Felting resources for beginners

Are there any good resources, videos, etcetera for someone new to felting?

I remember meeting a couple on one of my backpacking excursions that felted around the campfire. They would make figurines and leave them in shelters. They intended for people to take them along on their journey. I can't recall too many details as this was years ago. I do know they were needle felting

What is the difference between wet and needle felting? What can I make?

What type of wool can you use? Or is best to use in your experience? Can I use old sweaters?

Now I think it's time to ask jeeves for some information on felting. I'll post anything interesting

Good question. Following to see what folks have to say, and to bump your question back up on the list of recent posts.

There our a lot of resources for felting.Felting a hat.Felting a glove Felting a vest.Felting slippers.purses,backpacks,pencils bags,bed rolls.youtube.you can make pretty much anything out of felt even a house.(Ger people seem to like the traditional name)Hobby lobby sells wool rovings you can also buy online.If you have access to raw fleeces that is your best bet but can also be purchased online.Felting needles at hobby lobby or online.Needle felting is usually felted around form such as foam or a sponge.You can felt it around itself as well or felt it around felt.Needle felt is usually done dry and ornamental.You can make ornaments,dolls,figurines.needle felt designs on hats,bags etc.You can needle felt and then slowly wet felt it in to make it hold better.I like to use Navaojo churro wool but research what wool is in your area i just have acces to alot of churro wool.Some wools will take longer to felt based on lanolin content.Preferably dirt wool.I like to skirt the wool on an old matress boxspring placed on sawhorses.(Just throw it up and down on it to get the debree out.)You'll need to card the wool.Which is combing the wool.Although I have seen people just spread out the fleece.I've never used an old sweater you could try it?I did have a friend knit a jacket and then proceed to felt it.He just thru it in the washer.You'll have to keep an eye on it don't want it to shrink to much.Be warned felting is addicting.Hope you give it a try it's fun.

Justin Gerardot wrote:Are there any good resources, videos, etcetera for someone new to felting?

Some very interesting videos on the various forms of felting can be found on youtube.com. But r ransom has an incredible video here, on felting a yurt - of yours up for a project that big! Our very own Nicole Alderman is quite a talented needle felting artist, and shares many of her projects, here. You should look her up, and follow her!  

Justin Gerardot wrote:
What is the difference between wet and needle felting? What can I make?

Wet felting is messier, but very clean, as it uses warm to hot water, soap, and friction to create larger, flat pieces, and there are many wet felting methods that can be used, to make fully felt-formed items, like bags, hats, scarves, blankets (yurts, lol), and more, with no need to even sew felt pieces together - though seeing them is an option, too. Needle felting is done dry, is most often the methods for 3D figures, especially with great detail. Because it's dry, it's more portable, as a craft/hobby, if that makes a difference, for you. It can also be combined with wet felting, once the wet-felted item is dry(so your needles don't rust), to add intricate detail, and artistry, though beautiful detail can also be wet-felted.

Justin Gerardot wrote:
What type of wool can you use? Or is best to use in your experience? Can I use old sweaters?

What type of wool would you LIKE to use? That one is perfect! The type of wool that's best depends on the goal, for each project. If you want, for instance, to make soft-soled slippers, you're probably going to want to use a sturdier fiber, at least for the bottoms - but angora might be nice for the lining, and trim at the ankles. For the best guide, look to your own fingers. Touch the wool. If it's coarser, feels sturdy, that would be good for some heavier duty things. Softer, finer fibers will make lovely scarves, baby blankets, and hats. Wool runs the gamut of textures. You can absolutely use old sweaters, with a caveat - the sweater needs to be labeled 'dry-clean only'. Otherwise, it will likely have been treated, to make it washable, which will prevent it from felting effectively. So, yes - sweaters can be used - in a couple ways, but that is a different process called 'fulling'. Hmm. Maybe I should make a post on fulling!