Today I’m sharing an overview of needle felting tools and how to use them. These are some of my personal tips and lessons learned since I started felting. I hope this post helps you get a clearer idea of how to choose the right tools for yourself.
1️⃣ Felting Needles
Needle gauges and uses
| Type | Gauge | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Coarse（ 2–3 needles are enough.） | 36 | Base layer for pet needle felting projects |
| Medium | 38–42 | Initial shaping, small project base layers. |
| Fine | 40 | Detailed shaping, smoothing. |
| Extra Fine | 42 | Final surface finishing, fine textures, inserting very fine fibers. |
⚠️ Tip: If your finished piece looks “holey” but your wool is fine, you’re probably using too coarse a needle, or you need to add a fine layer on top.
Higher gauge = thinner needle = better for fine details or very soft fiber. Lower gauge = thicker needle = better for rough shaping or coarse fiber.
Special needle types：
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Star Needle / Spiral Needle
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Features: more edges, more barbs = better grip on wool.
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Star needles feel “heavier” than regular needles, even at the same gauge.）
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Needle sets & handles:
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Common: single, double, triple, or 5-needle tools.
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Handles: wood handles, Clover Pen Style, or electric felting pens (for large projects).
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Popular Japanese brands: Clover, Hamanaka, Prym, SKC (high prices, not necessary for beginners).
2️⃣ Work Mats
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Foam Pad (3–5cm)
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Pros: Cheap, handy, perfect for ball shapes.
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Cons: Not durable, usually one-time use.
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Sponge Pad (3–5cm)
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Pros: Medium density, feels soft and supportive when felting.
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Cons: Can trap fibers and mix colors.
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Felting mat brush + Burlap/Fabric
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Pros: Reusable, very stable, great for flat pieces like brooches or wool paintings.
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Durable and supportive.
3️⃣ Combing & Blending Tools
Steel Eyebrow Comb
•Use: Comb small areas, remove tiny fibers. •Essential for pet wool sculptures.
Carding brush /Large Blending Board
•Use: Comb large areas, blend colors evenly. •Large boards: Great for big projects; you can mix lots of wool at once.
4️⃣ Auxiliary Tools
1.Scissors
• Basic: One straight + one curved scissors is enough.
•Fine trimming:
• Tailor leather scissors → trim newly inserted wool
• Tailor fabric scissors → thin small areas
• Hairdressing scissors → thin large areas, great for body or long-haired cat faces
2. Fabric Marking Pen
• Use: Positioning, marking, finalizing layout.
• Very useful for wool paintings.
3. Thick Cardboard
• Use: Protect fingers when shaping thin pieces (like ears).
4. Finger protector
5. Mini Iron
• Use: Remove surface fuzz for a smoother finish.
These are some of the tools our artists at MeetCosmos use in their needle felting projects. This guide is also meant to be a helpful starting point for beginners, sharing tips and insights we’ve learned over the years.
We hope this gives you a clearer idea of which tools to try and how to get started with your own wool felt creations.
If you’re inspired to start your own collection, check out MeetCosmos for more beautifully crafted wool felt pet creations, perfect for bringing adorable pet sculptures into your home!
