Needle Felting Inspiration

I love needle felting - it adds textural interest and is very simple to do.  It's also tremendously versatile and can be used not only as an embellishment tool but also as a construction technique and a way to create 3 dimensional objects such as hats and soft sculpture.

The tools are also very simple.  A needle felting tool and something to 'punch' into, either a brush or piece of foam.  I also like to have a small selection of single needles for detail work.  All of these are available at Pacific Fabrics along with rovings and fabrics that work well for exploring this technique.  The Puyallup Pacific Fabrics even has ready-to-block hat felt that I've been eyeing for some time.

I like the look of needle felted designs made with roving (carded fiber that hasn't been spun yet)  on a background fabric but I must admit that sometimes my creative energy stalls a bit when I'm facing a blank canvas.  So I use a design outline.

My favorite way to create an outline on the fabric is to use machine embroidery.  I simply stitch out a running stitch design and then fill it in with roving - just as if I were coloring in a coloring book.  I like the look and it is very simple. 

In this example, I used an iron-on transfer design from a Dover Publishing book on Art Nouveau embroidery designs.  I scanned in the iron-on transfer and then translated the image into a running stitch embroidery design using 4D.  I stitched it out onto the back piece for a jacket I am constructing and now I'm in the process of 'coloring' the design with wool roving.  I'm having a lot of fun with this project.  I especially like playing with the colors, such as blending two different colors of wool to give a little extra dimension to the rose motifs.  I can't wait to show you the finished product!

p.s. It's Fair Time in Pierce County!  I had the good fortune to be asked to judge the Junior division of the 4-H Fashion Revue.  If you've never seen a 4-H Fashion Revue competition, it is an amazing showcase of youth sewing talent.  Each participant has sewn the garment(s) they are wearing and are judged based on their interview skills (many of the questions relate to sewing and garment construction), the construction of their garment (as it appears when worn) and their ability to present themselves and their outfit.  The kids are just incredible, and the many adult 4-H leaders and volunteers who work with them to teach them how to sew are even more amazing.  I hope you all get the chance to get to the Fair to see all these amazing kids at work and to check out all of the sewing and craft items on display by kids and adults. 

--Katrina

Comments

[Anna-Beth]

Katrina, I feel super bonded to you now! I also love needlefelting - and I have your cat! Seriously, I have twin grey tabbies, Emily and Hodge, that look very much like yours. I sincerely believe grey tabbies to be the smartest kitties with the best temperaments, plus of course the most gorgeous ever. Aww, we have more in common than I ever expected!

[Annette]

This is really cool, Katrina. I have been needle felting for years and find it incredibly addictive and easy to do. I love how the tools we have at Pacific Fabrics work together with the felting machine sold at Quality Sewing. I saw an artist demonstrating her use of the machine for large areas and then she used the single and multiple hand tools for the details. Wow! Lots of fun!

[Teri Keizur]

Your needle-felting project looks super interesting! I've seen a lot of felting in stores over the past couple of years, but was not too anxious to try it before seeing examples like yours. There was an interesting product at Stitch & Pitch last night too, a backing fabric that lets you lay out roving in your own design, then use your clothes dryer and boiling water to complete...there was a perforated shawl in deep blue shades that really caught my eye! Love your little helper in the photo above, also...kitties are the best!