Image the woolwench.com

Blending Wool Colours for Wet and Needle Felting Creating custom colour blends adds depth, realism, and personality to your felted pieces. Whether you're aiming for soft gradients, natural fur tones, or vibrant transitions, blending wool is a simple technique that enhances both wet and needle felting. This guide walks you through three reliable methods to blend colours effectively, with tips for choosing the right approach for your project.

Materials Needed

• Wool roving or batting in two or more colours
• Carders, hand combs
• Clean work surface

Method 1: Hand Blending Suitable for both wet and needle felting

1. Pull small tufts of each colour.
2. Layer the tufts in alternating stacks.
3. Pull the stack apart lengthwise, then restack at a 90-degree angle. Repeat 4–6 times.
4. Adjust the ratio to shift tone (e.g., more white to soften, more grey to mute).
5. Felt a small sample to preview how the blend behaves when compressed.

Method 2: Brush or Carder Blending Best for smooth, even mixes

1. Load small tufts of each colour onto one brush or carder.
2. Use the second brush to pull fibres across, blending them together.
3. Repeat until colours are evenly distributed.
4. Roll into batts or roving strips for easy use in larger projects.

Method 3: Surface Blending for Needle Felting Ideal for shading and detail work

1. Felt your base shape or background.
2. Pull tiny wisps of a second colour and layer them on top.
3. Use shallow, angled pokes to blend fibres into the surface.
4. Build up colour gradually for soft transitions or painterly effects.

Tips for Colour Success

• Use similar colours for natural blends.
• Combine balancing colours to create rich neutrals.
• Keep samples of favourite blends for future reference.
• Don’t overblend if you want marbled or variegated effects.

Next steps to mixing see Felts By Philippa trying out our blending board and Hand blending and brush blending with The Flock