Category: Tutorials

1. How to Needle Felt Cheeks and Chins for Realistic Face Sculpting

   Posted on 9:00am Thursday 7th Aug 2025

   

   Image Beth Darr

   Needle Felting Cheeks & Chin: Step-by-Step Tutorial

   1. Prepare the Base

   Cover the head with skin tone wool

   Begin by wrapping your core wool head with a thin layer of skin-tone wool. This creates a smooth surface for sculpting and helps unify the final look.

   2. Sculpt the Chin

   Build the chin with small wool tufts

   Use small amounts of wool to gradually build the chin area. Felt in layers to control shape and firmness. Focus on symmetry and gently taper the wool into the neck and jawline.

   3. Mark Facial Landmarks

   Define eye sockets and cheek zones

   Lightly mark where the eyes and cheeks will sit using shallow needle pokes. This helps guide placement and ensures balanced proportions.

   4. Build Cheek Volume

   Add wool to cheek areas and felt gently

   Use rounded tufts to build up cheekbones. Felt softly at first to maintain puffiness, then firm up the edges to define the shape. Work evenly on both sides to maintain symmetry.

   Refine cheekbones and transitions

   Blend the cheeks into surrounding areas using angled needle strokes. This softens the transitions and creates a natural contour.

   5. Detail and Soften

   Smooth creases and transitions

   Use finer needles to soften harsh lines and blend wool layers. This step is key for realism and a polished finish.

   Add final facial details

   Refine the mouth, nose, and eyes to complement your cheeks and chin. Use small tufts and precise pokes to add subtle expressions and character.

   Julies Felted Friends   5 Face tips

   Leighfootfelts Detailed face sculpting

   Fig and Me   Doll's face sculpting

2. Needle Felting Eyes Tutorial

   Posted on 12:00am Thursday 31st Jul 2025

   

    

   Image Dani Ives - Fibre Artist

   Creating detailed eyes with wool 

   • Begin by choosing the eye style you want, reference images help
   • Form a smooth base with tightly felted white wool for the eyeball.
   • Layer coloured wool to build the iris and add a black dot for the pupil. Blend shades to create depth and emotion.
   • Felt a tiny white dot to simulate a light reflection—it’s a subtle but powerful detail.
   • Attach the eyes directly to your felted sculpture, sculpting eye sockets with wool to hold them naturally.
   • Add eyelids and eyebrows using complementary or skin-tone wool. Shape and secure them to express character and realism.
   • Refine edges.
   • Glass eyes can also be used, make sure you still make a socket, eyelids, and brows for the best effect.

   Short video from Julies felted friends

   Detailed video from Fit to be Loved

   Eyes and Lashes from The Craft Hacker

   Adding glass eyes Wondrous Whimsy Studio

3. Needle Felting Ears

   Posted on 11:00am Thursday 17th Jul 2025

   

   Image Lincolnshire Fern Crafts

   Part of our Felting a face series, we are looking at making ears

   Basic Steps to Create Ears

   1. Shape the Wool
      Pull off a small amount of wool and shape it into a leaf or triangle, depending on the ear style (e.g. bunny, fox, sheep).
   2. Outline and Felt
      Use your needle to outline the shape on your foam pad. Felt gently around the edges to define the ear.
   3. Firm Up the Shape
      Fold the sides inward and felt repeatedly to create a clean, firm structure. Pinch the base slightly to give it dimension.
   4. Add Details
      Use coloured wool to add inner ear shading or texture. Felt lightly to blend it in without poking through.
   5. Attach the Ears
      Leave the base of the ear loose so you can felt it directly onto the head. Position carefully and felt around the base to secure.

    

   Here are some great video tutorials 

   Fit to be Loved tutorial on cat ears

   Lincolnshire Fern Crafts tutorial rabbit ears

   Leightfootfelts tutorial human ears

4. Needle Felting Eyes Tutorial

   Posted on 10:00am Thursday 10th Jul 2025

   

   Image from Helen Winter Textile Art

   Needle felting eyes is one of those magical steps that can bring your creation to life—whether you're aiming for whimsical charm or realistic depth. Here’s a structured guide to help you craft expressive eyes from wool alone:

    Basic Steps for Needle Felting Eyes

   Prepare the Base

   • Start with a firmly felted head or face to ensure stability.
   • Mark the eye placement using pins or light-coloured wool to guide symmetry.

   Shape the Eye

   • Roll a small amount of wool into a tight ball or oval, depending on the desired eye shape.
   • Felt it gently into place, keeping the edges thinner than the centre.

   Build the Iris and Pupil

   • Use layered shades of wool to mimic iris depth—start with lighter tones and add darker ones toward the centre.
   • Felt a small black dot for the pupil, ensuring it’s centred and symmetrical.

   Add Highlights and Shine

   • Felt a tiny speck of white or light blue wool to simulate light reflection. This adds realism and emotion.
   • Optional: Use silk fibres for a subtle shimmer effect.

   Sculpt Eyelids and Surrounding Features

   • Add core wool around the eye to form upper and lower eyelids.
   • Use darker wool for eyeliner or lash definition and blend edges smoothly into the face.

   To add more depth to needle felted eyes, you’ll want to focus on layering, blending, and anatomical accuracy. Here’s how to elevate your technique:

   Advanced Techniques for Depth and Realism

   Layer Multiple Shades

   • Use at least three tones for the iris: a dark outer ring, a mid-tone base, and a lighter inner ring.
   • Blend fibres by pulling and restacking them to create natural gradients.
   • Add subtle flecks or streaks to mimic real iris patterns.

   Create a 3D Eye Structure

   • Build the eye as a slightly domed shape, not flat.
   • Felt the pupil deeper into the iris to create a sense of light absorption.
   • Surround the eye with a soft ridge to simulate the sclera and socket.

   Use Light and Reflection Strategically

   • Add tiny white or pale blue fibres to simulate catchlights.
   • Consider the direction of your light source—place highlights accordingly.
   • For extra realism, try a touch of silk or Angelina fibres for shimmer.

   Define Eyelids and Shadows

   • Sculpt upper and lower eyelids with core wool, then blend with skin tones.
   • Use darker wool to add shadow under the lid and around the eye.
   • This creates a sense of depth and helps the eye “sit” naturally in the face

   For a great written tutorial see this by helen winter

    Julies Felted Friends video on eyes or Fit to be Loved video on eyes

    

    

5. Felting faces - Adding lips

   Posted on 11:00am Thursday 3rd Jul 2025

   

   Creating felted lips that look expressive and natural takes a mix of sculpting finesse and wool layering. Here are some tips to help you shape lips with realism and charm:

    Sculpting & Shaping

   • Start with a firm base: Make sure the head or face is well-felted before adding lips. A solid foundation prevents distortion when adding details.
   • Use a V-guide: Lightly needle a V-shape where the lips will go. This helps anchor the upper and lower lip placement.
   • Build in layers: Use small wisps of wool to gradually build the lip shape. Start with the upper lip, then add the lower, adjusting volume and curve as needed.

   Wool & Color Tips

   • Choose subtle shades: Blend pinks, reds, or even muted purples for natural tones. A touch of darker wool at the corners adds depth.
   • Highlight with contrast: A tiny amount of darker wool in the mouth crease or under the lower lip can enhance realism.

    Felting Technique

   • Use a fine needle: For sculpting lips, a fine gauge needle gives better control and minimizes fuzz.
   • Avoid overfelting: Keep lips slightly pliable so you can tweak the shape. Overfelting too early can flatten the expression.
   • Refine with detail work: Once the shape is set, use gentle diagonal pokes to smooth edges and define the cupid’s bow.

   Expression & Style

   • Experiment with emotion: A slight curve up or down can suggest a smile, pout, or neutral expression.
   • Add a hint of gloss: A tiny wisp of silk or shiny fibre can mimic a moist lip look—especially effective for dolls or fairies

    

    

   yamanono youtube making mouth and lips using polymer clay

   and making a dog's Tongue with wool and wax

   The Felting Harp making realistic human faces

   Julies Felted Friends making faces and troubleshooting problems