Reddit mentions: The best needle felting supplies

I've been bedridden for 5ish years, with some in and out in the last bit. Here's some things that helped me:

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1. Laptop and internet. When I suddenly became disabled right out of college I lost basically all of my friends. People tend to lose touch during those kinds of transitional periods, and honestly I was the friend who was always driving people places so they weren't in the habit of visiting me. Internet access helped keep me connected in some way to other people. For me, it's not the same because I have a very difficult time bonding with others in an online setting, but it was definitely better than staring at a wall.
   
   
2. Get a wheelchair. I recommend an electric wheelchair, because you will be too tired to push around in a manual chair. If transporting a big, two ton chair is something you don't think you can do, try a folding wheelchair with a removeable motor, like the Smart Drive. (They're also waterproof which can be a big boon.) Honestly, having a wheelchair so I could leave the house without being carried was HUGE for me. That and moving to a new home that was wheelchair accessible and on the bus line. I still don't go out super often, because I am still tired a lot, but it has made a big difference in my agency. (People will say "oh no, wheelchair so tragic" but fuck them. Wheelchairs are a goddamned blessing. Being unable to get out of bed sucks, and wheelchairs are the magic that lets you move around.)
   
   
3. Acceptance. For me, a really huge thing was accepting that the condition I have (EDS/POTS) is lifelong. It cannot ever be cured, only managed. There is so much going on in lack of control of your life, and as I am mildly a control freak, that was REALLY hard for me to adjust to. We are taught a lot of negative things about being disabled, but in truth humans are extremely adaptable. Much more than we realize. We can enjoy life even with extreme restrictions on us. We can adapt! This too, shall become normal. And that's actually a good thing. When you accept that your body may just suddenly quit on you, you can make better decisions on how you spend the energy you have on good days. You can enjoy life with what you have, and know that it may not last. But that's okay. This too shall pass. Roll with the blows. Making friends with other disabled people, disabled people with conditions all over the spectrum, can help you see that being bedridden is just another way of life. It's normal, and a lot of people live normal, happy lives while mostly being in bed. And that's okay.
   
   
4. Don't overdo your good days. Many conditions have good and bad days. If this is true for you, you'll be able to do more some days than others, and it can be tempting to get everything crammed in that you can. For folks who are generally healthy but have been bedridden due to a temporary illness, pushing through can help them get rid of deconditioning. If, like me, your illness affects bodily functions necessary to sustain life, then pushing yourself on good days will actually damage your organs and make you sicker over time. And man, did I push lol. Instead, do **less** than you are physically able to do on good days. Leave yourself a lot of comfort cushion. The goal is to try to do just a little bit every day, whether good or bad, and hold on to that. Don't ever start doing more until you can go two weeks in your routine without any problems. This will protect you from huge backlashes and help you stabilize your baseline health. (This was a really hard lesson to learn!)
   
   
5. Hobbies, hobbies, hobbies. Seriously, connect with things you love that you can do while sick. It is so easy to lose sight of yourself and the things you love when you are perpetually in a crisis. Read. (With brain fog, I can't read well anymore and I've always had a hard time understanding audio, so I do both at once and that seems to work for me.) Draw. (Get a drawing tablet, Bamboo Create is a good start, or get a scanner for traditional arts.) Write. (If you like to write, you can do it on your own or start working on a project with others online.) Learn to program. (I develop a type of video game called a visual novel!) Knit. (I can't get ahold of the tension, but I use a mechanical knitting machine-- this is the best one for the price and it saves a lot of fatigue as well.) Try needle felting. (You can make cute 3D animals with wool while working out your anger/frustration by stabbing things with needles.) Learn to mold clay sculptures. (I eventually want to make to-scale Pokemon figures.) Watch movies/shows. (I watch a lot of anime on crunchyroll or from nyaa torrents.) Try tabletop gaming! (Like Dungeons and Dragons type stuff, but there's lots of different genres. Ryuutama is a really nice, relaxing one! Exalted is about being a demi-god badass. Blue Rose or Queen's Cavaliers are both really neat and diverse worlds. There's something for everyone, plus can get a lot of social activity in without much physical requirements.)

Hello, welcome to needle felting! Like the others have said, starting with a kit is probably the best way to go! The amount of options available can be overwhelming though, so i'll give a breakdown. Uh, prepare for a wall of text:

On A Budget) There are a number of kits available through Amazon for $6-20 USD with reasonable or even free shipping with Prime. You kinda get what you pay for; the lower end of the scale will usually get you minimal tools/spares with maybe a small amount of wool roving (6-12 colors in 5g rolls, enough for a few small projects). The higher half of that scale generally gets you a more complete set and a good amount of colors (12-36). Etsy has little starter kits like these too, but shipping may vary.

This one I bought after suggestions from this sub, but keep in mind it does not come with a felting mat:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BGTC2CC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_EacYBb61K43G6

not included in some kits is a foam cushion/mat of some sort. Optional, as one can always use upholstery foam, burlap rice bag, make one, etc. A mat isn't as essential as the needles, finger protectors, etc. but it helps to protect your work surface and needles.


Really, REALLY on a Budget) This is what I started with before getting that Amazon kit. Daiso has little $1.50 kits that have JUST the bare essentials: One needle, exactly enough roving to make one keychain animal, and picture instructions. If you don't have access to a Daiso, some Etsy shops resell the kits, but marked up a little bit.


Kinda Splurging ) at the $20-$40+ range, you may find more value in checking out starter kits from sellers like Woolbuddy, LivingFelt, etc. and various Etsy shops. May be a bit much for starters, but these kits are significantly nicer to work with than most Amazon kits.

Actually Overkill) At $50+ dollars, there are definitely "advanced" starter kits on Etsy that are actually super nice but may be overwhelming for a first-timer.


Other Notes ) Important but usually sold separately are multi-needle tools and needle-nose pliers. Clover pens, punch tools, etc. speed up the time it takes to felt. Pliers are good for attaching jump-rings, bending armature wire, and just for holding stuff in place.

Will add more to this if I think of it, but hopefully this was thorough enough to help speed up your search!

As a former anime nerd I have snooped and found some age appropriate potential gifts (I don't know what she's seen though!)

Rylee:

• Boruto Manga vol 1 Sequel to the Naruto manga series, a lot less sad so far
  
  
• Gravity Falls Cinestory Comic vol 1 Gravity Falls is an age appropriate Disney Cartoon that's honestly really cool and unique. The story gets pretty deep so you can enjoy reading it together if you want!
  
  
• Avatar The Last Airbender Complete Series A beautiful epic story about a young protagonist tasked with saving the world from a century old war. If you haven't seen it, watch it with her. This is an American cartoon but it is a must watch
  
  
• Spirited Away If she hasn't seen it, this is one of the most popular Ghibli films. Family appropriate with strong cultural references.
  
  
• The Magic Kingdom of Landover part 1 This includes the first three novels in the series by Terry Brooks. One of the first fantasy novel series I was able to get into at a young age
  
  
• Needle Felting Tool and Project Kit to make some cute plush kitties in a cool crafty way. Might not be good for the 8 year old to try but Rylee should be fine!
  
  
  Trinity:
  
  
• Karakuri Papercraft Book Learn to make mechanical paper sculptures. They're very cool!
  
  
• Paint Your Own Horse Figurine Kit
  
  
• Tetris 3D Puzzle
  
  
• Ducktales Xbox360 Game Awesome remastered video game from the 80's!
  

Thank you for saying they are cute! I enjoyed making all of them.

Here is the Jolteon pattern. This was a ton of fun to make. If/when you make it, don't be scared off by learning to felt like it recommends in the pattern. I put this project away for months because it scared me off, but once I sat down and just did it, it was very, very easy and the results are more refined than just cutting out felt and gluing it on (IMHO).

If you are interested in felting I recommend this starting kit. It's cheap, it has everything you need, and it comes with needles. If you feel the need for a tool to hold the sharp needles, I personally recommend this. Then for every other project you make with crochet, you can finish it off with felting! I've been felting on many of my projects now and I just love the finished look it gives.

Thanks! I actually just got all my stuff at Hobby Lobby. I'm sure any larger craft store would have supplies you're looking for. The workers are always knowledgable in my experience. I bought a small pack of natural colors, and purchased more variety packs as I needed. It seems more economical to buy packs of wool. Since I didnt know if I would like it, I didnt buy more than just a little but bulk also seems like a good move. Amazon seems to have good starter kits.

Something like what's below seems to cover all the stuff I got in store, prolly for cheaper. I dont have experience with this particular kit however. Extra needles is always nice because I've already broken 3 😬
Heidifeathers Needle Felting Starter Kit - Handle, Finger Guards, German Glass Eyes and Instructions - Free Post https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K2YSUUG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_3rERDbSYVS5XJ

Dollar limit?! I don't want to be a butthead..so I will show you a few :D
This


This


This


This


This



Happy birthday! You know bdays are supposed to be about you, not other people right? :) you are super generous! Thank you for the contest!

woooo congrats! i love karma milestones haha


i wish i had 1,000 googly eyes so i could put those on EVERYTHING!

would love to try this craft thanks for the contest!

It is super simple! All you do is poke at some wool with a needle! This video covers alot of the basics more succintly than I can =) And amazon do some nice looking kits for starters. If you ever try it and want some advice, feel free to PM. I'll try my best!

You're in luck! Paradise Fibers sells on Amazon and they have great quality stuff. Here's a link to one of their Cheviot roving. If you click on the store link you can see a bunch more items.

link

Happy gift day!

I've become interested in needle felting lately. :)

My therapist tells me to journal a lot and I found this book hilarious https://www.amazon.com/Let-That-Sh-Go-Creating/dp/1250181909
In my 10 and under

But personally art helps me best, I'm trying to get into felting ”stabbing something over and over” https://www.amazon.com/Artec360-Needle-Felting-Succulent-Merino/dp/B071Y5BH5N
In my art list.

I hope you find your solution!

Hi guys! So I'm in the middle of making a Taehyung doll based off his Red Shirt Appearance in the DNA MV, and I'm trying to figure out what color hair he's got there. My brain is translating it somewhere between a super ashy blonde and grey. This was the color I was going to use, but I'm not sure if it's totally accurate. Opinions would be super cool! <3

Thanks so much for the response!

Hmmm maybe that's it. What do you mean by casting? Also, I wonder if my needle is too large. I find that to really get it through the holes, I need to push an awl through and the original diamond shape is somewhat lost. As far as ensuring the slant, I think I'm doing this correctly. It's hard to tell from this picture as the stitches rest in a stitching groove, but they had a slight slant, and the backend definitely looked ~ok~ (though a bit messy like you see in the picture as far as looking a bit "twisted")

I agree about the thread gauge too-- maybe it's too thick.

Thread

Needles

Punches

Woo free money!

36

Thanks for the contest!

You can get starter kits. Like these on Amazon. But I just watched a bunch of YouTube's, there are hundreds of them, and bought a starter kit with a lot of colors on Amazon. I've since started buying wool on Etsy. :) (I hope I formatted this right I'm on mobile.)

Edit: Reformatted now that I'm on my computer.

I started off with just a styrofoam mat but it quickly broke down so I got one of those brush style pads but I honestly didn't care for it. I ended up getting this one and have been very happy with it!
Woolbuddy Needle Felting 100% Woolen Mat (Teal) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XPTT827/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_.Fm1AbJVRDFXY

How about felting? I have been curious about trying that myself! They come in ready kits so you don't have to worry about materials. Plus they are so cute as gifts afterwards!

Would this hemp fiber work? Hemp Fiber for Spinning, Blending, Felting & Fiber Arts. Natural Vegan Combed Top. Natural Undyed Brown https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NDNWSJN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_cjfuDb2J981K2

Here it is, if you want to put it on your wishlist! It comes with all the wool (Extra even, I have leftover even after messing up and starting over many many many times), some stuffing to make the body making quicker, 3 needles that love your finger smore than the wool, and a guide that has a QR code that takes you right to their tutorial video.

Great New Needle Felting Felt Kit Wool Needles Foam Pad by Kurtzy TM https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IA12EKU/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_dryQwb3KYJVCX

Here's the one I used :)

I'm sure that whatever you choose, she'll appreciate the effort! :)

Needle felting is pretty fun to do with people, you can bond over now much the needle hurts when you accidentally stab yourself with it. They have starter sets, but you could just use it as an idea of what to buy individually.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0175OGIB8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The link to the amazon page. She bought 13 pounds and I used it all!

This kit has everything you need plus some extra for $25. There are so many different options if you search "wool roving for needle felting"!