NEEDLE FELTING is a process of making felt by using a barbed needle that is stabbed continuously into loose wool fibers until the scales on the fiber are caught by the barbs and cause them to tangle and bind together. (Think of cockleburs in your sweater.) Like many other innovations, needle felting was discovered during the industrial revolution in the mid-1800s when machines were invented that held hundreds of needles to punch through wool until the felt is made. This felt was used for several industrial purposes like insulation, batting, gaskets, etcetera. In the early 1980s, a few creative people took home needles from the large mills and used them to felt items at home for pleasure and aesthetics. This action spread and transformed into a new art form.
Tomte/Nisse with green cap and bow in his beard.
Minnesota Viking
Blue and purple Tomte/Nisse.
My little puppy admiring a needle felted alpaca using one of my alpaca's fiber.
Mr & Mrs Clause
Felted bear with movable head, arms, and legs.
Little green Yoda's made for my special little ones.
This picture is Lyle the Lumberjack with a bear sitting behind him.
A Swedish Tomte.
Little bee greeting a flower.
Papa Troll
A play on rosemaling with wool.
Leif the Logger.
Dragonflies and dandelion fluff.
Lyle the Lumberjack is inspired by my neighbor. I'm not sure if he smoked a pipe, but it was common for lumberjacks of the past to smoke a pipe when relaxing.
Who doesn't love an ugly, mischievous, little woodland troll? This needle felted creature was found hiding in a tree knot hole.
This is a sure sign of the harvest season. Witches and pumpkins!
This cute little "snow-couple" were created in a needle felting class. It is interesting to see personalities emerge in the creating process! By the looks of the expressions, I wonder if they are going shopping?
These snow children want to play in the snow!