Needle Felting is a relatively new craft created in America in the 1980’s. To create 3D or flat shapes out of loose wool you repeatedly stab the wool with a special barbed needle. The barbs catch on the scales on the fibres and push them together where they grab onto each other. The needle then comes out clean leaving the fibres where they are. The more and more you stab, the more they hold onto one another and they gradually become solid. As you stab you manipulate the wool, sculpting and adding as you go to create different shapes. It’s a wonderfully therapeutic craft and is ideal for picking up and putting down as and when you find the time!

Each kit contains all the wool you need as well as 2 felting needles in a secure holder and detailed instructions. You have the option to add a foam block or not depending on whether you have one already, or are giving the kit as a gift (see below for more information on the foam). You don’t need anything else to complete one of our needle felting kits, apart from a little patience!  

Absolutely! Though it can take years to master (as with any craft!) the basic techniques are easy to get the hang of and you’ll be able to make a completed piece from scratch by following our super-clear step-by-step instructions. There are a few basic rules to follow such as not bending or twisting the needle and working on the foam surface, then after that it’s very intuitive and most importantly, great fun! And if you do get stuck, check out our video tutorials or get in touch.

As a general rule we recommend that the kits are for children aged 10 and over due to the sharp needles. However we know that many younger children can be very dextrous and they may even do better than us adults! Therefore, it is up to you but please do supervise young children with the sharp needles.

If you've never felted before you will need a foam block to get started and they're available to add as an extra to all our needle felting kits. The foam acts as a working surface whilst you felt. You need something that the needle can go into to stop it from snapping against a hard surface and to protect your hands or lap. You can also use it to help shape pieces. One of our foam blocks should then last about 20-30 projects depending on the size of the projects.