|
|
Print-friendly version
Needle Felting
Needle felting has been around for years, yet most of us have never heard of such a thing. Artists use it regularly as a way of doing sculpture. Think one-of-a-kind, think original and think unique. Think of little toy teddy bears, animals, fairies and dolls. Get away from thinking of felting as being simply flat pieces of material and think abut learning needle felting in 3-D!
Special felting needles are needed. These are straight needles with barbs cut along the shaft. When the needle is repeatedly pushed into a tuft of wool fibres, the barbs pull the fibres down and compress and lock them altogether. The barbs are cut in one direction so that felting of the fibres will occur when the needle is pushed in, but not when it is pulled out.
This felting process makes a large ball of fluff condense down into a dense mass of wool. This can then be moulded and shaped into what type ever animal or figure you require. If you poke more in one spot, this will depress that area and created a dent in your sculpture to make, an eye socket or nostril, indents for ears. If you pull out the wool, then a nose is made.
Needle felting is great fun, but can be hard on the fingers. A block of foam put underneath to push your felt into will help you a lot. If you make all the joints of your little toy separately, then you can sew them altogether and the last stage is to set in the eyes, embroider a nose and put on its features with an ordinary needle.
Voila - a 3D sculpture is made - clever you!
|
|