Wool felting tools

Tags: #Wool

Felting wool (or felting, as this type of needlework is also called) has continued to gain popularity in recent years. Using various felting techniques, you can make beautiful figurines, original toys, spectacular jewelry and various decorative elements. Felting wool requires a certain set of tools, without which it is impossible to do this type of needlework.

What tools are needed for wool felting?

In specialized stores you can now find a lot of different tools for this type of needlework.

The minimum beginner's kit includes several different needles, a sponge, a felting brush and the yarn itself.

But the more diverse the set of tools used in this type of needlework is, the easier and faster the process itself will be.

Needles for felting

They are considered the basic tool for this type of needlework. Such needles are quite diverse and differ in some parameters.

By needle thickness:

thick - used in the initial stages of work to felt coarse fibers;
medium - used throughout the entire work process;
thin - these are used at the final stage for finishing parts.

Tip shape:

triangular - the most common option;
twisted triangular ones - leave very small holes, used at the final stage;
reverse triangular - used for final finishing;
star-shaped (with a tetrahedral cross-section) - the use of such needles significantly speeds up the process of felting wool;
crown - have serifs at the very tip, used to treat the surface of the product.

The accuracy of the holes it leaves depends on the cross-section of the needle.

Reference! Initially, such needles were not intended for felting wool, but were used industrially for making felt.

Backing (sponge) for felting

A tool used to make flat elements (such as leaves). Felting mats are in many ways similar in appearance to rugs or washcloths. Felting mats made of polyethylene foam are more practical and easy to use.

Such substrates last longer than washcloths. In addition, the wool does not fall into them too much, and cleaning polyethylene foam substrates is much easier. Washcloths are more affordable and much easier to find.

Needle holders

They help noticeably speed up the process of dry felting special holders for needles -applicators made of wood or plastic. They can have monolithic or replaceable heads.

First option provides for work with just one needle built into the holder.

Second option Can be used for a variety of needles.There are even special attachments into which you can insert from 3 to 5 needles to speed up the work.

Felting machine

This device allows you to perform up to 2500 needle strokes per minute. Some models are designed for simultaneous use of up to 12 needles.

It will take some time to get used to such a device. But later, using a felting machine, it will be more convenient to work on the surface and reliefs of volumetric products.

Puhoderka

This type of tool is probably well known to owners of long-haired animals. If there is only one such slicker, it can be used to tear off the wool in thin shreds from a fleece or combed tape.

Important! If you have two slickers, you can use them to mix wool.. In addition, using a fluffer you can fluff up already felted felt.

An unsuccessful product can be turned back into a pile of wool with such a tool and then made again.

Thimbles

They will come in handy when felting large items in your hands. They are convenient because they reliably protect your fingers from being punctured by a needle during work. Will be especially useful for beginners. You can find rubber and leather options.

Molds

To create appliqués and flat decorations, ordinary baking molds are useful. With their help, it will be much easier to form clear contours of the drawing.

Wire for toy frame

The frame is necessary to give the voluminous wool product flexibility and maximum stability. For children's crafts, a good choice would be a special chenille wire, which is quite easy to roll wool onto.