Here are 10 tips for felting faster - Save your fingers and your time!
Let's be honest for a moment – needle felting is amazing, but it takes time. Lots of time. That's why we've put together some tips that can help you felt faster and more efficiently, without compromising on quality.
1. Hold, fold and roll - a solid start is half the job
One of the most important speed tricks is to make sure the wool is properly folded or rolled up before you start felting. The more compact the wool is from the start, the less stitches you need to get it felted and to hold its shape. This can save you a lot of time, especially if you are working on larger projects such as the head and body. On the head/body, you must hold firmly and you must avoid large air spaces inside the felted ball.
2. Quality needles and quality wool - an investment in speed/time
Don't underestimate the power of good tools! Quality needles and quality wool can make a big difference when it comes to how quickly you can felt. Poor wool can be more difficult to work with, and cheap needles tend to lose their sharpness faster (or not be sharp to begin with), bend and break. If the thickness of the needle (Gauge) is not stated, it may be a warning sign of bad needles. When the needle is sharp, it slides more easily through the wool and the work goes faster.
3. Get multiple needles going at once - twice as fast, twice as much fun
A smart way to increase speed is to use several needles at the same time. You can use a needle holder designed for this purpose, or simply hold several needles together with a rubber band. In this way, you can cover larger areas in a shorter time, and save both energy and stings. Just watch your fingers - more needles means more risk of accidental pricks! See our needles , soon there will be a lot of new things here, so stay tuned.
4. Puncher for flat felting - your new best friend
When it comes to flat felting, a 7 needle puncher is an absolute game changer. Instead of spending time poking with one needle at a time, you can felt large areas in a fraction of the time. Perfect for projects that require larger, flat areas, needle felt on seating mats, slippers, mittens, clothes for the figures, ears, etc. We don't like using Puncher for 3D, but use it for ears and clothes.
5. Use the right needle - coarser first, finer afterwards
Start with a coarser needle when starting a new project, or several finer ones. Coarse needles felt the wool faster and grip the wool better, finer needles you will feel just slip through without gripping the wool. When it becomes difficult to felt or the needle does not enter the work easily, you can switch to finer (or fewer) needles. This takes some experience to know, but you will learn this quickly.
6. Roll in your palms - for an extra felting effect
Once you've shaped an arm or a leg, for example, you can roll it in your palms to further compress and felt it. This simple technique can help shape the piece faster, especially if you need a smooth and firm surface.
7. Is the needle sharp enough? Time for a needle check?
Check that your needles are sharp. A dull needle will slow you down and require more effort to achieve the same result. Compare with a new needle - if you see or feel a difference, it's time to change. A sharp needle means less work and faster results. We only use quality needles and have used several needles for many years without them becoming bad, replace them when they break 😊 but you can check if you feel it is worn.
8. Use a felt base that provides good resistance
When you work with needle felting, the substrate you use is important both to protect you, the table and the needles, a firm surface provides good resistance, which means that the needles can penetrate the wool easier and more efficiently. Foam blocks or brushes are common choices, but make sure that the surface is not too soft - then you risk losing a lot of the energy in each stroke. The felt underlay must be changed after a while, they sink together (puncture) and do not provide good resistance. Our felt underlays are a full 5 cm thick and we are super satisfied with them.
9. Work in layers
Divide your project into layers or sections. Start with a rough felting of the main shape, then add details in layers. This allows you to work more systematically and faster, rather than trying to achieve everything at once. The layer-by-layer technique is especially useful for complex projects that require both structure and detail. When you are working with e.g. a head or body, you should have several layers on the outside so you have many chances for a nice surface in the end, you don't have to think about it in the first place.
10. Use a reference image
Do you have a clear idea of what the end result should look like? Use a reference image! This helps you stay focused and makes it easier to follow the correct proportions from the start, which in turn reduces the time you spend correcting mistakes later.
If you follow these tips, you should be well equipped to increase the pace of your felting without losing any of the magic that makes this hobby so rewarding. It's no secret that needle felting can be time consuming, but with these tips I hope you can get up to speed while enjoying the process.
Do you have any tips or tricks of your own for faster felting? Feel free to share them in the comments - we're always looking for more great ideas!
Good felting!