Search...
Home Subscribe
Pie
Home Subscribe
Recent topics Flagged topics Hot topics Best topics
Search...
Search within sculpture Search permies
Advanced search Google search
Register / Login
Green Living Book Free heat movie permaculture bootcamp design Paul Wheaton Tour of Wheaton Labs movie Eco-friendly wood stoves
  • Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
Free heat movie Full online Permaculture Design course and Appropriate Technology Course video Rocket Mass Heaters permaculture bootcamp design SKIP=SKills to Inherit Property PEP Permaculture Experience According to Paul apropedia trees
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • Carla Burke
  • Nancy Reading
  • r ransom
  • John F Dean
  • paul wheaton
  • Jay Angler
stewards:
  • Timothy Norton
  • Pearl Sutton
  • Tereza Okava
master gardeners:
  • Christopher Weeks
  • M Ljin
gardeners:
  • Jeremy VanGelder
  • Matt McSpadden
  • thomas rubino

Can I needle felt a fox? The (I hope) making of a fox

 
Nicole Alderman
steward
Posts: 22426
Location: Pacific Northwest
13079
13
I like...
homeschooling hugelkultur kids art duck forest garden foraging fiber arts sheep wood heat homestead
posted 7 months ago
  • Likes 13
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
My daughter's friend's birthday is coming soon, and she would like a fox. I've never made a fox before (I've made a dog, lots of dragons, and a cat and pig five years ago). I'm hoping that means I'll manage a fox.

First, we scour the internet for fox pictures. First from the side:





Fluffy fox is cutest fox


Now from the front:





So fluffy!








I even found pictures of foxes from above!



[edit] Need more fluffy red foxes in winter for reference:





[/edit]

With wire structure in place, it's time to make an armature. I hate making wire armatures, but for animals with skinny legs, it's pretty necessary.
20250804_212139.jpg
Generic proportions. Now to see if I have the right color of orange, and enough of it for the fox. I might make it in white, and then add orange on top...
Generic proportions. Now to see if I have the right color of orange, and enough of it for the fox. I might make it in white, and then add orange on top...

~ Dragons, Fairies and even a Mini-Paul! ~ You Know You're a Permie When...~ All About Permies, including tutorials ~Herbal Hugel Spiral of Randomness!~Tricks to Keep the Dirt from Sliding off a Hugel~List of Cascadia Bloggers and Facebook Pages!~

 
Carla Burke
Rusticator
Posts: 9582
Location: Missouri Ozarks
5225
7
I like...
personal care gear foraging hunting rabbit chicken cooking food preservation fiber arts medical herbs homestead
posted 7 months ago
  • Likes 5
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Oooo! I'm excited to see this one!! Please do keep us posted on your process?

Whoah!! Check out this permie deal!! https://permies.com/w/homesteading-bundle?f=232
"The only thing...more expensive than education is ignorance."~Ben Franklin. "We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light." ~ Plato

 
Nicole Alderman
steward
Posts: 22426
Location: Pacific Northwest
13079
13
I like...
homeschooling hugelkultur kids art duck forest garden foraging fiber arts sheep wood heat homestead
posted 7 months ago
  • Likes 7
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I got a bit of work done on it last night. It's now firmly in the "this looks terrible! What did I do? How is this ever going to turn out" stage. I'm also remembering just how much I hate this particular wool roving color. Instead of being solid orange, it's orange hue is a mixture of red and yellow roving. This just ends up looking too vibrant and not-animal-like.
20250804_235632.jpg
Behold, the horror! I also realized foxes usually have black (dark brown?) feet. I might just rip off the wool on the feet to fix it.
Behold, the horror! I also realized foxes usually have black (dark brown?) feet. I might just rip off the wool on the feet to fix it.

~ Dragons, Fairies and even a Mini-Paul! ~ You Know You're a Permie When...~ All About Permies, including tutorials ~Herbal Hugel Spiral of Randomness!~Tricks to Keep the Dirt from Sliding off a Hugel~List of Cascadia Bloggers and Facebook Pages!~

 
Carla Burke
Rusticator
Posts: 9582
Location: Missouri Ozarks
5225
7
I like...
personal care gear foraging hunting rabbit chicken cooking food preservation fiber arts medical herbs homestead
posted 7 months ago
  • Likes 3
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I *think* black? But, maybe a mix of lustrous black & very dark brown would look more realistic?

Whoah!! Check out this permie deal!! https://permies.com/w/homesteading-bundle?f=232
"The only thing...more expensive than education is ignorance."~Ben Franklin. "We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light." ~ Plato

 
william jane
Posts: 6
posted 7 months ago
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
nice there is so sweet
 
P. Pitcher
Posts: 37
Location: Wet Mountains, Colorado Zone 4b
11
posted 7 months ago
  • Likes 8
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I'd say you already have a pretty good start at it! The pipecleaner armature is a godo way to go. As a funny aside, the craft store I worked for used to sell felting kits, including a fox. While browsing the internet I saw someone showing off their work...
 
Nicole Alderman
steward
Posts: 22426
Location: Pacific Northwest
13079
13
I like...
homeschooling hugelkultur kids art duck forest garden foraging fiber arts sheep wood heat homestead
posted 7 months ago
  • Likes 7
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I already feel so much better about my fox. Thank you, P. Pitcher!

~ Dragons, Fairies and even a Mini-Paul! ~ You Know You're a Permie When...~ All About Permies, including tutorials ~Herbal Hugel Spiral of Randomness!~Tricks to Keep the Dirt from Sliding off a Hugel~List of Cascadia Bloggers and Facebook Pages!~

 
Nicole Alderman
steward
Posts: 22426
Location: Pacific Northwest
13079
13
I like...
homeschooling hugelkultur kids art duck forest garden foraging fiber arts sheep wood heat homestead
posted 7 months ago
  • Likes 6
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
The best part of needle felting, I think, it that it's so forgiving. You can have a fox that looks terrible. But, you can still add more wool and even cut off wool. You can turn anything from the "Oh no, what have I done" stage to "Hey, this looks like a fox!"

~ Dragons, Fairies and even a Mini-Paul! ~ You Know You're a Permie When...~ All About Permies, including tutorials ~Herbal Hugel Spiral of Randomness!~Tricks to Keep the Dirt from Sliding off a Hugel~List of Cascadia Bloggers and Facebook Pages!~

 
Nicole Alderman
steward
Posts: 22426
Location: Pacific Northwest
13079
13
I like...
homeschooling hugelkultur kids art duck forest garden foraging fiber arts sheep wood heat homestead
posted 7 months ago
  • Likes 9
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Part of the reason I make these threads, is because it's so easy to stop, disheartened, at the "This looks terrible! How is ever going to turn into what I want??!?" stage. Your creation and look SO BAD, and you can feel so hopeless (at least I do!). But, if you push through it and keep poking, things will get better!

I'm not sure if I want to have the light yellowish orange on the face or not. It helps with the shape of the face, but also doesn't blend with the burnt orange well...
20250806_114708.jpg
Look how terrible this is! I started adding cheek puffs, and it just looks like a demented sheep
Look how terrible this is! I started adding cheek puffs, and it just looks like a demented sheep
20250806_115520.jpg
Maybe making an ear will help? I felt the ear separately, leaving the bottom of the ear fluffy and unfelted so it attaches well
Maybe making an ear will help? I felt the ear separately, leaving the bottom of the ear fluffy and unfelted so it attaches well
20250806_121336.jpg
Ears and color blocking on the fox face helps SO MUCH!
Ears and color blocking on the fox face helps SO MUCH!
20250806_121342.jpg
From the side, looking better.
From the side, looking better.
20250806_132300.jpg
Added in ear fluff and added a lot more fluff everywhere. I have the nice burnt-orange on the face now
Added in ear fluff and added a lot more fluff everywhere. I have the nice burnt-orange on the face now
20250806_132308.jpg
I found this lovely dark brown wool that a friend gave me. It's perfect for the legs!
I found this lovely dark brown wool that a friend gave me. It's perfect for the legs!
20250806_132313.jpg
Top view. I'm bulking out with the fiery orange, and then adding the burnt orange on top. It's cause a cool Ombre look for now!
Top view. I'm bulking out with the fiery orange, and then adding the burnt orange on top. It's cause a cool Ombre look for now!

~ Dragons, Fairies and even a Mini-Paul! ~ You Know You're a Permie When...~ All About Permies, including tutorials ~Herbal Hugel Spiral of Randomness!~Tricks to Keep the Dirt from Sliding off a Hugel~List of Cascadia Bloggers and Facebook Pages!~

 
Carla Burke
Rusticator
Posts: 9582
Location: Missouri Ozarks
5225
7
I like...
personal care gear foraging hunting rabbit chicken cooking food preservation fiber arts medical herbs homestead
posted 7 months ago
  • Likes 3
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I love that! It's coming together, beautifully!

Whoah!! Check out this permie deal!! https://permies.com/w/homesteading-bundle?f=232
"The only thing...more expensive than education is ignorance."~Ben Franklin. "We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light." ~ Plato

 
Nicole Alderman
steward
Posts: 22426
Location: Pacific Northwest
13079
13
I like...
homeschooling hugelkultur kids art duck forest garden foraging fiber arts sheep wood heat homestead
posted 7 months ago
  • Likes 5
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I stabbed the fox a lot more times, thickening everything--especially the tail. I'm not quite sure what to do about the color. The blended orange roving is super bright, but, my husband thinks it looks magical.
20250806_172209.jpg
Still needs more tightening up and 'polishing,' but its looking a lot more fox-like
Still needs more tightening up and 'polishing,' but its looking a lot more fox-like
20250806_172200.jpg
From the side. Such a chonky tail!
From the side. Such a chonky tail!
20250806_172215.jpg
3/4th view. Something is off about the ears, but I can't figure out what
3/4th view. Something is off about the ears, but I can't figure out what
20250806_172221.jpg
View from above.
View from above.

~ Dragons, Fairies and even a Mini-Paul! ~ You Know You're a Permie When...~ All About Permies, including tutorials ~Herbal Hugel Spiral of Randomness!~Tricks to Keep the Dirt from Sliding off a Hugel~List of Cascadia Bloggers and Facebook Pages!~

 
Carla Burke
Rusticator
Posts: 9582
Location: Missouri Ozarks
5225
7
I like...
personal care gear foraging hunting rabbit chicken cooking food preservation fiber arts medical herbs homestead
posted 7 months ago
  • Likes 4
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I think maybe they're a little too round? I searched 'red fox ears', images, and they all seemed a bit pointier, to me? Like maybe a little more trianglular?

Whoah!! Check out this permie deal!! https://permies.com/w/homesteading-bundle?f=232
"The only thing...more expensive than education is ignorance."~Ben Franklin. "We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light." ~ Plato

 
Joylynn Hardesty
master pollinator
Posts: 5303
Location: Due to winter mortality, I stubbornly state, zone 7a Tennessee
2270
7
I like...
forest garden foraging books food preservation cooking fiber arts bee medical herbs
posted 7 months ago
  • Likes 4
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I agree with Carla, the ears need to be more like a triangle. I think you started with the right shape, and they rounded a bit as you stabbed more wool in.

The color is a tad brighter than in nature, but it is beautiful.

'What we do now echoes in eternity.' Marcus Aurelius
How Permies Works Dr. Redhawk's Epic Soil Series

 
I'm thinking about a new battle cry. Maybe "Not in the face! Not in the face!" Any thoughts tiny ad?
Weekend Homesteader: Winter by Anna Hess
https://permies.com/wiki/206797
reply
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
Boost this thread!
Similar Threads
More...