8 Felting Books That Separate Experts from Amateurs

The Editors of Gakken Publishing Company bring their extensive experience in educational and craft publications to this needle felting guide, designed to teach you how to create charming, lifelike animals with wool. You’ll learn foundational needle felting techniques through detailed instructions and a full project walkthrough that covers everything from shaping basic forms to adding delicate facial expressions. This book is tailored for anyone eager to develop hands-on crafting skills, especially those who appreciate realistic miniature animals and want a creative, calming hobby. Its clear visuals and approachable projects make it a solid choice whether you’re new to felting or looking to refine your technique.

Cindy-Lou Thompson's decades of hands-on experience with dogs and artistic talent culminate in this specialized guide to needle felting hyper-realistic dog breeds. You’ll learn how to sculpt precise body shapes and proportions for four distinct breeds, including Dachshunds and Poodles, while mastering coat textures and lifelike details such as eyes, noses, and nails. The book reveals unique techniques Cindy developed herself, offering insight into finishing touches that elevate your creations beyond typical felting projects. If your interest lies in crafting detailed, dog-specific needle felt art with professional-level finesse, this book offers focused methods to deepen your skills.

This tailored book explores needle and wet felting techniques with a focus that matches your unique background and creative goals. It reveals essential skills ranging from basic wool preparation to advanced 3D sculpting and surface texturing. The content examines both needle felting’s precision and wet felting’s expressive potential, offering a rich, hands-on learning journey. By concentrating on your interests, this personalized guide bridges expert knowledge with your specific artistic path, allowing you to deepen your mastery efficiently and enjoyably. It covers techniques for crafting lifelike figures, landscapes, and abstract designs, making the complex art of felting accessible and rewarding.

Natasha Smart's years of dedicated wet felting practice led her to craft this detailed guide that moves beyond basics to explore texture, pattern, and structure in felted art. You'll discover how to use various resists, including her innovative ball resist technique, to create both flat and three-dimensional pieces such as bags, baskets, and hats. The book offers nine projects with clear instructions and creative variations, plus tips on embellishing felt with different materials. If you want to deepen your wet felting skills and experiment with form and decoration, this book provides a thoughtful and inspiring path forward, though beginners should be prepared for a hands-on learning curve.

Jaana Mattson’s decades of experience as an award-winning artist and instructor culminate in this detailed exploration of needle-felted landscapes. You’ll learn how to work with wool using dry-felting techniques, guided by her painterly approach that emphasizes color theory and layering for depth and texture. The book offers five tutorials, including projects like Thunderhead and Lone Oak, which break down complex compositions into manageable steps. Whether you’re new to felting or looking to refine your skills, this book provides concrete methods to create impressionistic wool landscapes with confidence.

Unlike most needle felting books that concentrate solely on basic techniques, Roz Dace and Judy Balchin dive deeply into sculpting lifelike and whimsical figures, blending both wet and dry felting methods. You’ll explore creating inner cores, using armatures, and adding fine details like clothing, hair, and accessories through ten diverse projects—from fairies to caricatures of the British Royal Family. Their approachable 'help me' section anticipates challenges and equips you to design personalized dolls that capture unique personalities. This book suits you if you want to move beyond simple shapes and bring characters vividly to life with texture and expression.

This tailored felting book offers a focused, step-by-step journey designed to boost your felting skills within one month. It explores fundamental felting techniques and gradually introduces more advanced methods, ensuring each daily project builds on your existing capabilities. By aligning content with your background and creative goals, the book provides a personalized pathway through the rich craft of felting, from wool preparation to detailed sculpting. The approach matches your interests and skill level, making complex expert knowledge accessible and engaging. This customized resource reveals the nuances of both needle and wet felting, helping you develop confidence and artistry through consistent, manageable practice.

Drawing from decades of experience as a wool artist, Housetsu Sato crafted this guide to help you capture the elusive essence of kittens through felting. You'll learn how to shape basic parts, create diverse cat postures—from crouching to stretching—and add lifelike fur textures and markings, even incorporating real cat fur. The book offers anatomy insights and full-size templates to refine your work, making it accessible whether you're new or experienced. This book suits anyone passionate about felting who wants to bring authentic feline personality into their creations.

Makiko Arai brings a unique background in animation production to her needle felting craft, which shines through in this approachable guide focused on creating 30 distinct animal figures. You learn precise techniques for shaping, coloring, and adding texture to wool, with clear instructions on sculpting wire armatures for stability and crafting lifelike facial expressions. The book’s step-by-step approach suits beginners or anyone seeking a calming, creative hobby, teaching skills that range from basic felting to finishing touches that make each animal uniquely expressive. If you enjoy hands-on projects and want to develop a tactile sense of form and detail, this book offers an inviting starting point, though those seeking advanced felting artistry might look elsewhere.

Unlike most felting books that focus solely on basic techniques, Mihoko Ueno brings a distinct artistic vision to this guide, focusing on creating whimsical character dolls like fairies and mermaids with needle felting. You’ll learn how to master foundational skills—such as sculpting facial features and hair—while also exploring detailed finishing touches like miniature leather boots and knit scarves, which elevate these creations beyond simple crafts. The step-by-step photos clarify each stage, making it accessible whether you’re new to felting or looking to add personality to your figures. If you’re drawn to storytelling through textile art or want to craft enchanting characters, this book offers a clear path to bring your wool creations to life.