7 Beginner-Friendly Felting Books to Start Your Craft Journey

Explore Felting Books authored by Jaana Mattson, Roz Dace, Makiko Arai, and more – perfect introductions for beginners eager to learn.

Updated on June 26, 2025
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Every expert in Felting started exactly where you are now: curious, excited, maybe a little unsure. The beautiful thing about Felting is that anyone can begin crafting with just a few tools and some wool. It’s a tactile, rewarding hobby that welcomes you with open arms and grows as your skills develop.

The books featured here are authored by individuals deeply embedded in the Felting world, like Jaana Mattson and Roz Dace, who bring decades of combined experience in fiber arts and crafting. Their approachable writing and well-structured projects make learning the basics straightforward and enjoyable.

While these beginner-friendly books provide excellent foundations, readers seeking content tailored to their specific learning pace and goals might consider creating a personalized Felting book that meets them exactly where they are. This way, your Felting journey can be perfectly matched to your interests and skill level.

Best for charming teddy bear creators
Roz Dace and Judy Balchin have long careers in the craft industry, combining Roz's editorial expertise with Judy's design and teaching experience. Their partnership as the Woolly Felters shines through in this beginner-friendly guide, born from their shared passion for needle felting. With clear instructions and charming projects, they open the door for newcomers to explore this tactile craft with confidence and creativity.
Needle Felting Teddy Bears for Beginners book cover

by Roz Dace, Judy Balchin··You?

2022·96 pages·Felting, Crafts, Sculpting, Toy Making, Needle Felting

Unlike most craft books that overwhelm beginners with complex projects, Roz Dace and Judy Balchin focus on approachable charm in "Needle Felting Teddy Bears for Beginners." Drawing from decades in the craft industry, they guide you through making 20 distinct teddy bears, each with a unique personality, using simple needle felting techniques. You'll learn how to sculpt basic shapes, add intricate details like paws and faces, and position features to bring each bear to life, all supported by clear photos and helpful tips. This book suits anyone new to felting who wants a fun, manageable introduction without fussing over costly materials or complicated steps.

Winner of Best Craft Book 2021
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Best for sculpting doll enthusiasts
Roz Dace has had a successful career in the craft industry, working as Editorial Director and now as a Consultant Editor. Judy Balchin studied art and graphic design, becoming a prolific author and craft demonstrator. Together, their expertise shines through in this book, which guides you gently through needle felting dolls with clear instruction and thoughtful design. Their combined background makes this a reliable resource for anyone eager to explore felting from the ground up.
2023·176 pages·Felting, Sculpting, Doll Making, Armature Building, Wet Felting

What started as Roz Dace and Judy Balchin's passion for crafting turned into a clear, approachable guide for anyone curious about needle felting dolls. You’ll learn how to build doll cores, use armatures, and master both wet and dry felting techniques, all explained with an eye toward capturing personality through tiny details like hair and accessories. The book’s 10 projects range from fairies to caricatures, making it easy to progress at your own pace while exploring design ideas. If you want a hands-on way to develop sculpting skills without feeling overwhelmed, this book offers a straightforward path.

Best Craft Book in The Craft Business Awards 2021
Library Journal Starred Review
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Best for personal skill building
This AI-created book on felting foundations is written based on your background and skill level. You share which felting topics interest you most and your specific goals, and the book focuses on guiding you through core skills at a pace that suits you. Personalizing the content means you avoid overwhelm and build your confidence steadily as you explore the craft.
2025·50-300 pages·Felting, Felting Basics, Needle Techniques, Wool Selection, Tool Handling

This tailored book on felting foundations offers a progressive, personalized introduction to the craft, focusing on building your confidence through a comfortable learning pace. It explores core techniques essential for beginners, ensuring you grasp each step without feeling overwhelmed. By matching your background and goals, it reveals fundamental skills in a way that suits your individual comfort level, helping you steadily develop your felting abilities. Whether you're curious about needle felting or want to understand wool behavior, this tailored guide addresses your specific needs. It’s designed to make your felting journey enjoyable and accessible, emphasizing steady progress through focused, foundational content.

Tailored Guide
Foundational Skillset
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for foundational wool sculptors
Roz Dace brings a rich background in creative writing, drawing, painting, and crafts, complemented by her editorial leadership at Search Press, which focused on practical art and craft books. Alongside her sister Judy Balchin, she has distilled their combined expertise into a beginner-friendly needle felting guide. Their experience shaping craft literature ensures this book presents techniques clearly and accessibly, making it an excellent starting point for anyone interested in learning how to sculpt with wool.
2020·96 pages·Felting, Fiber Arts, Needle Felting, Sculpting Techniques, Wire Armatures

Unlike most felting books that dive straight into complex projects, Roz Dace and Judy Balchin crafted this guide specifically with beginners in mind. You’ll find it walks you through essential needle felting techniques with clear, approachable instructions, starting from simple shapes and gradually introducing wire armatures and facial expressions. The authors’ backgrounds in creative arts and editorial work shine through in the well-structured projects and practical tips, making it easy to develop your skills step by step. If you’re looking to create miniature animals, birds, or even personalized figures, this book equips you with the foundational know-how without overwhelming you. It’s a solid choice if you want a gentle introduction to sculpting with wool, though those seeking advanced artistry might need to look elsewhere.

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Best for animal figure beginners
Makiko Arai began making dolls after working in animation, bringing a unique artistic perspective to needle felting. She enjoys teaching workshops and designing kits that simplify the craft, making it accessible for beginners. This book reflects her passion for animals and hands-on creativity, offering you a friendly and clear introduction to crafting 30 wool felted creatures with step-by-step guidance.
2020·128 pages·Felting, Needle Felting, Animal Sculpting, Craft Techniques, Wire Armature

Makiko Arai brings her creative background from animation production into the world of needle felting, crafting a guide that gently introduces you to making 30 charming animal figures. You’ll learn essential needle felting techniques, including how to sculpt wire armatures for stability, shape details like faces, and achieve lifelike textures and colors. This book suits anyone curious about needle felting—whether you’re a complete beginner or simply want a relaxing craft to unwind with. The clear, step-by-step instructions paired with approachable projects make it easy to build confidence and enjoy the tactile joy of wool artistry.

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Best for varied animal craft starters
Steffi Stern owns the Mother Goose craft shop in Gloucestershire and brings a rich heritage of German craft traditions to this book. Passionate about quality materials and meaningful handcrafts, she has crafted this approachable guide to needle felting, designed to inspire and teach newcomers how to create a variety of animal figures. Her experience making crafts with her children shines through in the clear instructions and nurturing tone, making this a welcoming entry point for anyone eager to try needle felting.
2015·128 pages·Felting, Crafts, Animal Making, Skill Building, Creative Design

What happens when a lifelong passion for traditional crafts meets modern creativity? Steffi Stern, drawing on her deep roots in German handcraft traditions and experience running the Mother Goose craft shop, teams up with Sophie Buckley to offer a guide that gently leads you through needle felting with over 20 animal projects. From familiar pets like 'Our Friend Dexter' to mythical creatures, the book builds your skills gradually while addressing common pitfalls with inventive fixes. With clear instructions, detailed illustrations, and a focus on connecting you to nature and imagination, this book suits anyone curious about turning wool into charming creatures, regardless of prior experience.

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Best for custom learning pace
This personalized AI book about artistic felting is created based on your background, skill level, and specific interests in wool art techniques. You share what you want to learn and achieve, and the book is written to match your pace and preferences. This approach helps remove the common overwhelm by focusing on what matters to you, making your felting journey enjoyable and uniquely yours.
2025·50-300 pages·Felting, Felting Basics, Artistic Techniques, Color Blending, Texture Creation

This tailored book explores artistic needle felting methods designed to ignite your creativity with vibrant projects. It offers a progressive introduction that matches your background and skill level, gently building confidence through a personalized learning pace. By focusing on your specific interests and comfort, the book removes overwhelm with targeted foundational content that makes felting approachable and enjoyable. You’ll discover how to develop your technique through hands-on projects that emphasize color, texture, and form, all while embracing your unique artistic voice. This personalized journey reveals the secrets of wool art in a way that feels both inspiring and accessible, enhancing your skills step by step.

Tailored Content
Creative Felting Insights
3,000+ Books Created
Best for artistic wool painters
Dani Ives is an award-winning artist and sought-after teacher known for her engaging workshops online and in person. Her deep experience in fiber arts shines through in this book, where she shares a beginner-friendly approach to needle felting that invites creativity without overwhelming. Living in Rogers, Arkansas, Ives crafted this text to guide newcomers through the tools and techniques that make wool layering feel like painting, making it an accessible entry point for anyone curious about felting's expressive possibilities.
2019·144 pages·Fiber Arts, Felting, Needle Felting, Textile Art, Wool Crafting

Dani Ives brings her expertise as an award-winning artist and teacher to this approachable guide that opens the door to needle felting through sixteen thoughtfully designed projects. You’ll find clear explanations of essential tools and techniques that make layering wool fibers feel more like painting than crafting, with chapters dedicated to creating textured embellishments for everything from garments to framed art. This book suits anyone eager to explore fiber arts without prior experience, offering a gentle yet thorough introduction that balances creativity with technique. If you’re looking for a tactile, expressive hobby that grows with your skills, Ives’s methodical yet inviting style will meet you where you are and guide you forward.

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Best for creative landscape felters
Jaana Mattson is an award-winning artist and instructor specializing in wood and fiber arts. Creating from studios in Minneapolis and North Carolina, she brings a painterly, impressionistic approach to needle felting that makes her teaching accessible to beginners and enriching for experienced artists alike. Her expertise shines through in this book, which offers a blend of technical guidance and artistic inspiration for crafting landscapes with wool.
2021·128 pages·Felting, Fiber Arts, Needle Felting, Color Theory, Landscape Art

When Jaana Mattson first uncovered the potential of needle felting as a fine art medium, she developed a unique painterly technique that breaks from traditional craft approaches. This book guides you through her dry-felting process, emphasizing color theory and fiber behavior to create impressionistic landscapes. You gain insight into layering wool fibers, blending colors, and handling tools to capture natural scenes like Thunderhead or Lone Oak. While beginners will appreciate the clear tutorials and inspiring photos, even seasoned artists can refine their technique through Mattson's innovative methods.

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Begin Felting: Your Personalized Start

Build confidence with guidance tailored to your pace and interests without overwhelm.

Custom learning path
Focused skill building
Enjoy creative flow

Many successful crafters began with personalized Felting foundations

Felting Foundations Blueprint
Wool Art Secrets
30-Day Felting Formula
Felting Mastery System

Conclusion

This collection of 7 Felting books offers a welcoming, step-by-step introduction to the craft, focusing on approachable projects and clear instruction. If you're completely new, starting with "Needle Felting for Beginners" by Roz Dace and Judy Balchin builds essential skills gently. For those who want to explore specific subjects, "Needle Felting Teddy Bears for Beginners" or "Happy Wool Felt Animals" provide focused, enjoyable projects.

Moving on to more artistic expressions, books like "Painting with Wool" and "Jaana Mattson's Landscapes in Wool" open doors to creative techniques that expand your craft beyond basics. These books encourage progressive learning, balancing practical skills with artistic inspiration.

Alternatively, you can create a personalized Felting book that fits your exact needs, interests, and goals to create your own personalized learning journey. Building a strong foundation early sets you up for success in this richly rewarding craft.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?

Starting with "Needle Felting for Beginners" offers a clear, gentle introduction to wool sculpting, perfect for those new to Felting who want to build solid basics without feeling overwhelmed.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to Felting?

Not at all. Each book is crafted to welcome beginners, with step-by-step instructions and projects that gradually build your skills, ensuring you won’t feel lost at any stage.

What's the best order to read these books?

Begin with foundational guides like "Needle Felting for Beginners," then explore focused projects such as teddy bears or animals, and finally dive into more artistic books like "Painting with Wool" for creative expansion.

Do I really need any background knowledge before starting?

No prior experience is needed. These books assume no background and guide you through every step, making them ideal for first-time learners eager to start crafting with wool.

Which book is the most approachable introduction to Felting?

"Needle Felting Teddy Bears for Beginners" stands out for its charming, manageable projects that build confidence and skills without complex materials or techniques.

Can I get a Felting book tailored to my specific interests and pace?

Yes! While these expert books provide excellent guidance, you can also create a personalized Felting book tailored to your unique goals, experience, and preferred learning pace for an even more focused journey.

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