Are you ready to take your needle felting skills to the next level? Understanding the nuances of felting needles is crucial, whether you're a complete beginner or have been felting for a while. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the sheer variety of needle types and sizes, you're not alone!
What Are Needle Felting Needles?
Needle felting needles are about 3 to 3 1/2 inches long. They have a perpendicular bend or handle at one end and a very sharp point at the other. They are designed to be used in industrial felting machines. Groz-Beckert offers more than 2000 different needles for industrial use. As artists and crafters, we use a tiny subset of these needles to create our pieces.
Felting needles have tiny notches near the pointed tip. These notches create tiny channels that catch strands of fiber and push it down, or in the case of "reverse needles," pull it up and out. The width of the needle determines its gauge. The shape of the needle, the placement of the notches, the direction the notches face, and the number of notches determine the type of needle.
What Is Gauge? Is It Important?
Felting needles for arts and crafts are usually available in these gauges: 32, 36, 38, 40, and 42. Generally speaking, 32 and 36 gauge needles are referred to as coarse. They're the thickest of the bunch. Thus, they impact a larger area and you see results quickly. They are great for creating a base and building structure. 38 gauge needles are considered medium. They are versatile and can be used for almost anything except very delicate work. And 40 and 42 gauge needles are referred to as fine. They are the thinnest and give you more control when working on the surface or small areas. They are used for adding detail and finishing.
Needle Types
Triangle: This needle has a triangle-shaped shaft with regularly spaced notches on three edges.
Star: The star needle has a four-sided shaft with regularly spaced notches. It grabs a little more wool than the triangle since it has four notched edges versus the triangle's three edges.
Spiral or Twist: This is a triangle needle shaft that has been twisted into a spiral. The twisted needle shaft penetrates the wool more efficiently and deeply.
Star Spiral or Twist: This is a star needle shaft that has been twisted into a spiral.
Crown: A crown needle has one row of notches near the tip. They are useful for adding fine details since they don't push the fiber in as deeply as other needles.
Fork: A forked needle doesn't have notches; instead, its tip is split into two sections, creating a channel or fork to grab small amounts of fiber and push it in. It's often used for "rooting" hair.
Reverse: A reverse needle has notches facing the opposite direction of regular needles. So instead of pushing fiber in, it pulls it out. You can use this to add texture, create fuzz, or correct mistakes.
When to Use Different Sizes and Shapes
Typically, the needle you choose depends on the task. When creating a sculpture: at the beginning, use a coarse needle to rough out shapes. When you feel resistance, switch to a medium needle. If adding fine details, switch to a fine needle.
How Many Types and Gauges Should You Buy?
As a beginner, I recommend starting with a pack of 38-gauge star needles. They're fantastic all-purpose needles. If you want a wider range, the needles I keep on my worktable are a 36-gauge star or triangle, a 38-gauge star, and a 40-gauge twist. You can make almost anything you want with these three needles.