Felting
Needle felting is a great way to express yourself and spend your free time creatively. For me, the process is especially enjoyable in winter, when I prefer staying cozy indoors and working on small, quick projects. I decided to write this article to share my impressions and to help those who may be hesitant to start, thinking it might be challenging. 
To start felting figurines, all you need is felting wool and a felting needle. In addition to wool, you can also order felt sheets that are several millimeters thick. Some artists create entire figures using felt sheets by sewing the edges and filling them with cotton or other stuffing. I began with this technique until I discovered other methods. Felt sheets are especially useful if you’re making mini bags for the figures or adding small shapes like wings, mouse ears, or paws. They’re also ideal for making small accessories like shoes, beaks, and penguin legs. While you can do without them, they’re worth keeping in mind.
If you want to give your pieces a more professional finish, you can buy eyes, noses, and paws to enhance the look of the animals. These additions are quite affordable and visibly improve the professional look of your creations. For example, glass eyes reflect light, giving your creations a lifelike presence and making them even more captivating. Standard eyes, noses, and paws can cost about a dollar for a set of 20-30 pieces, often with free shipping. You can search on sites like eBay or AliExpress for options.
For a unique look, you can also make these details yourself with polymer clay. FIMO is a popular brand, and many artists use it to make jewelry as well. Once you’ve created the element, you can attach it to the felted figure with glue or place it around a wire for added stability. Such small details can make your creations stand out even more. To achieve a glass-eye effect, you can use epoxy resin—check out YouTube tutorials for techniques on creating resin eyes. An online store in the US with over 250 types of eyes, noses and paws is etsy.com/shop/GlassEyesOnLine
Most artists attach eyes to their figures using glue. There are also glass eyes with wire loops that can be attached using thread. Simply thread the wire through the loop, pierce the needle through the head, and don’t worry about visible thread—this will be covered with felting wool. You may also find a sponge helpful as a base for working with the needle, preventing finger pricks when shaping fine details. Personally, I prefer working without a sponge, as it allows me to sit comfortably anywhere with just my needle and wool. For very thin elements, you can press them between two pieces of folded cardboard for added finger protection.
You can read more on the topic here – Needle Felting
If you have questions or want to share your creations do not hesitate to email us at
Ma******@gm***.com
