Rabbit Patch Needle Felting and Crafts

What is Needle Felting?

Needle felting uses wool (animal fleece or other types of fibres) and a thin notched metal needle to interlace these fibres together into a solid shape. The wool is compacted together by the little notches in the needle pulling the fibres past each other and sort of knotting them together.

What is the roving or wool top fibre?

These are two of many types of loose wool used in felt making. Roving is the name for wool which has been brushed and untangled. Wool tops are semi-processed long fibers from raw wool, combed so the fibers are in the same direction. Most of us honestly just use the words interchangeably because we don’t remember which is which! I just call it all wool and hope for the best. Another type of wool is called core wool, which is usually more coarse so it compacts together faster with a thick needle.

Is the wool always from sheep?

It doesn’t have to be! Wool can refer to sheep wool, but is also used colloquially to describe non-animal loose fibers. It is just easier for crafters to say ‘wool’ when talking about the roving/ tops/ wool stuff we use. I mostly use Bamboo, bio-nylon, tencel, and Pineapple fibres! There are some amazing types of wool out there from materials which are so unique!

My favourite wool shop is World of Wool (not sponsored) where I get all my specialty and interesting non-animal wool, so its a great place to have a browse at what is out there!

Is the needle like a sewing needle?

The needle can come in many styles and shapes to allow for lots of techniques and variety. Needles

can be 3-sided, star shaped, thin, have extra notches, or even have the notches facing the other way

so the fibres are brought out of the wool to create a fuzzy sort-of fur effect. A thick needle works best

with coarse core wool to felt it together faster, and the thin needles can smooth out a more finished

piece to look more flat.