Five Ways to Make Wings 

Before you start, grab a wing template picture online bee, fairy, dragonfly, anything that fits your creature. Print it or keep it on your screen so you can trace the shape and size easily. It takes out the guesswork and keeps your wings consistent.

1. Needle Felted Wings

Soft, natural, slightly fuzzy.

How:

• Felt a thin layer of wool into your chosen wing shape.
• Add tiny wisps for veins, shading, or texture.
• Leave a fluffy base to felt onto the body.
• Optional: felt around thin wire for structure.

Best for: bees, moths, soft woodland fairies.

2. Wet Felted Wings

Smooth, thin, semi transparent.

How:

• Lay very thin wool layers in the wing shape using your template allow for shrinkage.
• Wet felt with warm soapy water and rubbing gently
• Roll until firm, then rinse and dry flat. Trim to tidy loose ends or reshape.
• You can also wet felt a needle felted wing to make it thinner and less fluffy.
• Needle felt on to the base onto your creature.

Best for: delicate fairies, butterflies, gradient wings.

3. Plastic / Film Wings

Crisp, translucent, durable.

How:

• Cut wing shapes from acetate/laminating film or household waste plastic.
• Add veins or colour with markers or paint.
• Optional: glue wire around edges.
• Attach with glue on to the back.

Best for: fairies, dragonflies, realistic insect wings.

4. Angelina Fibre Wings

Sparkly, iridescent, magical.

How:

• Place a thin layer of Angelina between baking parchment.
• Press with a warm iron for a few seconds until fused.
• Cut wing shapes using the template outlines.
• Optional: fuse wire inside and around the edges of the wing by pressing again.
• Attach by glue

Best for: fairies, shimmering bees, fantasy creatures.

5. Fabric Gossamer Wings (Wire + Sheer Fabric)

Light, airy, fairy storybook style.

How:

• Bend thin wire into your wing outline using your template.
• Lay sheer fabric (organza, chiffon, tulle) over the frame.
• Glue or lightly melt seal the fabric to the wire.
• Trim excess fabric close to the edge.
• Add veins with paint, glitter glue, or stitched thread.
• Attach by wrapping the wire base with wool and felting it into the body or glue.

Best for: classic fairies, dragonflies, ethereal creatures.

Next steps Fabric Fairy Wings with Celidonia Studio   Angelina wings with Deb Prewitt.

A simple guide to spinning yarn you can use in your felting projects

Spinning your own yarn might sound like an extra step, but it’s one of the easiest ways to create the texture, thickness, and colour you want for your felting projects. A simple top whorl drop spindle lets you make small batches of beautiful, custom yarn that blend perfectly into your work, no wheel, no fuss, just wool and lots of fun.

Please see out March 2026 newsletter here.

What “Fulling” Means in Wet Felting

Fulling is the final strengthening and tightening stage of wet felting. It happens after the fibres have already begun to felt together during the initial layout, wetting, and gentle agitation.

It’s the point where your soft, loose felt transforms into dense, durable, cohesive fabric.

What Actually Happens During Fulling

Felting Needle Gauge Guide

 How Gauge Works

• Gauge = thickness of the needle
• Higher number → thinner needle
• Lower number → thicker needle

32 Gauge

• Thick, strong needle
• For coarse fibres and fast early shaping

36 Gauge

• Medium thick
• Good for starting, shaping, and firming wool

38 Gauge

• Medium / fine
• Versatile for general shaping and refining

40 Gauge

• Fine
• For finishing, smoothing, and adding lighter detail

42 Gauge

• Very fine
• For delicate finishing and tiny details

46 Gauge

• Ultra fine
• For extremely delicate work and precision finishing