Easy Needle Felted Flowers – DIY Tutorial!

How amazing do these needle felted flowers look? Elegant felted Calla lilies or striking sunburst flowers; What a bloomin treat of a needle felting tutorial have I got for you! Two totally different flowers, two different techniques, but both results are easy to achieve and, quite simply, bloomin marvellous! Ok, no more flower puns…probably?

You have the divine, realistic, beautiful in it’s simplicity, Calla lily. Then, in complete contrast, the flamboyant, look at me style of this lush needle felted flower brooch which is part sunflower, part succulent, and part sea anemone. Best of all, you get to choose your own personal style with the easy techniques I am going to teach you.

HAVE YOU JUST STARTED NEEDLE FELTING?

It doesn’t matter if you are a needle felting beginner, or a seasoned needle felter, this is the perfect project for those crafty moments when you need to add some colour and style to your creative day. It is also a great way to learn new needle felting techniques and apply them to an endless number of felted projects.

EASY NEEDLE FELTING VIDEO TUTORIALS

You will find the video tutorials for both felting projects at the bottom of this page but you should definitely read my hints and tips before you start; especially if you are new to needle felting!

The key to the success of this felting project is getting perfectly shaped petals which can be easily done without the need for a cookie cutter, or template. Making them free hand allows you to create any shape or style you want and my super easy techniques will show you how to do just that, including the elegant Calla Lily stems.

IS NEEDLE FELTING HARD?

Nervous about starting? Then you are in exactly the right place! Needle felting isn’t hard, but getting the basics right (from the get go), is essential to helping you progress quickly and will make your needle felting journey a joy. If you have the enthusiasm then I promise you I will give you the confidence and techniques you need to make your needle felting projects successful. Always remember that any craft is a learning curve and any ‘mistakes’ you make are essential to the learning process. That said, the joy of working with wool, and needle felting in particular, allows much room for error. Even if the end result isn’t what you intended, rest assured you will end up with a beautiful ‘something’ at the end of it. One of my happiest ‘mistakes’ was a mouse that ended up as a cat. I was thrilled because cats are my needle felting nemesis. It was hugely popular and I have had many requests for a tutorial, which will probably never happen as I haven’t a clue how it ended up that way; aah, the joys of needle felting…

GRAB YOUR FREE DOWNLOAD FOR BEGINNERS

Join the VIP Felt Club! It’s free and you will receive a free needle felting pattern, lifetime discount code, exclusive early access to new product launches and promotions, as well as notification of new tutorials and live needle felting workshops.

Or get creative with me over at THE FELT HUB

I have created a Facebook group that 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. It’s a lovely community where you can grab some crafty respite.

MAKE GORGEOUS NEEDLE FELTED FLOWERS!

Display the striking Calla lilies in a vase, create your own DIY wedding bouquet or button holes, have them as a beautiful centrepiece or just as a calming moment in any room.

The ‘Sun Burst’ flower brooch is a total contrast to the lily, in its flamboyant and colourful presence. Us a bright and bold wool that demands the viewers attention and add a simple or exotic centre. Beautiful worn as a brooch, a scarf pin, displayed as a single flower with an added stem, added too an Alice band, or part of a bigger display. I love a colourful headband and am itching to make something Frida Kahlo style so watch this space?

However you wear or display yours, just enjoy the fabulously meditative and creative process and needle felt away the detritus of the day.

WHAT WILL YOU NEED?

The WOOL PACKS AND KITS for these flowers can be purchased on the Lincolnshire Fenn Crafts website.

If you already have your own stash of wool, needles and mats then here is a materials list for you.

These are the wools I have used for the two needle felted flowers, but feel free to raid your wool stash and create your own style.

WHAT’S THE BEST FELTING WOOL FOR THIS PROJECT?

For the Cala Lily I have used natural white Perendale carded batting sheet, carded green lengths for the stem, and a creamy yellow wool top/roving for the stamen. Perendale batt is my favourite as its natural colour is much whiter than most other batting, making it perfect for projects where you want the whitest top coat or finish; I also use it for Daphne Chicken. It felts easily with a really smooth finish, and is super clean with little to no grassy bits to pull out.

For the sunburst flower petals I have used a vibrant blended carded wool, with added carded zingy yellow. For the centre of the flower I have created two completely different looks; the first using yellow and white wool tops, the second using wool yarn in bright complimentary colours.

KEY POINTS

Calla Lily

  • Use equal amounts of wool for each petal.
  • Make sure it’s firm.
  • No thicker than 1-2mm.
  • Leave the end of each petal loose for easy attachment. 4 Use your first petal as a size and shape guide.

Sunburst flower brooch

  • Use equal amounts of wool for each petal.
  • Make sure it’s firm.
  • No thicker than 1-2mm.
  • Leave the end of each petal loose for easy attachment.
  • Use your first petal as a size and shape guide.

VIDEO TUTORIALS

Now that I have built up the creative excitement it’s time to get stuck into this gorgeous needle felting project. Grab your wool, needles, or felting kit and fill your crafty boots with the video tutorials below.

Happy felting!

NEEDLE FELTED CALLA LILY

NEEDLE FELTED SUN BURST FLOWER BROOCH

5 TOP NEEDLE FELTING KITS AND HOW TO START NEEDLE FELTING?

NEEDLE FELTING IS SO EXCITING!

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.

GREY HARE NEEDLE FELTING KIT

Make time: 3-4 hours

If you love ETSY you can find me HERE

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.

HERDWICK SHEEP NEEDLE FELTING KIT

Make time: 2-3 hours

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.

RUSTIC ROBINSHOP NEEDLE FELTING KIT

Make time: 2-3hours

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.

JACK RUSSELLSHOP NEEDLE FELTING KIT

Make Time: 3-4 hours

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 on YOUTUBE by following the beginners playlist.

SHROOM’ WITH A VIEWSHOP NEEDLE FELTING KIT

Make time: 3-4 hours

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

How To Needle Felt A Quirky Christmas Gnome?

Well what a blast this live workshop was, recorded in all it’s festive glory for you to enjoy. From his pointy ears to his massive snozzle, every part of this project is an absolute seasonal delight.

Believe it or not this gorgeous pointy eared gnome is a perfect project for everyone, even complete beginners. Learn how to needle felt a quirky gnome, using all my needle felting tips and quick wins. You will be able to create a project that looks like it was made by an expert needle felter, and in less than 90 minutes! How amazing is that?

Scroll down for video tutorial, or take your time and enjoy my creative suggestions.

I have added some sparkly fairy lights to my dome.

WHY NOT ADAPT THIS NEEDLE FELTING PROJECT TO SUIT YOUR FESTIVE THEME?

It is small enough to pop in a dome, hang from your tree, or create a festive gnome garland. I have just received a photo on my Facebook page where they have even been made as little place settings for the dinner table; how Christmas cool is that? However you display yours, you will have so much fun creating them so, time to grab your wool and needles and get making.

With his festive hat askew, funny ears and big nose, it is obvious he is just waiting for mischief around every corner , even the Grinch couldn’t resist him!

JUST STARTED NEEDLE FELTING?

Order your wool bundle or needle felting kit HERE

MAKE TIME: 70 minutes

  • Coarse wool top for the body
  • Colour carded wool for the hat
  • Grey and white wool top for the beard
  • Light carded wool for ears and nose
  • BBQ skewer to make the nose around
  • 1 x size 38 felting needle
  • Felting base

VIDEO TUTORIAL

I have split it into sections so you can skip the intro and cut straight to the felting, but please take time to appreciate my fabulously festive background 😉 🎄

Happy Festive Felting!

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PART?

I can’t decide whether it is the jauntily angled crooked hat, his pointy ears, or his giant nose. Let me know in the comments and share your photos with me.

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