Needles, Wool, Mistakes, Advice and the One Tip - Judy & Roz - Woolly Felters
We keep it simple. Our work is usually small, so we love working with a 40 Triangle felting needle most of the time. To achieve a smooth finish we use a 38 Star felting needle. We also use the latter when working near wire.
2. What is your favourite type of wool to work with?Norwegian wool, graded as C1 and available from the Norwegian Wool website in a beautiful range of colours. We also like the wool that you sell. Both types of wool are easy to use, felt well and we love all the colours.
3. What is the worst piece of advice you keep hearing for needle felters?Some say that Merino wool can be used for needle felting. Yes, it can - but because it is so fine it takes much longer to needle felt, and the finish is not as smooth as the finish you can achieve with the coarser wools that we use. This advice can often put beginners off continuing the craft.
4. What common mistakes do people make when they start out?We find that beginners do not use their felting needles properly. It is so important to keep the needle straight as it is stabbed in and out of the wool. Bending the blade will cause it to break. Another mistake is not listening when we say 'Beware the air'. Better, quicker results can be achieved if the wool is rolled tightly before needling. Not stabbing evenly and all around shapes is another common error. Keep stabbing even to keep work smooth is best.
5. What is the one thing a beginner could learn today that would make a difference to their work?Follow these simple instructions: Use the right sized felting needle and the right wool. Do not rush. Stab the needle straight in and straight out, do not bend the blade. Stab evenly all around each shape.
About the artist:The best place for their work to be seen is on their website: www.woollyfelters.com
They are happy to be contacted through their website contact page: www.woollyfelters.com
Or they can be contacted on Tel: 01622 620455 at Felty Towers, 2 Princes Street, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1UR
They are active on social media and can be messaged on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.