What Is The Best Fabric For Needle Felted Pictures?

And How to Transfer Your Image to the Fabric

Needle felting is a versatile and creative craft that allows you to create textured, pictures on a wide range of fabrics. The choice of fabric you use can significantly influence the final look and feel of your project. Additionally, knowing how to transfer your design onto fabric is essential for achieving precise and detailed results. Choosing what is the best fabric for needle felted pictures can seem a little confusing. This guide explores the best fabrics for needle felted pictures and explains how to transfer your image to the fabric using simple techniques.

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Shop Needle Felting Patterns

All of the photographed projects on this post are my own designs and are available as NEEDLE FELTING PATTERNS ready to be downloaded instantly. They are available as complete step by step patterns and detailed photographs or, for more confident needle felters, a template and simple guide.

My Favourite Needle Felting Suppliers

So, where to buy the best needle felting supplies? In essence, I&#;ve done all the legwork so you don&#;t have to. This post is my &#;secret sauce&#; list of the best suppliers in the needle felting industry, which I have accrued over more than a decade.

What Fabric Should I Use For Needle Felted Pictures And Portraits

The fabric you choose for your needle felted picture can impact the ease of felting, the appearance of your design, and the durability of the finished piece. However, your choice of fabric very much depends on your project. Some fabrics are suitable for lots of different projects so check what you have first, before spending on new fabric. Let&#;s dive into fabric options commonly used in needle felting and discuss their pros and cons. Ultimately helping you decide what is the best fabric for needle felting pictures.

1. Pre-Felt

What is Pre-Felt?

Pre-felt is a partially felted wool fabric that is soft, stretchy, and ideal for needle felting. It provides a great base for both beginner and experienced felters. This partially felted surface makes it ideal for creating textured backgrounds, or less detailed projects like landscapes and seascapes. It can also be used to create a wet felted background to needle felt onto. Pre-felt sheet. Approximately 3mm thick.

Wet felted pre-felt ready for needle felting onto.

Laying down wool fibres for a needle felted picture. A rough drawing guide created with a sharpie and the wool fibres are needle felted straight onto the pre-felt.

The finished Herdwick sheep landscape result is a combination of 2D and 3D needle felting. This is also available as a needle felting pattern.

Why Choose Pre-Felt?

• Pre-felt is stretchy, which makes it easy to needle felt onto.
• It&#;s ideal for creating simple background scenes, such as skies, fields, water and general landscapes.
• Can be used for creating beautiful wet felted bases which you can then needle felt onto.

For instance, a simple seascape felted onto pre-felt captures the soft, flowing nature of water and sky. Pre-felt works well for these types of designs, providing a soft and pliable surface to work on.

Where to Get Pre-Felt?

Pre-felt can be purchased from many craft suppliers, including World of Wool, and Heidi feathers, both popular UK needle felting suppliers. See my favourite NEEDLE FELTING SUPPLIERS GUIDE.

2. Calico/Linen

What is Calico?

Calico is a plain-woven fabric made from unbleached cotton. It&#;s firm, durable, and has a smooth surface, making it a great option for more detailed needle felting projects. I usually get mine from Jomil Felts

Why Choose Calico?

• It provides a smooth surface, which is ideal for creating detailed needle felted pictures.
• The firmness of the fabric helps maintain precision in your work.
• It&#;s relatively inexpensive and widely available.

If you&#;re working on a detailed picture, like a harbour scene with fine lines and small features, Calico is an excellent choice. It allows for neat, intricate work without the fabric stretching or moving under your needle. It was ideal for this needle felted harbour scene (Cornwall By The Sea) is also available as a needle felting pattern.

3. Luxury Belgian Linen

What is Belgium Linen?

Belgian linen is a high-quality, durable fabric traditionally used for painting. It has a fine weave and smooth texture, which makes it an ideal surface for special needle felting projects that require precision and detail. It is used by many felters for animal portraits. These types of projects also provide better results when using the foam mat. This linen can be ordered from RUSSELL AND CHAPPEL in London.

Why Choose Belgian Linen?

• It&#;s a premium fabric, perfect for commissioned or high-quality pieces.
• Its smooth surface allows for intricate needlework.
• It&#;s long-lasting and durable.

Belgian linen is on the expensive side, but it&#;s worth the investment for projects that require a refined and professional finish. Whether you&#;re creating commissioned pieces or preparing a special gift, Belgian linen provides a stunning backdrop for your needle felted artwork.

Transferring Designs onto Belgian Linen

Transferring designs onto Belgian linen is similar to the process used for other fabrics. Use carbon paper or a fabric pen to trace your design onto the linen. The smooth texture of Belgian linen ensures that the design transfers clearly, making it easier to follow as you begin felting.

4. Wool Felt

What is Wool Felt?

Pressed wool felt is excellent as a topper to protect your felting mat, a good base for your needle felted pictures (doesn&#;t stretch or distort) and brooch backs. It is especially good for needle felted hoops as it can be pulled really tight without distorting your work. I have also used it as the base for flower and dog brooches and felted my design straight onto it. You can see examples in the photos. It doesn&#;t have to be 100% wool but I would suggest a minimum of 30% wool (pretty standard), as this will hold the fibres better to allow your felting to be really secure.

Also known as craft felt sheets, wool felt is a dense, firm fabric made from compressed wool fibres. It&#;s usually around 1.2mm thick, making it ideal for projects that require more stability. It is also ideal to use as a backing to make brooches, and wearable designs.

Why Choose Wool Felt?

• It&#;s firm and easy to transfer designs onto.
• The density of wool felt allows for crisp lines and accurate details.
• It&#;s versatile and comes in every colour, from black to lime green.

Wool felt is particularly useful for making small items like brooches or badges. The firm texture ensures that the shapes remain defined, and it&#;s easier to keep proportions accurate.

5. Hessian

What is Hessian?

Hessian, also known as burlap, is a coarse, woven fabric traditionally made from jute or hemp. It&#;s a textured fabric that adds depth and interest to needle felted projects. However, it is important to choose a hessian with a fine weave for more expert results.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit industrial polyester felt supplier.

Why Choose Hessian?

• Hessian adds texture to your needle felted picture, creating a more rustic or natural look.
• It&#;s durable and suitable for larger projects, such as wall hangings.
• It is also perfect for making needle felting mats filled with rice, lentils, or similar.

When choosing hessian for needle felting, it&#;s important to select a close weave. A close weave ensures that the fibres don&#;t pull apart too easily, allowing you to create finer details in your work.

Where to Buy Hessian?

Jomill Felts is a reliable supplier of high-quality hessian, specifically suitable for needle felting. If you plan to work with hessian, purchasing a good quality fabric will make your felting experience much smoother. You can find the website link on my FAVOURITE NEEDLE FELTING SUPPLIERS GUIDE

How to Transfer Your Design to Fabric

Once you&#;ve chosen the fabric for your project, the next step is transferring your design onto the fabric. There are several methods for transferring images, but one of the most effective and simple techniques is using carbon paper.

Carbon Paper Transfer Method

The carbon paper method is an easy and accurate way to transfer your design onto your chosen fabric. It&#;s especially useful for fabrics like Calico and Belgian linen, where you need a precise, clear outline to work from.

Step-by-Step Guide to Carbon Paper Transfer:

1. Prepare Your Design: Print or draw your design on a piece of paper. Make sure the design is the size you want for your final project.
2. Position the Carbon Paper: Place the carbon paper on your fabric, with the ink side facing down.
3. Lay Your Design on Top: Position your paper design on top of the carbon paper.
4. Trace the Design: Using a pen or pencil, carefully trace over the lines of your design. The pressure from your pen will transfer the carbon ink onto your fabric, leaving a clear outline.
5. Remove the Paper and Carbon Paper: Once you&#;ve traced the entire design, lift the paper and carbon paper to reveal the transferred design on your fabric.

Fabric Pens

In addition to carbon paper, you can also use fabric pens to transfer designs. These pens work well on lighter fabrics like Calico and Belgian linen. Simply draw your design directly onto the fabric using the pen, and the marks will disappear as you felt over it them.

Additional Tips for Needle Felting

My Favourite Felting Mat For Flat Felting Pictures

When needle felting a picture or portrait I usually favour upholstery foam. The foam mat provides a soft but firm backing, allowing you to push the felting needle through the fabric without damaging the surface beneath. It is also available in really large sizes allowing you to create bigger flat and 2 dimensional projects. Always use a protective topper on the mat which will significantly extend its life, and prevent the wool fibres getting stuck in the mat when needle felting.

Foam Mats for Precision

Using a foam mat beneath your fabric is essential for precision in needle felting. The foam mat allows the needle to pass through the fabric easily, without damaging the surface beneath. It also helps you maintain control over your felting, ensuring that you can create clean lines and detailed shapes. Additionally, working on a firmer, flat surface ensures that the fabric remains taut, helping you achieve more precise results, especially tiny details.

How To Display Your Work

Once you&#;ve completed your needle felted picture, you&#;ll want to display it properly. Deep box frames from stores like Hobbycraft, Ikea, The Range etc. are an excellent option for showcasing your work. Wait for the frame sales which happen a lot, especially Hobbycraft where the frames in the photos are from. These frames allow you to display your artwork without damaging the fabric, and they make it easy to swap out pieces when needed. I also love to hang my pieces loosely on driftwood, wooden stick or similar. This is especially useful when you can&#;t find a large enough frame.

Felt Along With Me

These picture tutorials are perfect for beginners and confident needle felters. Felt along with me, or make it your own with personal touches, or a seasonal twist.

Final Tips For Beginners

If you&#;re just starting out with needle felting, it&#;s important to begin with simple designs and techniques. Allow yourself to be a beginner, mastering the basics before moving on to more complex projects will help you build confidence and improve your skills over time.

Take Your Time

Rushing through a project can lead to mistakes and frustration. Needle felting is a craft that requires patience and attention to detail, so take your time and enjoy the process. Start with basic shapes and gradually work your way up to more intricate designs.

Practice on Different Fabrics

Each fabric behaves differently when needle felting. Experiment with various fabrics, such as pre-felt, Calico, and wool felt, to see which works best for your style and projects.

More Tutorials

To continue improving your needle felting skills, follow along with my tutorials and learn from experienced felters. Subscribe to online channels or my Facebook community for tips, inspiration, and support from fellow crafters.

To Sum It Up

Choosing what is the best fabric for needle felted pictures and mastering the process of transferring your design are crucial steps in creating beautiful needle felted pictures. Whether you&#;re working with soft pre-felt, firm wool felt, or luxurious Belgian linen, understanding the qualities of each fabric will help you achieve the best results, and decide what is the best fabric for needle felting pictures, and portraits. With patience, practice, and the right tools, you can create stunning needle-felted art that lasts for years to come.

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When I began making felt flowers (many moons ago!), it was with some leftover felt from a local craft shop and my kitchen scissors! Since then, I&#;ve probably made more flowers than I could count and, along the way, I&#;ve experimented with lots of different types of felt for flower making.

With lots of different types of felt available, you may be wondering what is right for felt flowers e.g. wool felt vs. synthetic felt. Here&#;s my quick guide to what&#;s available and my tips on choosing felt for your handmade flowers. 

What is felt (and why I love it!)?
Felt is a versatile fabric made by compressing and interlocking fibres. The fibre type significantly impacts its characteristics. But the thing I LOVE about all types of felt is that, unlike many fabrics, you don&#;t have to worry about fraying. You can cut cleanly and neatly and get on with creating beautiful blooms and other felt crafts.

Here are the main felts you'll encounter:

• 100% wool felt: Made from 100% wool, this felt is soft and naturally beautiful, offering fantastic durability and a wide range of colours. Because it is 100% wool, you&#;ll probably find it&#;s more expensive than other types on the market. You&#;ll find it in a range of thicknesses, but I recommend 1mm thick felt for felt flower making.
• Wool-blend felt: This budget-friendly alternative to 100% wool felt combines wool with other fibres like rayon. The felt retains some of the wool&#;s softness and work-ability, making it ideal for felt flower making. This is my preferred felt for flower making! Again, I recommend a 1mm thickness of felt for flower making.
• Craft felt: Typically made from acrylic or polyester fibres, craft felt is usually the most economical choice. It comes in a vast array of vibrant colours and varying thicknesses. However, it can be stiffer and have a &#;scratchier&#; feel than other felts.

Wool-blend felt: why it&#;s my choice
Having used all the types of felt above, the felt I choose to work with is wool-blend felt. You&#;ll find it in all my craft kits for DIY flowers and in my flower making supplies shop. I LOVE it! For me, wool-blend felt offers affordability whilst retaining the quality needed for long-lasting felt flowers and beautiful floral arrangements - making it (in my opinion!) the best felt for flowers.

You&#;ll find more than 70 colours of wool-blend felt in my shop, ranging from bold and bright hues to delicate pastels. Wool content varies by colour, with mixes of 20% wool/80% rayon and 35% wool/65% rayon. Not sure which colour to choose? Why not order one of my handy felt colour charts.

Tips on working with your felt:

• Invest in a good pair of fabric scissors, which you keep just for your felt! The scissors I use are docrafts Xcut Stainless Steel Pro Craft Scissors.
• Wondering what is the best glue for felt flowers? Read my blog post on the three essential tools for felt flower making.
• Wash your hands when using glue and florist tape. If you&#;ve got any tackiness on your fingers from using other products like florist tape, give them a quick wash with warm soapy water before handling your felt. This will help to prevent your felt catching or going fluffy as you work with it.
• Get creative with your colour palettes. You can find my tips for choosing the perfect colour palette for your next felt flower project in this blog post.
• Mix and match with felt balls: As well as stocking a huge range of felt colours in my shop, I also sell 100% wool felt balls to match most colours. Any my handy Felt Ball Colour Guide will help you find the right felt balls to match your chosen felt colours.

With a little knowledge about felt varieties and these handy tips, you're well on your way to discovering the wonderful world of floral crafting with felt! Remember, there's no single &#;perfect&#; felt &#; experiment and have fun. So, grab your felt, unleash your creativity, and let your felt flowers bloom! 

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