Start Needle Felting – Beginner’s Guide

Needle felting is a simple, relaxing craft where you use a special barbed needle to tangle wool fibres together. With just a little wool, a needle, and something to poke into, you can make anything from tiny animals to decorations or even framed artwork. This guide will take you through the essential tools, the best wool to use, and a step-by-step look at how felting works.

Step 1: Pull a tuft of carded wool on a light blue sponge

1. Pull some wool

Intermixed fibres felt fastest — easy to start with

Step 2: Shape wool roughly with fingers

2. Shape with your fingers

Lightly form the wool into the shape you want

Step 4: Refine and smooth the felted shape

4. Refine the shape

Keep felting and turning until it is firm and smooth

Only 3 things you need to start: Needles, wool and surface.

1. Felting Needles

Felting needle close-up

Your felting needle is the most important tool — it is what tangles the wool fibres together. Different needles are used for shaping, smoothing, and adding fine detail:

  • 36 Triangular – strong starter needle, ideal for building shapes
  • 38 Star – versatile all-rounder, works for most projects
  • 40 Triangular – finer point for surface work and detail

When you are starting out, a small pack of 5 or 10 needles is sensible, as they can break while you learn. Our Mixed Pack (5 or 10) gives you a useful range of types to try.

Accessories Worth Considering (optional)

Alongside your needles, a few simple accessories can make felting easier and more comfortable. These are not essential to begin with, but many crafters find them useful as projects get bigger:

Felting needle holder with multi-needle options Needle Holder / Multi-Needle Tool

speeds up felting on larger areas and helps you work evenly

Leather finger protectors for needle felting Finger Protectors

a good idea to have as felting needles are very sharp

2. Wool – The Best Start for Beginners

Not all wool works the same. Carded wool batts are the easiest for beginners because the fibres are intermixed and felt together quickly.

Rainbow wool set in bright, pastel and natural colours Rainbow Wool Set

a ready-made colour mix in bright, pastel, and natural shades — perfect for experimenting

Choose your own five colours of carded wool Wool Stack (Choose 5 Colours)

pick your own favourite shades to build a personal starter bundle

Both NZ and Māori wool ranges are around 27 micron, making them reliable for both core and finishing layers.

3. Felting Surface

You need a soft but firm base to stab into:

Light blue foam felting mat Foam Felting Mat

simple and affordable, a popular choice for beginners

Cotton rice bag used as a felting surface Cotton Bag filled with Rice

reusable, eco-friendly, and a long-lasting alternative to foam

Even a firm cushion or a washing-up sponge will do in a pinch.

4. Core Wool – For Bigger Projects (optional)

Core felting wool is coarser and more affordable — ideal for bulking out the inside of projects before adding coloured wool. It makes your fibres go further and keeps projects light.

You do not have to use a dedicated core: NZ and Māori neutrals work brilliantly too.

Baavet core wool close-up Baavet Core Wool

a natural cream wool: soft but firm, great for affordable bulk filling

Natural carded corriedale wool batt Natural Carded Batts

NZ or Māori carded batts in neutral shades also make fantastic core layers

5. Starter Kits & Project Kits

If you prefer everything in one box, we have you covered:

Needle felting starter kit without wool No-Wool Starter Kit

includes needles, holder, finger protectors, and foam mat — add your own wool

Small starter kit with ten wool colours and tools Small Starter Kit

10 wool colours plus tools — a balanced beginner’s kit with everything included

Beginner needle felting project kit: Poppy Pig Project Kits

step-by-step kits like Poppy Pig — learn while making something adorable

Ultimate needle felting starter kit with tools and wool Ultimate Starter Kit

our largest needle felting starter kit UK — premium tools and a generous wool selection

Ready to Give It a Try?

Needle felting is simple, soothing, and full of creative possibilities. With just a few tools and some wool, you can bring your ideas to life — from tiny animals to colourful decorations. We hope this guide gives you the confidence to start, and we cannot wait to see what you make.

Every project is unique — enjoy the process, and remember that there are no mistakes, only happy experiments.