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    Learn More About Felting Supplies

    The needlecraft of felting uses wool felt to make three-dimensional creations. Felt is a thick, soft cloth, giving the resulting creations a highly textured look and feel.


    There are two types of felting: needle and wet. Needle felting involves the agitation of wool by barbed needles, which causes the fibers to "felt" and bond together. Wet felting, on the other hand, uses soap and water to interlock the fibers.


    Felting is one of the oldest textile arts and isn't very difficult to learn with the right felting supplies.

    An electric felting machine speeds up the felting process, which is slow when done solely by hand. The machine moves the barbed felting needles through the wool, catching and tangling the fibers to turn them into felt. Sellers on Etsy carry both large industrial felting machines and smaller handled models for home felters.

    Unlike other types of sewing and crafting needles, felting needles have small barbs on the ends. When the needle enters the wool, it tugs at the wool fibers and causes them to tangle and lock together. A regular needle would simply slide in and out of the wool, leaving it undisturbed and failing to produce the felt.

    Roving is a type of coarse wool that felts up easily and quickly. It typically comes in rolls but is available in bunches of loose wool fiber, too. Shops on Etsy carry roving for felting in a kaleidoscope of colors, from natural undyed to brightly dyed. Multipacks of various colors help you add variety to your projects.

    A variety of other felting tools suit more elaborate projects as your skill level increases:


    Felting kits are helpful beginner bundles that come with all the basics you need to tackle a small felting project—typically, wool, felting needles, a felting mat, and other essentials.


    When you’ve acquired a few basic felting skills, supplies, and tools, look into felting tutorials and felting patterns that will walk you through even more fun creations.