How did you learn to felt?

[Grayson's Mom]

How did you learn how to felt? Internet sites would be helpful. I am interested in making the little pocket fairies and dollhouse dolls. Are their any good kits that you have found that include instructions, needles, and wool (and whatever else you need?) I am at a loss. I had never heard of felting until the other day when I was checking out this thread. (I am also new to natural toys! Currently purging the plastic on Craigslist to make $$ for wooden & natural toys!!) Thanks in advance!!

[E.V. Lowi]

A lovely friend sat down with me and taught me the basics in about 1/2 an hour. It's great when you can see it done in person. I have a real problem with the needles- they really hurt when you get poked, much more so than sewing pins and needles, so be careful!

[kenscoff]

I learned to felt by checking out every book I could find at our local library, and now I'm completely hooked. Finding a friend who is willing to experiment with you (if you don't know anyone who does it) is a great way to overcome your inhibitions. Where do you live? I love to indoctrinate newbies into my cult of felt.

Needle felting and wet felting are complimentary techniques. Craft Magazine had some great tutorials on needle felting fruit in the last issue - it might be available through your local library. While I wouldn't suggest getting little hands involved in needle felting, I taught wet felting to children at my son's preschool last year. There are lots of small projects great for young hands in "The Art of Feltmaking" by Anne Vickrey. I also have some tutorials on my blog.

The best way to learn is through trial and error. Get your hands soapy and dive in!

[isaberg]

Needle felting is really one of those things that you can really just _do_. A class is nice, but it's pretty simple - take a ball of wool, start poking at it with a needle. It starts to felt. Fruit is a really easy thing to try, since there's no great detail involved.

You need:
Needles
(dirt cheap in bulk on Ebay, though you only need a couple)
Wool
(Only a few ounces of roving. Find someplace that sells spinning supplies or a spinner who can trade)
Piece of foam
(for under the piece)
Book
(for under the foam, so the *^&*&^$% sharp needles don't go into your leg.)

Web tutorials:

http://www.mielkesfarm.com/ladybug_dir.htm
http://www.craftzine.com/blog/archive/felting/
http://www.owning-alpaca.com/needle-...-tutorial.html

[tinasquirrel]

Where do you buy that 2 inch high density foam at a local store? I can't seem to figure out where I can buy it locally. I could buy one on the internet but for a piece of foam, I'd rather just run into a store! Our local yarn store didn't seem to have any.

I've been reading stuff on the web, and I have all my supplies except for the foam. So, I'm just going to start practicing and see where it gets me! I also need to check out some books at the library next time I get a chance to get there.

[kenscoff]

My local fabric store sells high density foam, plus there is a foam store not too far away - I stopped in today to get some because I want to work on needle felting a large piece.

However, I prefer a long-bristled brush (usually sold for polishing shoes) instead of foam as my base. It has the perfect balance of resistance and cushion, without little bits of foam breaking off and getting into the back of your piece.

[isaberg]

Know any computer geeks? Many folks like using the shipping-type foam that comes with computer components, usually it's gray. Or go to goodwill and find a cheap foam pillow and dismantle it. The high-density stuff is nice, but not really necessary - thinner stuff will work fine if you just keep a book under it to keep from jabbing yourself. Play with the felting, and if you really enjoy the process then you can go to Joanne's or other shop that carries upholstry (sp) stuff and buy a chunk from them, and by then you'll have a better sense of what exactly you would like.

Oh, and I second the brush suggestion. Clover sells a needle-felting brush for about $12 that is pretty nice.

[kenscoff]

There is a great photo tutorial on Flickr called from Fiber to Finger Puppet:http://www.flickr.com/photos/moxie_/...7594479785085/. This artist has made tons and tons and tons of quirky needle felted items.

**Cross post from 'Making Felt Food'

[sunanthem]

I dont have a foam block. I use my woven throw pillows. :