Even the most experienced needle filter encounters challenges along the way. No matter how skilled you are, there will always be small obstacles that pop up and slow down the process. Here's a guide to some of the most common problems in needle felting and how to solve them.
1. Do needles break? - This is how you avoid a needle cemetery
One of the first challenges many people encounter is broken needles. It often happens at the start when you may not have full control of the technique. Remember: The needle should always be inserted straight in and straight out - never bent. If you feel like you have to use a lot of force to get the needle through the wool, it's time to change to a finer needle, or if you use multiple needles, change to single/fewer needles. A good rule of thumb is to let the needle do the work, not your strength. Look at your work, be focused on the work. Yes, you will break most needles at first, but with time this will become less frequent. If one breaks, put the tip in, for example, a metal box so you have control over them and you can use the shaft, for example, when you are gluing something or to get the tip of the glue tube up.
2. Do not needle filter, just slide through the wool
Have you ever felt that the needle just slides through the wool without actually doing anything? This means you are probably using too fine a needle too early in the process. The solution is simple: Change to a coarser needle or use several needles at the same time. Coarse needles "catch" more of the wool, making felting more efficient.
3. Hairy finish
Another frustration can be a hairy finish. The solution is to felt more, going over the entire surface with a finer needle, area by area, perhaps first with a double/triple needle and finally single. Work systematically and ensure that all small loose fibers are attached. Do not work here and there, but area by area, this will give a more even result. There will be a separate blog post about this, so stay tuned.
4. Dull needle? - When is it time to change?
Quality needles stay sharp for a long time, but they can become dull over time, especially if used incorrectly or on harder materials. If you notice that the tip or barbs have changed, it may be time for a replacement. You can also compare using a new needle and feel how it compares to the one you think may be worn. We have used the felting needles we offer on our site for several years without the quality having deteriorated, just fine, so we replace them when they break, but we have to be aware that they can deteriorate.
5. The needle hardly goes into the wool
This can happen when the wool starts to become very compact. The solution here is to change to a single needle or a finer needle, which can more easily penetrate the dense wool. Do not try to push the needle through!
6. The needle makes puncture marks
If you see unwanted punch marks in your project, add more felt to make it harder and smoother. Change to a finer needle, or try a twisted needle, which often makes smaller marks on the surface.
7. Details disappear into the wool
When working with details, such as shaping eyes or mouths, it is important to use a finer needle. A coarse needle will often push the details too far into the wool, causing them to "disappear" into the project. Use a fine needle to work the surface details and take your time to get them just the way you want them. This is often where the magic in the figure lies.
8. The needle hits the armature - How to avoid it
If you use fittings (such as a metal wire, pipe cleaner etc) inside your figure, it can be annoying to hear the characteristic "crunch" sound when the needle hits the metal. To avoid this, work more slowly and precisely around the fixture. You can also wrap a little more wool around the fixture before continuing to felt.
9. May not be attached, e.g. an arm to the body?
If attaching parts such as arms or legs to the main part of a figure can be challenging, always remember to leave some loose wool where it is to be attached. A spiral needle (preferably double) can also be of great help here. It grips the wool better and helps to fasten the parts together, bonds wool to wool. Try to wear a little extra loose wool between the parts to be attached, to get a stronger bond.
10. Not happy with facial details
Face, expression and symmetry can be difficult. Take time, you will learn eventually and the face must not be completely symmetrical. If it's completely hopeless, pull over and start again, or maybe just try to make a new face in the back of your mind, and put a hat over the one you never got around to. You can also mark the wool with a marker which you then filter over, or tie a thread around the head, both horizontally and vertically if you think it makes it easier to place the eyes, nose/snout and mouth, the thread is cut off when you have got eyes /mouth/snout.
11. Do you stab yourself
Huh, it happens to everyone, but here are some tricks. Look at your work all the time, stop the needle if you have to look away. You can use leather finger protectors for the thumb and index finger. You can hold your work with a clip (clothespin, sausage clip/large tweezer clip, for example) You can also fold a protector in cardboard/plastic/leather, shaped like an M, so you hold, for example, the ear, hand or finger you are going to felt (see picture.)
Needle felting can have its challenges, but with these solutions in hand, you don't have to fear the usual problems that arise. Remember that everyone who filters experiences challenges, and that it is part of the learning process. In time, you will find your own methods and techniques to overcome these small obstacles, and felting will become even more satisfying. If you want recipes and courses in needle felting, we have it.
Do you have any tips or tricks of your own for solving felt problems? Feel free to share them in the comments section - then we will all learn!
Happy felting, and remember: There is always a solution, wool is easy to correct with, much easier than drawing, painting or ceramics in our opinion 😊