Felting Needle Guide: Types, Gauges & Colour Codes
Felting needles come in different gauges and shapes. Each one moves the wool in a slightly different way. This guide explains the colour markings used on The Felt Box needles and helps you choose the right needle for each stage of a project.
Two useful rules:
The higher the gauge number, the finer the needle. A 40 gauge needle is finer than a 36 gauge needle.
Start with a coarser needle for shaping, then move to a finer needle as the wool becomes firm.
Felting needle colour guide
Which needle should I choose?
32 or 36 triangular, or 36 star.
38 star or 38 star twist.
40 triangular or 42 twist.
38 fork or 40 crown.
40 reverse.
Needle types and uses
32 Triangular — Red
A coarse, sturdy needle for starting a project, working with coarse fibres and firmly attaching pieces. It felts quickly but leaves larger surface holes, so it is not normally used for the final finish.
36 Triangular — Orange
A useful medium-coarse needle for building the main shape of a three-dimensional project, beginning a piece and attaching parts securely.
40 Triangular — Bare Metal
A fine needle for smoothing the surface and adding detail. It works best once the wool is already fairly firm and is not intended for rough shaping or coarse fibres.
38 Star — Blue
A reliable all-round needle. The star shape has barbs on four edges, so it catches more fibre than a triangular needle and works efficiently for both shaping and detail.
36 Star — Black
A coarse, fast-working star needle for beginning projects, shaping and working with coarser wool. It can be used throughout a project, although the punch marks may remain visible.
38 Fork — Green
This needle has no barbs. A small fork at the tip catches fibres and inserts them into the surface, making it useful for rooting hair, fur and individual strands.
40 Crown — Purple
The barbs sit close to the tip, giving a short needling action. It is useful for rooting hair or fur, securing fine surface fibres and adding small details without pushing the fibre too deeply.
38 Star Twist — Pink
A fast, versatile needle that can be used through much of a project. Its twisted star profile catches fibre efficiently while helping to reduce obvious surface holes.
40 Reverse — Yellow
The barbs point in the opposite direction, so the needle pulls fibres out rather than pushing them in. Use it on a firmly felted piece to create a fluffy, fuzzy or fur-like finish.
42 Twist — White
The finest needle in our range. Use it for very small details, fine fibres and the final smoothing stage once the project is already firm.
Safety and correct use
- Felting needles are extremely sharp and should be used with care.
- They are strong but brittle. Push the needle straight into the wool and pull it straight out.
- Do not bend, twist or lever the needle sideways, as this can cause it to snap.
- Keep your fingers clear of the needle path and use finger protectors while learning.
- Keep felting needles safely stored and away from children.