Needle felting in summer: What can be created?

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you may have noticed that I have a preference for needle felting. It's not a difficult technique to apply, it just appears to be complex - because it can be quite simple, especially if you're getting started in this craft and taking advantage of our "SUPER KAWAII" projects for beginners.

In case you are new here, needle felting is also known as "dry felting". It is a process that uses a needle with notches to create 2D and 3D objects from sheep's wool or other animal fibers. And the term KAWAII is an adjective from the Japanese language, of which I am a fan, meaning beautiful, graceful, adorable, cute, etc.

The pieces resulting from this technique can be used for decoration as well as for craft projects - from utility accessories to home decor or even works of art.

In this blog post, I'll present some ideas for needle felting projects you can do this summer season - along with some tips on the materials you need to get started, as well as how to practice it safely and where to do it.

What you will need to start needle felting?

A firm base on which to work: This can be a high-density Sponge to place on the table or work on your lap - it should be large enough and suitable for the size of the piece to be produced to cover the entire work area. The thickness of the sponge should also be taken into consideration, at least 4 cm high.
Felting wool: This is the type of wool where the fiber is combed or carded. Some types of wool are more suitable than others and you can also use synthetic fibers. However, wool is excellent because it is a natural fiber and biodegradable, unlike synthetic fibers. Ideally, you are looking for a wool that is not overly processed, European Merino Wool from Magic Wool is a standard wool, which means that it is suitable for this technique and for many other types of work. Note: superfine and extra fine wools such as Australian Merino Wool should be avoided when working with this technique.
Tools: These are different felting needles, each type and thickness is suitable for the type and stage of work you are in. And different felting handles. Individual ones make felting more convenient and multi-needle ones, can make it faster.

Safety first!

There are some important safety notes to keep in mind when needle felting.

• First of all, never work without a firm felting base. If you start felting wool directly on your hand, the risk of getting hurt is certain! So make sure that the base to be used is a dense sponge, and high enough so that the needle doesn't pierce it completely. This will prevent you from poking yourself when working on your lap, or breaking the needle if you are working on a table.
• Second, never felting while watching TV! It sounds like a meaningless thing to do, but trust me, it's easy to get seriously hurt. Unfortunately, I found this out in practice... as a beginner I was quite careful, but as I gained skill and dexterity the scenario became worse! Several times I pierced my finger with 2 and 3 needles at the same time. Literally from one side of the finger to the other.... discover in this rather painful way the importance of attention and focus in this process. So your best bet here is to actually do one thing or the other and never both at the same time.
• Third, never leave pieces of wool at the mercy of our pets.
  Dogs and cats are attracted to the smell of this material and will easily throw their mouths open to play. Many of these pieces of wool end up being ingested and causing major problems for the animal.
• And last, but not least than the previous points, never let small children use the needles without adult supervision. Felting needles are quite sharp and for this reason they are so dangerous. Their prick causes very sharp pain and a bloody scene. Used improperly and in children's play without rules or care... they can cause traumatic situations.

Therefore, we must teach our children to felting carefully and safely. As well as having an adult always on the alert for games in which children can hurt themselves or others.

3 needle felting ideas to do in your backyard this summer:

1. Ice cream, whenever the temperature starts to rise this is a good theme! The idea here is to create a cone ice cream with 2 balls. It's a great way to work on some different principles - from building the base, where you create the cone and balls, to finishing the top with some color. You can also create a Stick Leg if you want to start with something simpler. This can be a good option to familiarize yourself with the technique.
2. A picture, a small piece of art to put on the wall with the portrait of your pet, a landscape with the sea, a sunflower, or other summer related flowers can make a great decoration and bring a lot of vibrant color to brighten up your home or room. As an option you can hang it only during the summer months or leave it up all year round.
3. Accessories, a small piece of jewelry such as a pair of earrings or a ring can be a great addition to your outfit this summer. You can create a pair of earrings with a delicate little bird or a flower-shaped ring to wear or gift to someone if you prefer.

Conclusion

This is a fantastic summer activity that can be enjoyed outdoors. It is a great way to spend time with friends and family, especially children, and you can easily create gifts with your newly acquired skills. It is a very tactile and creative activity that will help you relax while having fun at the same time.

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