Part 4: DIY How to Needle Felt a Siberian Husky - Reverse Felting the Coat and Finishing the Details

This video is intended for you to follow along making a needle felted Siberian Husky, or similar breed of dog or even a wolf. The supplies you will need are listed below in this description. It took me 36 hours to needle felt this dog. However, depending on how much detail you choose to include on your sculpture (for example the paws could be made much simpler in detail level without taking away from the overall look of the piece), it could take much less time. And even if you cannot execute your needle felted dog to exactly the same degree, I think you can still enjoy this craft, and still end up with something nice. Have fun!

Special note about the nose color in PART 4:
I’m so disappointed that I didn’t get this part recorded. It’s a very short part, but important for many dogs. I brushed on some acrylic paint in the center of the nose to give the nose a little pinkish color right up the center. The exact dog I was making had this little snip of pink on his nose. Many dogs have little bits of pink and it can vary in intensity. With this style nose (sealed with Mod Podge Matt) you can paint it with accent colors. The exact colors I used were Folk Art acrylic paints in 633 Baby Pink and 2933 Medium Gray. This gave me a grayish pink. Then I diluted it with the Mod Podge so that I could gradually build the color intensity on the nose, which in my case was just a very faint pinkish.

TOOLS:
--A felting surface
There are many other options https://www.etsy.com/search?q=needle%...

--Needle Felting (barbed) Needles: 40T yellow, 42T blue, 38 red star, 36T black and green REVERSE needle(s). The quad (4x) reverse needle was very helpful!
OPTIONAL: I also used a short needle (white) which is no longer available and the orange needle would be an alternative. In part 2 you see me use a dark blue needle briefly, the equivalent is the purple needle from Felt Alive, if you’re interested. (https://www.etsy.com/shop/FeltAlive).
** It is important to note that needles can break, especially the higher gauge, so you may want a spare needle or two.

--Scissors

--Needle-nose Pliers

optional Clover Needle Felting Pen https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...

optional Finger Guards https://www.amazon.com/Dimensions-Nee...

optional Clover Felting Needle Claw and Mat Cleaner https://www.amazon.com/Clover-Felting...

optional Pet Grooming Slicker Brush
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BKMNH8F1/
It does not have to be this exact brush. The brush should NOT have coated tips on the wire bristles (not a “pin brush”).

MISC SUPPLIES:

-- Floral Wire (18 gauge)
https://www.amazon.com/DECORA-Gauge-W...

--Mod Podge Matte
https://www.amazon.com/Mod-Podge-Wate...

--Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Brush Pen Wallet – Shades of Grey
https://www.amazon.com/Faber-Castell-...

--Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Brush Pens – 6 Colors Skin Tones
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...

--Spray Fixative (L’Oreal Paris Elnett Satin Hairspray Extra Strong Hold Unscented)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...

--Plastic Safety Eyes (7.5mm) https://www.etsy.com/listing/16650207...
**I used clear eyes and painted the back side, but you can purchase already colored eyes.
Alternatively, you could use 7mm or even 6mm

-- Acrylic Paint
For the eyes: very light blue color, or mix blue and white paint (IF you are painting the eyes yourself). Or choose a different eye color as appropriate.
For the nose & paw pads: pale pink and a medium gray paint if the dog you’re making has pinkish tints on its nose. I also use medium gray paint in the Mod Podge that I added to the paws, if you choose to make this type of paw pads.

*optional-- you might want an awl for piercing the wool to insert the eyes, but you might just be able to force the eyes through the wool without an awl.

--Glue (I use Aleene's Tacky Glue) https://amazon.com/Aleenes-Original-T...

WOOL:
I get all my wool through various Etsy sellers. There are many wonderful sellers you can buy from on Etsy.com

--Core Wool
https://www.etsy.com/listing/76770610...

--Dyed wool
White, black, and light and dark greys- especially grey which has various colors already blended together to give a heathered appearance.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/77667738...
https://www.etsy.com/listing/23071919...
https://www.etsy.com/listing/26706155...

*optional: a light flesh tone wool for inside the ears. However, if you are using the flesh tone Pitt Pens, you would not have to have this wool because you can just accent the white wool with flesh tone.