Miss*Laurence: Mixed Media and Textiles art by Laurence Menhinick- How to needle felt ( Laurence Moni)

How to make needle felt

Needle felting is interesting to add details on a finished felted piece or to help pieces of pre-felt to stay on a background before fulling. Fantastic 3D characters can be made with needle felt. Here is a demonstration on a flat piece of felt.
	Here are the tools you will need for needle felting: Some wool rovings or knitting wool Special felting needles - these needles are barbed one way and smooth the other, A thick sponge to protect your working surface A piece of felt, or pre-felt
	Fist you need to make sure the sponge is exactly under the area you want to needle felt, as the needle is very sharp and will go through the felt and stab your table - Work slowly at the beginning to avoid missing the wool and pricking your finger. I usually hold the felt into place with a few coloured pins in each corner, so that I know the boundaries of the sponge.
	To needle felt on a flat surface you simply need to push your wool through the felt with the needle. Make sure the needle is upright as otherwise it will break. As you get to use to the "stabbing" you will be able to work faster.
	For finer details, use the same principle by stretching a thin piece of wool between your other fingers and stabbing through. You will be able to add very precise details. You will notice that the needle pushes a groove in the felt, and your piece of wool disappears- just use a thicker line. The grooves are used for depth in 3D felt.
	The wool can be added in layers. The stabbing with the needle will push the top layers throughout the felt, and you will notice that it will push through the sponge as well on the reverse, now you can see whay you need to protect your surface!
	Here is the finished detail, with a picture of the reverse.
	Three dimentional items use the same stabbing process but take a long time to make. The best book on the market for 3D items is Brigitte Krag Hansen's.