by: Kendra

Needle Your Way into Someone’s Heart

December 4th, 2012 by Kendra | Posted in General News |

Put a little personality and pizzazz into your handmade gifts. Needle felting is just the technique to do it. It’s quick and easy enough for the true novice and in a relatively short period of time you can transform something ordinary into something extraordinary!

The process involves locking fibers onto a surface by repeatedly poking a felting needle up and down as it moves through the surface. Knitted and felted items are the first things that come to mind to adorn, but don’t limit yourself. Any surface the needle can penetrate can easily be adorned. Weave up a scarf, lightly felt it and you’ve created and an instant canvas waiting to be embellish. Consider needle felting on repurposed old woolens that have been felted, deconstructed and sewn into something new. Easier yet, if you don’t mind foregoing the 100% handmade, you can needle felt on a sweater, scarf, hat or set of mittens that have been commercially made.

Felting needles, a colorful palette of fiber and a surface on which to needle felt is all you need. We recommend Felting Needles, 38 gauge, 3-barb, Triangular (4-pack), Ashford Fiber Bag and Needle Felting Foam Pad (9" X 8"). Need a little design inspiration? Take a look at children’s books, stencils and garden magazines. Remember there are no rules. Be creative and most importantly have fun.