How Make Posable Needle Felted Animals on Armatures

Needle​ ​Felting​ ​Animals​ ​on​ ​Armatures Using​ ​the​ ​time​ ​consuming​ ​process​ ​of​ ​needle​ ​felting,​ ​where​ ​you​ ​repeatedly stab​ ​at​ ​loose​ ​wool​ ​fibres​ ​with​ ​a​ ​barbed​ ​needle,​ ​you​ ​can​ ​shape,​ ​re-shape, and​ ​create​ ​life-like​ ​animals​ ​with​ ​incredible​ ​attention​ ​to​ ​detail.

This​ ​Instructable​ ​will​ ​show​ ​you​ ​how​ ​to​ ​create​ ​a​ ​realistic​ ​ermine​ ​(aka​ ​cat snake!)​ ​on​ ​a​ ​wire​ ​armature​ ​using​ ​numerous​ ​techniques.

This​ ​ermine​ ​took​ ​me​ ​about​ ​16​ ​hours​ ​to​ ​complete​ ​over​ ​the​ ​course​ ​of​ ​a month.​ ​While​ ​possible​ ​to​ ​try​ ​as​ ​a​ ​beginner​ ​needle​ ​felter,​ ​I​ ​recommend​ ​some level​ ​of​ ​previous​ ​experience​ ​as​ ​these​ ​steps​ ​gloss​ ​over​ ​how​ ​to​ ​shape​ ​your animal.​ ​I​ ​encourage​ ​you​ ​to​ ​explore​ ​a​ ​couple​ ​faster,​ ​simpler​ ​needle​ ​felting projects​ ​before​ ​diving​ ​into​ ​this​ ​tutorial.

All​ ​the​ ​best!

Andrea​ ​at​ ​Backyard​ ​Spruce

Step​ ​1:​ ​Supplies You​ ​will​ ​need​ ​the​ ​following​ ​for​ ​this​ ​project: ● felting​ ​needles​ ​sizes​ ​36​ ​(optional),​ ​38,​ ​40,​ ​42​ ​(and​ ​higher​ ​if desired) ● coarse​ ​wool​ ​roving​ ​(any​ ​colour,​ ​but​ ​white​ ​is​ ​most​ ​common) ● white,​ ​black,​ ​brown,​ ​pink,​ ​and​ ​red​ ​merino​ ​wool​ ​(will​ ​vary depending​ ​on​ ​what​ ​you​ ​want​ ​to​ ​make) ● natural​ ​horse/alpaca​ ​hair​ ​or​ ​clear​ ​fishing​ ​line​ ​for​ ​whiskers ● glass​ ​eyes​ ​with​ ​wire​ ​loops ● pipe​ ​cleaners ● sharp​ ​scissors ● super​ ​glue ● needle​ ​and​ ​thread ● 15+​ ​hours

Step​ ​2:​ ​Make​ ​a​ ​Wire​ ​Armature

Once​ ​you​ ​have​ ​your​ ​animal​ ​of​ ​choice,​ ​make​ ​a​ ​wire​ ​armature​ ​from​ ​pipe cleaners​ ​in​ ​the​ ​rough​ ​shape​ ​of​ ​your​ ​animal.​ ​Make​ ​sure​ ​to​ ​fold​ ​in​ ​all​ ​wires​ ​as they​ ​will​ ​poke​ ​through​ ​your​ ​wool​ ​and​ ​are​ ​very​ ​sharp.

Step​ ​3:​ ​Cover​ ​the​ ​Head​ ​and​ ​Body​ ​in​ ​Roving​ ​Wool

Use​ ​rough​ ​"roving​ ​wool"​ ​for​ ​the​ ​body​ ​and​ ​a​ ​coarse​ ​felting​ ​needle​ ​(36​ ​or​ ​38) at​ ​first​ ​and​ ​felt​ ​until​ ​you​ ​have​ ​a​ ​rough​ ​shape​ ​and​ ​it​ ​holds​ ​together​ ​on​ ​its​ ​own

(as​ ​pictured).​ ​Do​ ​not​ ​do​ ​the​ ​full​ ​leg,​ ​only​ ​the​ ​top​ ​"muscle",​ ​as​ ​it​ ​may​ ​wind​ ​up being​ ​to​ ​fat​ ​once​ ​the​ ​layers​ ​of​ ​soft​ ​merino​ ​wool​ ​are​ ​on.

Once​ ​this​ ​is​ ​complete​ ​move​ ​to​ ​a​ ​higher​ ​felting​ ​needle​ ​(40)​ ​which​ ​will​ ​allow you​ ​to​ ​gradually​ ​felt​ ​a​ ​denser​ ​body.​ ​Begin​ ​shaping​ ​your​ ​animal​ ​by​ ​layering appropriately​ ​and​ ​creating​ ​denser​ ​areas​ ​as​ ​needed.​ ​Do​ ​not​ ​move​ ​on​ ​to​ ​a​ ​42 or​ ​higher​ ​felting​ ​needle​ ​as​ ​your​ ​project​ ​may​ ​become​ ​too​ ​dense.

Step​ ​4:​ ​Add​ ​Your​ ​Layer​ ​of​ ​Merino​ ​Wool

Use​ ​a​ ​fine,​ ​soft​ ​wool​ ​such​ ​as​ ​merino​ ​sheep​ ​wool.​ ​Felt​ ​thin​ ​layers​ ​of​ ​the​ ​wool to​ ​the​ ​body​ ​of​ ​your​ ​animal​ ​using​ ​a​ ​very​ ​fine​ ​42​ ​felting​ ​needle.​ ​Make​ ​sure​ ​the wool​ ​is​ ​aligned​ ​with​ ​the​ ​position​ ​of​ ​your​ ​animal​ ​to​ ​avoid​ ​a​ ​"striped"​ ​look.​ ​Felt it​ ​evenly​ ​and​ ​ensure​ ​all​ ​areas​ ​of​ ​the​ ​rough​ ​roving​ ​are​ ​adequately​ ​covered.

This​ ​will​ ​require​ ​multiple​ ​layers.

Step​ ​5:​ ​Create​ ​the​ ​Tail

The​ ​tail​ ​is​ ​a​ ​time​ ​consuming​ ​addition​ ​but​ ​the​ ​"loose​ ​fur"​ ​look​ ​is​ ​well​ ​worth the​ ​effort.

Begin​ ​by​ ​making​ ​strips​ ​of​ ​merino​ ​wool​ ​and​ ​cutting​ ​it​ ​in​ ​into​ ​sections.​ ​Fold the​ ​sections​ ​in​ ​half​ ​and​ ​felt​ ​it​ ​onto​ ​the​ ​coarse​ ​roving​ ​in​ ​the​ ​middle​ ​using​ ​a​ ​42

needle.​ ​Felt​ ​to​ ​the​ ​sides​ ​in​ ​multiple​ ​directions​ ​until​ ​the​ ​fur​ ​can​ ​withstand​ ​a slight​ ​tug.

Starting​ ​from​ ​the​ ​bottom​ ​up​ ​continue​ ​this​ ​process,​ ​ensuring​ ​each​ ​section​ ​is close​ ​to​ ​the​ ​previous​ ​to​ ​avoid​ ​patches.

Keep​ ​going!​ ​At​ ​the​ ​end,​ ​snip​ ​the​ ​hairs​ ​so​ ​they​ ​are​ ​fairly​ ​even​ ​in​ ​length.

Step​ ​6:​ ​Add​ ​Ears

To​ ​create​ ​ears​ ​cut​ ​the​ ​rough​ ​shape​ ​from​ ​flat​ ​felt​ ​fabric​ ​and​ ​fray​ ​the​ ​ends with​ ​scissors.​ ​Wrap​ ​them​ ​in​ ​the​ ​appropriate​ ​colour​ ​roving​ ​leaving​ ​the​ ​fray exposed.​ ​Felt​ ​the​ ​roving​ ​on​ ​the​ ​ear​ ​using​ ​a​ ​42​ ​needle​ ​and​ ​felt​ ​the​ ​ears​ ​onto the​ ​head​ ​of​ ​your​ ​animal​ ​around​ ​the​ ​fray.​ ​Use​ ​merino​ ​roving​ ​to​ ​blend​ ​it​ ​onto the​ ​head​ ​and​ ​shape​ ​appropriately,​ ​making​ ​sure​ ​the​ ​direction​ ​of​ ​the​ ​wool flows​ ​onto​ ​the​ ​neck.

Step​ ​7:​ ​Add​ ​Eyes​ ​and​ ​Shape​ ​the​ ​Head

Roughly​ ​shape​ ​the​ ​head​ ​and​ ​snout​ ​by​ ​felting​ ​denser​ ​areas​ ​and​ ​adding​ ​/ subtracting​ ​the​ ​merino​ ​wool.​ ​Make​ ​sure​ ​the​ ​area​ ​around​ ​the​ ​eyes​ ​is​ ​not​ ​too dense,​ ​as​ ​you​ ​need​ ​to​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​fit​ ​the​ ​eyes​ ​in​ ​snugly.

Use​ ​glass​ ​eyes​ ​with​ ​wire​ ​loops​ ​attached.​ ​Create​ ​indents​ ​and​ ​a​ ​slit​ ​into​ ​the wool​ ​with​ ​scissors​ ​or​ ​an​ ​exacto​ ​knife.​ ​Thread​ ​the​ ​loop​ ​and​ ​pull​ ​the​ ​needle and​ ​thread​ ​through​ ​to​ ​the​ ​back​ ​of​ ​the​ ​head​ ​of​ ​your​ ​animal.​ ​Pull​ ​it​ ​tightly​ ​so the​ ​wire​ ​enters​ ​the​ ​slit​ ​made​ ​earlier​ ​and​ ​knot​ ​the​ ​thread​ ​at​ ​the​ ​back.

Once​ ​both​ ​eyes​ ​are​ ​placed​ ​use​ ​the​ ​merino​ ​roving​ ​to​ ​cover​ ​the​ ​thread​ ​knots left​ ​at​ ​the​ ​back​ ​of​ ​the​ ​head.​ ​With​ ​the​ ​eyes​ ​incorporated,​ ​you​ ​can​ ​begin​ ​to

precisely​ ​shape​ ​the​ ​head​ ​and​ ​snout​ ​of​ ​your​ ​animal.​ ​Use​ ​lots​ ​of​ ​Google images!

Step​ ​8:​ ​Add​ ​Paws

Wrap​ ​the​ ​pipe​ ​cleaner​ ​at​ ​the​ ​bottom​ ​in​ ​merino​ ​roving​ ​and​ ​felt​ ​until​ ​it's slightly​ ​dense.​ ​Using​ ​a​ ​similar​ ​colour​ ​thread,​ ​make​ ​several​ ​loops​ ​and​ ​pull​ ​to create​ ​the​ ​correct​ ​number​ ​of​ ​indents​ ​for​ ​toes.​ ​Once​ ​complete,​ ​felt​ ​on​ ​a​ ​small amount​ ​of​ ​merino​ ​between​ ​the​ ​toes​ ​to​ ​cover​ ​the​ ​thread.

Step​ ​9:​ ​Add​ ​Details

This​ ​is​ ​my​ ​favourite​ ​part!

Again,​ ​using​ ​lots​ ​of​ ​Google​ ​images,​ ​add​ ​your​ ​details​ ​with​ ​appropriate colours​ ​with​ ​a​ ​42​ ​felting​ ​needle.​ ​Add​ ​darkness​ ​around​ ​the​ ​eyes​ ​to​ ​create better​ ​shape,​ ​felt​ ​a​ ​little​ ​nose,​ ​and​ ​create​ ​a​ ​mouth​ ​using​ ​straight​ ​lines​ ​of roving.​ ​Put​ ​colour​ ​inside​ ​the​ ​ears​ ​and​ ​on​ ​the​ ​pads​ ​of​ ​paws.​ ​Add​ ​any detailing,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​stripes​ ​or​ ​spots,​ ​that​ ​your​ ​animal​ ​may​ ​have.

Using​ ​natural​ ​hair,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​horse​ ​or​ ​alpaca,​ ​or​ ​fishing​ ​line,​ ​create​ ​whiskers.

Put​ ​them​ ​through​ ​a​ ​needle​ ​and​ ​thread​ ​through​ ​the​ ​snout​ ​and​ ​use​ ​super​ ​glue to​ ​ensure​ ​a​ ​strong​ ​placement.​ ​For​ ​natural​ ​hair,​ ​careful​ ​work​ ​with​ ​a​ ​hair straightener​ ​may​ ​be​ ​used​ ​to​ ​work​ ​out​ ​any​ ​kinks.

Step​ ​10:​ ​Finishing​ ​Touches

Give​ ​one​ ​last​ ​look​ ​and​ ​felt​ ​any​ ​stray​ ​fibers​ ​with​ ​a​ ​42​ ​needle​ ​and​ ​felt horizontally​ ​to​ ​give​ ​it​ ​a​ ​smoother​ ​look.​ ​Snip​ ​loose​ ​fibres​ ​closely​ ​using​ ​a sharp​ ​pair​ ​of​ ​scissors.

Beautiful!​ ​A​ ​piece​ ​such​ ​as​ ​this​ ​one​ ​can​ ​take​ ​upwards​ ​of​ ​15-20​ ​hours.​ ​Relax and​ ​enjoy​ ​the​ ​process!

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For​ ​inspiration​ ​for​ ​all​ ​different​ ​wool​ ​crafts​ ​including​ ​knitting​ ​and​ ​crocheting,​ ​please​ ​visit​ ​our website​ ​ ​http://woolcraft.craftybug.co.uk