Cavb.org is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

Best Needle Felting Starter Kit Of 2024: Completed List

Brandon Forder
  Mar 28, 2024 10:49 PM

Not sure how to get started with needle felting but eager to give it a try? Browse these needle felting kits and choose your favorite; they're perfect for beginners.

We're happy to see needle felting gaining in popularity. The best way to get started is with a kit, although there are lots of supplies, tutorials, and books out there (see out our favorite needle felting books for more ideas). Purchasing a needle felting kit is a convenient way to get everything you need to get started and learn the basics. Needle felting kits are perfect for anybody, from a total beginner to someone who wants to experiment with the craft. If you're just starting off with needle felting, make sure to have a copy of our beginner's guide handy.

We've rounded up the market's cutest needle felting kits for newbies. Everything about them—from placing an order to preparing it—is simple and straightforward, and the end result is irresistibly cute. Start scrolling to discover your next needle felting kit, which can range from needle felting dogs to needle felting anime characters.


Compare Products

Last update on 2024-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images, Product Titles, and Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API


Buying Guide

Needle Felting Versus Wet Felting

By repeatedly stabbing the wool with barbed needles, the fibers are interlocked and the wool becomes rigid. Needle felting can be used to make three-dimensional figures, beads, mobiles, ornaments, portraits, writing on pillows, buttons, cloth, and more. Use hot water, soap, and agitation to lock the wool fibers together to make felting products like dryer balls, coasters, pot holders, scarves, table runners, bowls, bags, hats, and flowers.

​Needle Gauges

The size of a needle, or its "gauge," is a measurement of its wall thickness. Gauges 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, and 42 can be found among the needles. Generally speaking, the needle felting tool will be thinner as the number increases. Needles with more barbs and more strength are utilized when working with thicker wool for felting. When working with finer yarns or threads, thinner needles are preferred.

​Needle Pen

A needle pen is a tool used for felting that consists of a wooden handle with many barbed needles.

​Needle Felting Foam

A felting mat or pad will be useful for keeping your felting projects steady while you work on them. Protecting your felting surface and fingertips from needle felting instruments is another important function of quality needle felting foam. The best option is to use several inches of dense needle felting foam. Needle felting foam can be purchased, or thick, unused packaging foam can be substituted.

Wool

With so many options, it can be difficult to select the wool that best suits your needs. In order to learn what kinds of wool produce the desired results, it is important to keep track of your trials. When you're first getting started, Wunder Label suggests going with a wool fiber that's about mid-length.

Felting Cushion

Replaces the lap or tabletop as a workspace. As a result, the surface will be safe from damage caused by repetitive stabbing, and the needle tips will be protected from bending or breaking.

Ethical considerations

It's important to consider the wool's origins. There is a wide disparity between the number of regulations and laws each country pertaining to animal welfare. Since mulesing is traumatic for the sheep and may be avoided with improved husbandry, it is preferable to choose Merino tops made from wool from unshorn sheep. The dyes used should be safe for babies and not cause any harm. You may purchase with confidence knowing that the wool you're purchasing has been dyed in accordance with EU regulations, which outline the best methods for doing so. Many nations outside the European Union do not have regulations, allowing the use of poisonous dyes and the subsequent pollution of local water sources. See our GREEN POLICY on wool procurement, animal welfare, and dyes for more details.

Instructions

There must be a way to teach the novices. It comes as a bit of a surprise, but a lot of needle felting starter kits don't include any sort of instructions. A needle felting kit's instructions should detail how to use the included equipment and fibers effectively. Instructions on how to use the various needles to sculpt the wool and how to put sections together, as well as how to make some simple designs like balls and tubes, would be helpful for beginners. If you want to give someone the gift of needle felting but still want them to get some practice in, including a few project lessons is a great idea. You can try your hand at needle felting once you know the fundamentals.


FAQS

What is needle felting?

Needle felting involves interweaving strands of wool with the help of barbed needles. Felt is created when wool fibers from one piece are dragged into another, where they become entangled and adhere to form a solid mass.

Stick to basic forms like Christmas ornament balls or rounded owls if you're just starting out with needle felting. The more effort and practice you put into it, the more you'll be able to progress to the more difficult felting kits, like the hedgehog or the lazy cat.

Are felting needles different from sewing needles?

A needle used for felting is different from a standard needle. Unlike standard sewing needles, these have small barbs at the tip. They're often longer and thicker too. The sharp, curved tips of a felting needle are made for splicing and knotting wool strands together.

Can you do needle felting with a regular needle?

Needles intended for use in sewing will not work for needle felting. Needles used in felting are specialized instruments derived from industrial felting machines. The purpose of these tools is to matt and lock fibers together, allowing you to make felt from roving or batting that is otherwise loose.

Is needle felting easy?

It's not the simplest skill to master, but neither is it the most challenging. My experience with needle felting has shown me that it is quite simple to learn how to make basic forms and the overall needle felting process, but that adding smaller details and less conventional designs is more challenging.


Conclusion

Everyone can appreciate the craft of needle felting. It's simple to pick up, and you don't need any special equipment to do it. To top it all off, you can create personalized versions of your favorite cartoon characters and zoo animals to share with your loved ones.

If you have friends or family members who are interested in felting art, the needle felting starter kits would make wonderful presents. Consistency is the key to becoming a needle felting pro. You should take care not to drop the needles or poke yourself (although accidents are inevitable).

We hope that after reading our reviews of the top needle felting kits, you will be able to confidently select the supplies that will help you achieve your desired results.

Needle felting: what's not to like?


4
2 ratings