Using Felting Needles to Apply Designs to Felt, Part 2 ...

The completed design will look something like this ... notice that there are white edges showing around the cutout shapes I have applied to the background. This is because the cutouts had a white wool layer on the back side of the felt. If I had used felt with a black back side, the edges would have been black edges showing around the shapes.

When you turn the felt over, it is clear that the needle has pulled and pushed fibers from the one piece of felt into the background piece. They are attached together now.

For all practical purposes you are done. If you aren't quite satisfied with the appearance of the piece, you can rewet it with hot soapy water and do a bit more rubbing/felting over the surface of the design. If you do this, there will be less texture and the surface will become flatter and less raised.
Below are some of the felted things that I have made and have applied felt designs.

The eggs (or pin cushions) are quick and fun. The only thing you must NOT do is try to use the felting needle while the wool felt is still wet (as in, "I just made it and now I will use the felting needle"). You will break the felting needle.

These are hand felted and hand beaded pouches or purses. All are lined with an acetate silk lining. They are simple rectangles folded into thirds and sewn to make the pouch.

There are many suppliers if you want to buy felting needles or would like books on the subject.
Two of these would be:
(1) Woodland Woolworks at 1.800.547.3725 catalog pages 39 & 63
(2) Shuttles, Spindles, & Skeins at 1.800.283.4163 or http://www.shuttlesspindlesandskeins.com

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