Needle Felting Needles
High quality barbed needles for needle felting.
Needle felting is the process of binding wool together with a barbed needle to make soft, loose wool into a sturdy shape. The barbs along the shaft of the needle pick up the wool fibres, pulling them in and out as you stab the wool. This matts - felts - the wool together.
Felting Needles come in different gauges for different uses. I find these two work for the vast majority of requirements.
38 gauge star - black (x1) - for fast felting and firming shapes
40 gauge triangular - blue (x1) - a finer needle for detail
You will receive one of each needle in a plastic tube for safe storage. You can add extra needles if required.
Your needles can be used again and again in future felting projects. Eventually, after lots of use the barbs on the needles will become blunt and you will find they are no longer effectively felting the wool. You need to change needles when you notice it is taking much longer for the wool to felt. Usually the needle will snap before this happens!
To prevent needles breaking make sure you are keeping the same angle as you go into and out of the wool i.e. do not twist or bend the needle while it is in the wool. Keep the angle of the needle totally vertical. People who are used to doing embroidery and other needlework may automatically hold the needle at an angle, but this should be avoided. Even if the needle doesn't break right away, it will quickly become weaker and bend, and eventually snap.
WARNING: Felting needles are very sharp. Needle felting is not suitable for young children. Recommended for age 10+ with adult supervision.
You may wish to also purchase finger protectors to be worn on your thumb and forefinger or middle finger on the hand you are using to hold the piece (so if you are right handed you will be using the needle in your right hand and put the protectors on your left hand).
You may wish to add a handle that holds the needle to make it more comfortable to grip.
Both items can be purchased here on my website, or come with the Needle Felting Essentials Kit.