Category: Creative Inspiration

1. 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

    

    

2. Creating an open mouth

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 26th Jun 2025

   

   Creating an open mouth in needle felting is a fantastic way to add expression and realism, especially for animals or character sculptures. Here are 5 steps to get you started;

   Needle Felt an Open Mouth:

   1. Form the Head Base: Start with a firm core wool shape for the head. Leave the mouth area slightly less felted so it’s easier to manipulate.
   2. Create the Upper and Lower Jaws: Felt two separate pieces—one for the upper jaw and one for the lower. Shape them with a slight curve and attach them to the head, leaving a gap between them.
   3. Define the Mouth Interior: Use dark wool (like deep red or black) to line the inside of the mouth. This adds depth and realism.
   4. Add a Tongue or Teeth (Optional): A small strip of pink wool can be shaped into a tongue and felted into the lower jaw. Tiny white tufts can be used for teeth.
   5. Blend and Shape: Carefully blend the jaw edges into the face using matching wool. Use a fine needle to sculpt the lips and refine the expression.

    

   Ilona creates has this fab video on creating an open mouth 

   and Pam Duthie on How to needle felt animals An open mouth

3. Why Start Needle Felting - 5 More Positives

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 27th Mar 2025

   Versatility

   You can create a vast array of projects, from adorable animals and figures to intricate landscapes and abstract shapes. There's something for every interest and skill level. You can make gifts items you make or design items tailored to the recipient's taste like a favourite animal or character.

   

    

   Eco-friendly low waste Art

   Since it primarily uses natural materials like wool, needle felting is relatively an environmentally friendly craft. Also, mistakes can be corrected easily by reworking the wool, and any leftover fibers can be incorporated into future projects, making it a low-waste hobby.

   

    

   Social Activity

   Joining a local needle felting group or taking a workshop can be a great way to meet new people and share your love for the craft, or craft with family members or friends.

    

   Physical and Mental Stimulation

   Needle felting requires manual dexterity and focus, which can help to keep your hands and brain active and engaged.

    

   Endless Learning and Skill Development

    As you progress, you can develop fine motor skills, spatial reasoning, and problem-solving abilities. There are always new techniques and types of wool to explore, ensuring that you'll never run out of challenges or opportunities to grow as a needle felter.

   

4. Why Start Needle Felting - 5 Positives

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 20th Mar 2025

   Have you been thinking of starting a new hobby, maybe you have seen a few videos on line and are wondering is this for me? Or you have done felting but are not making the time to felt and wonder is it worth it?

   Needle felting is a unique and enjoyable craft that involves using a specialized barbed needle to manipulate and shape wool fibers into various forms of art. Here are 5 reasons why you might want to try needle felting:

    

   Creative Expression

   Needle felting allows you to create a wide range of shapes and designs, from 3D sculptures to 2D pictures, and even jewellery or home decor. It's a wonderful outlet for creativity and personal expression, nearly everything you make you fall in love with.

    

   Relaxation and Stress relieving

   The repetitive motion of stabbing the wool with the needle can be quite therapeutic and relaxing. It's a great way to unwind and practice mindfulness. You can be completely emersed in the work. The rhythmic motion of needle felting can be meditative, helping to reduce stress and anxiety.

    

   Easy to Learn and Satisfying Results

   While it may take some practice to become proficient, needle felting is easy to pick up. There are many online tutorials and resources available to help you get started. Then seeing your creation come to life as you work the wool can be incredibly satisfying. The tactile experience of needle felting can also be quite rewarding.

    

   Affordable

   The basic materials required for needle felting (wool roving, a felting needle, and a foam pad) are quite inexpensive, making it an accessible hobby for people of all ages and skill levels (Children under 16 need supervision as needles are sharp).

    

   Portability

   Unlike some crafts that require a dedicated workspace with specialized equipment, needle felting is quite portable. You can easily take your materials with you to work on projects while travelling or during downtime.

   

5. 5 Reasons to use a Blending Board

   Posted on 12:00pm Saturday 15th Feb 2025

   A blending board is a versatile tool that allows for the preparation of various textile fibres such as wool, alpaca, mohair, and silk into batts or rolags for spinning or other fibre arts projects.

   

   It is particularly useful for blending different colours and textures of fibres together to create unique and artful yarns. Here are some key reasons why you might choose to use a blending board:

   1. **Efficiency**: Blending boards can hold a significant amount of fibre, which can save time and effort when blending large quantities of wool.

    

   2. **Control**: The board provides a flat, stable surface with fine teeth that gently comb and align the fibres as you work them, allowing for better control over the blending process.

   3. **Creativity**: The board enables you to create visual patterns and textures in your fibre preparation, which can translate into beautiful yarns or felted pieces.

   4. **Accessibility**: Unlike some other carding tools, blending boards are relatively easy to use either on your lap or a table, making them a good option for both beginners and experienced fibre artists.

   

   5. **Portability**: Blending boards are generally lightweight and easy to transport, making them suitable for taking to workshops or using in different workspaces