather than (heaven forbid), need it and wish you had it for that final finishing touch, or to make your creation stand out from the rest. Top tip: Buy Christmas accessories, such as crowns and wool drier balls, in the summer as prices can be significantly cheaper and easier to get hold of.
These days, there are many online suppliers offering a wide range of needle felting wool, needles, tools, and accessories. While it’s great to have so many options, it can also be a bit overwhelming. With so much choice, it’s easy to feel frustrated or unsure about where to start. However, don’t worry—I’m here to help guide you through the process. Even though I no longer sell my kits and wool, I’m often asked where to find the best supplies. So, I’ve compiled a list of my favourite suppliers, ones I’ve relied on since 2013 and the new ones I have found along the way.
Carded wool lengths/slivers
Why I Recommend These Businesses
The suppliers I recommend offer quality materials, helpful customer service, and a wide variety of products for both beginners and experienced felters. The right tools will make the felting process smoother and more enjoyable but, if you already have a felting stash, please try what you already have before making another purchase.
Enthusiasm Is More Than Half The Battle?
Starting a new craft can be a bit intimidating, but remember that enthusiasm is your best tool. With the right supplies and a bit of practice, you’ll soon be creating wonderful projects. Grab a cuppa, have fun, embrace the early mistakes (it means your learning) and enjoy the process. Happy felting!
Wool tops and carded wool- Long lengths
UK And Overseas Suppliers
Although my list mainly includes UK suppliers, most of them offer international shipping as a standard service. I have also listed several international online shops that I am familiar with and have confidence recommending. My own business has hundreds of loyal customers from overseas who have supported my business for years, falling in love with needle felting just like I have. Indeed, I have made many overseas ‘pen’ friends through our mutual love of this craft. Their support and commitment to needle felting have been incredibly rewarding, and it’s been wonderful to see how far the craft has spread across the globe.
Please notethat I am not affiliated with any of these businesses and receive no reward or compensation for recommending them. My suggestions are based solely on my personal experience and preference, with the goal of helping fellow needle felters, and makers find the best supplies available.
Why I Don’t Use Large Chain Stores For My Wool Stash?
You might notice that large national (and international) chains are missing from my list of places to purchase wool supplies. This is because the quality of felting wool from these big stores is often not up to standard, and they usually lack ethical traceability for their wool products. Instead, all of my recommended suppliers are independent or small businesses that prioritise the quality and source of their wool. Many of them even produce wool from their own animals, ensuring a high standard of care and sustainability.
Is a family run business in the UK, that also sell internationally, and have been my go to supplier for felting wool, felting needles, and yarn since 2013. They have been trading as World Of Wool since 2008 but heir wool experience goes back even further and they have the largest range of needle felting supplies in the UK. They sell retail and wholesale. They can even create a custom blend for you, a service I have used myself with great results and quality.
Carded wool lengths/sliversGlass eyesWool tops and carded wool- Long lengthsWhiskers
Delivery Time : Usually 5 working days for the UK . International, up to 14 working days from dispatch.
Click And Collect: You can place your order online and pick it up yourself if in a hurry. You can also visit their shop and choose, and feel, the wool for yourself.
What World Of Wool say:
We make it all right here! World of wool is proud to produce nearly every fibre right here at our very own production mill in yorkshire! We blend, comb, card, clean, spin, ply, twist & lovingly finish our collection of woolly goodies for you to pick.
I have used this UK family run company many times over the years and have always found their products and customer service to be of excellent quality. They are one of the oldest wool suppliers in the UK and have a great range of wool, yarns, felting needles and accessories. They sell internationally to retail and wholesale.
What Wingham Wool Works say:
We’re a second generation family business based in South Yorkshire, England. If you ever have any queries about your order that aren’t covered by the information below, or if you’d just like to confirm anything, then give us a call, drop us an email or open a WebChat. We often find that it’s easier to sort out any problems “face-to-face”, plus we’re always happy to have a natter about anything woolly!
Delivery Time: Usually 2 working days. Also sells internationally.
Another lovely family run business here in the UK selling a range of felting, weaving, spinning, and dyes. They are open for visitors and have a quick turnaround for orders; great if you have just broken your last needle. They sell internationally to retail and wholesale.
Delivery Time: Same day dispatch if order placed before 11am.
What Adelaide Walker says:
Adelaide Walker has been supplying fibres to the textile craft industry for over 40 years, and we pride ourselves on continuing to deliver friendly and helpful customer service and high quality fibres. The good news is that the business is run by fibre nuts, we love the stuff and the smell and feel of the fibres is just wonderful. We make felt , spin and weave so you can be confident that we understand your needs.
Another knowlegable and reliable UK felting wool supplier. They have a huge range of felting supplies, needle felting kits, wet felting kits, sell internationally, and offer great customer service.
Delivery time: Usually 3 working days
What Heidi Feathers say:
Heidifeathers is a company which holds the joy of creativity close to heart. We value colour, quality, service, having it all and not having to choose. We are small enough to care, while still able to stock an impressive range of felting supplies, helping make felting fun and easy.
A lovely independant business with a fabulous array of needle felting wool, supplies, and needle felting kits.
Delivery time: Usually within 2 working days
What The Felt Box say:
We pride ourselves on offering a diverse range of needle felting products, all sourced ethically and sustainably. We’re passionate about providing you with the best materials for your creative projects, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Thank you for being a part of our journey!
Wool felting matsLeather finger guardFoam mats with wool topper
Felting Needle Size Guide
Felting needles are specialized tools designed with barbed tips, which help interlock and compress the wool fibers, creating a firm and cohesive structure. They come in various sizes, usually categorized by gauge or thickness. The most common gauges are 36, 38, and 40, with lower numbers indicating thicker needles, and higher numbers indicating finer needles. Find out more about my favourite felting needles HERE
Suppliers Of Felting Needles, And Felting Mats
My advice is to buy the best felting needles you can afford but also use the ones you have first; I hate waste and even the cheaper felting needles can usually get your work started. Groz Beckert are accepted as the industry standard when it comes to great quality and I have always used this brand myself. You will find that most of these suppliers also sell finger protectors. Bulk buy finger protectors are available on Ebay and Amazon.
Make time: 20 minutes. My one size fits all favourite is a hessian mat filled with dried rice. It is so easy to make and is the best all rounder as it is suitable for every felting needle and multi tool. Why I love it, and how to make one yourself can be found in the short video below.
However, there is an array of felting mat options out there (see suppliers list) so I have put together a video tutorial (below) showing you other felting mats, and best practice for using them. If you are using different felting techniques then you, like me, will probably use a combination of one or two mats.
Finding clean white curly wool that are both bright white with little to no yellow sometimes feels like the Holy Grail, and I have tried more than I can remember. My absolute favourite is produced by Chilton Wensleydales which is consistently the cleanest, whitest, and most curly wool I have ever used, and my customers absolutely love them! So good that if they were ever out of stock (not often) then I would do without and take it off sale until it was back in stock. There are other great suppliers of curly wool but this is the only small business I have used for white curly wool over the last few years.
Once part of Chilton Park medieval manor, our 150 acre farm has been grazing livestock for centuries, and has been in the Parker family since 1926. Now in its fourth generation, the farm is now run by Duncan and Diana with their son. The farm has well preserved ridge and furrow and traditional hay meadows which are sympathetically farmed alongside abundant wildlife species. We do not use artificial fertilisers or spray fields with chemicals, nor do we treat our wool with any insecticidal products. We currently have a herd of suckler cows running alongside our flock of Pedigree Zwartbles and Pedigree Wensleydales.
Again, there is an array of sellers out there but this is a company I have used for a few years because of their consistency, quality, and great customer service. Their grey ranges from silver grey to black.
Another lovely small business with an extensive selection of dyed, natural, and long dolls hair locks.
What Newmoor Barn say:
All of our wool for Doll hair and fibre art is sourced from local farms and we do not supply fleece from animals we have not seen so we can ensure all our fleeces come from animals which are raised to the highest ethical standards.
One of my favourite speciality fibres. I use this for pictures, pumpkins, fairies, and all sorts of projects. Sue’s silk waste is always top quality and she also sells lovely silk fibres, and dyed silk ribbon.
Marie has an amazing selection of carded art batts, art yarn, and fibres. Orders can take a while to arrive so plan ahead, or use express delivery.
What Marie says:
Welcome to my world of colour. I’m an artist, illustrator, writer, crafter, poet and handspinner. You will find items in my shop which are all created by myself. The environment/animal welfare are of paramount importance to me so I source everything ethically.
Welcome to our Etsy store, where you will find lots of tantalising goodies, including, handmade glass beads, recycled vintage saree silk fabric, hand dyed roving and fibres, fancy yarns and threads, vintage buttons, handmade fibre paper, creative embellishment packs, and lots of other imaginative treats.
I grow, harvest and collect dye plants from the land where possible. All my fleeces are sourced from Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. I purchase my fleeces from small flocks and I like to focus on rare breeds. My name is Sarah Matthess and my work focuses entirely upon natural fibres and natural colours. Nothing in my shop will be dyed with chemical dyes and all my fibre is all natural and bio degradable.
Flat Felt And Pre-Felt
Best for protective toppers, hoop work, and needle felted pictures.
Time To Start Needle Felting And Stop Procrastinating
No more procrastinating. Not only do you have all of my inspiring free tutorials, guides, and top tips at your finger tips, you also have my secret suppliers list. Start slowly, build your confidence, learn from your early mistakes and ask me anything in the comments. The worst thing you can do is not start, and I can help you, step by creative step.
