Needle felting for beginners - easy autumn leaves. Quick and simple tutorial, by Debra's felt studio on YouTube. 45 min 58 s.
- Video length
- 45 min 58 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Choose two or three leaf shapes and cut them from card as templates. A metal leaf cookie cutter also works well as a mould.
Pull thin tufts of wool and lay them in a crisscross layer inside the leaf shape on your foam pad. Keep the thickness even.
Stab the needle straight up and down through the wool and into the pad. Work all over the shape until the fibres start to hold together.
Lift the loose edges back into the leaf outline and keep felting. Add small tufts of wool to any thin patches.
Add a second colour at the tip or centre. Place a thin layer over the base and felt it down firmly.
Roll thin strands of darker wool for the veins. Lay them on top and stab along each line to fix them in place.
Turn the leaf over and check both sides. Felt any soft spots and firm up the outer edge and stem.
Make a small loop at the stem with wool or thread and felt it in securely. Thread twine through the loops and space the leaves evenly.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep the needle straight as you stab. Bent needles snap easily.
Work in thin layers rather than one thick lump so the wool binds faster.
Keep your fingers behind the foam pad and away from the needle tip.
Use carded wool roving or batting, not smooth superwash knitting yarn.
Questions
What wool should I use for needle felting?
Use carded wool roving or batting. It has loose fibres that catch on the needle. Smooth superwash yarn is much harder to felt.
How long does one leaf take?
A small leaf usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes once you have a template. Thicker or more detailed leaves take longer.
Can I use a cookie cutter as a mould?
Yes. Put a metal leaf cutter on the foam pad, fill it with wool and felt inside it. Ease the cutter off once the shape holds.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
