How to get a SMOOTH FINISH on your Needle Felted Animals ☆ 13 Top Tips ☆ No Holes, Lumps or Fuzz!

I share my 13 Top Tips for how to get a smooth finish on your needle felted animals!
No more holey, lumpy or fuzzy sculptures! Get stabbing and needle felt a smooth surface with confidence!

Look out for my extra FAQs (about long furred animals and reverse felting) as a bonus at the end.

I include advice on the process, needles, wool, use of tools and much more (see further down for my recommendation links)

For chapters see times below:
Intro: 00:00
Tip 1: Process 00:45
Tip 2: Wool 01:13
Tip 3: Needles 02:24
Tip 4: Keep Stabbing 03:08
Tip 5: Even out 03:39
Tip 6: Shallow and at an angle 04:09
Tip 7: A Twist 04:36
Tip 8: When layering wool 04:58
An extra Super Tip for merino tops 06:58
Tip 9: Hands/fingers 07:31
Tip 10: Needle Brush 08:12
Tip 11: A Tiny brush 08:24
Tip 12: Scissors 08:54
Tip13: Super Smoothness methods 09:16
Bonus FAQs: Long furred animals? or Reverse felted? 09:46

I hope you find this tutorial useful.

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NEEDLE FELTING TOOLS & WOOL I RECOMMEND FOR REALISTIC ANIMALS

1) US SUPPLIES (for UK list see part 2)

Wool Needle Felting Pad (by Woolbuddy) - https://amzn.to/3e5xtt8
Precision Felting Needles - https://amzn.to/3EjpBin
Clover Multi Needle Tool (holds 1-3 needles) https://amzn.to/3V586bd
Core Wool (by Woolbuddy) - natural undyed https://amzn.to/3fyga42
Soft Merino Wool Roving - variety of 39 colors https://amzn.to/3ebqmPS
Aluminum Armature Wire, 1.5 mm https://amzn.to/3CvDgBr
22 Gauge paper covered wire https://amzn.to/3CwR2Um
Pipe Cleaners (pack of black, white, beige & brown) https://amzn.to/3SHc4p2
Flat Nosed Pliers https://amzn.to/3rDtNlb
Stork Shaped Rose Gold Scissors https://amzn.to/3SUGqUP
Professional Scissors https://amzn.to/3SSokm8

2) UK SUPPLIES

Heidifeathers is my main go to online felting wool and tools supplier. They also have brilliant starter kits.https://amzn.to/3wYn60T

** NEEDLES - Best quality & range - Heidifeathers - all colour coded.
Ultimate Mix (all the needles you need) https://amzn.to/3PPBb7V
Or choose by needle type:
(I used these needles in this tutorial)
Green - Triangle 36G - https://amzn.to/3UyLsYr
Red - Triangle 38G https://amzn.to/3oKvTPK
Blue - Triangle 40G https://amzn.to/2YEct4E
Light Blue - Twisted 40G https://amzn.to/3g3Z12R

**FELTING MATS **
Eco Wool Mat - 3 sizes https://amzn.to/3LYct27
Foam Mat - 3 sizes https://amzn.to/3mDZkAH

** NEEDLE HOLDERS **
Clover Multi Needle Tool (holds 1-3 needles) https://amzn.to/3amZ3w8
Wooden Multi Needle Tool (holds 4 needles): https://amzn.to/3Dimrak
Long Wooden Single Needle Handles x5 https://amzn.to/3FzWFAy

** WOOL **
CARDED Wool - quick & easy to felt
Jacob Batts In Natural Shades https://amzn.to/3mDlZx3 - for core wool
White Corriedale Slivers https://amzn.to/30dsfEf - for wrapping over wire
Carded Slivers in animal shades - Menagerie mix - 10 colours https://amzn.to/3wZi2b0 or wildlife mix - 18 colours https://amzn.to/3a2aVa8

WOOL TOPS - for attaching longer fur/feathers & adding details
Soft Natural Mixed tops - Animal Mix -10 different breeds https://amzn.to/3lr3VqH
Merino tops - packs of 6 (choose from 8 different shade packs) https://amzn.to/3oMB5Tz

** SCISSORS **
Stork Shaped Rose Gold Embroidery Scissors https://amzn.to/3AtdJVp
Professional Thinning Scissors https://amzn.to/3A0zhdf
Professional Hairdressing Scissors https://amzn.to/3Dp3AKH
Small Nail Scissors https://amzn.to/3lCLJKf

** WIRE & PIPE CLEANERS **
Armature Wire - Paper covered (18-30gauge) or Aluminium (15/30gauge) - https://amzn.to/3NGvjvV
100 Pipe Cleaners - Brown, White, Black, Flesh & Grey - https://amzn.to/2Yr0183

** OTHER **
Multi Purpose Pliers https://amzn.to/3GuFUah for bending/cutting/flattening wire
Air dry clay - 6 Colours https://amzn.to/3onaZpw for beaks, claws, noses.
Remington Ceramic Hair Straighteners https://amzn.to/3lC6zto for thin ears / feathers
Horse hair https://amzn.to/3N601yY for animal whiskers


For affiliate links I may receive a tiny commission at no extra cost to you. This helps to support my channel so I can continue to provide valuable content Thank you :-)

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