What is this fiber arts technique? A creative process called dry felting or needle felting. You can make fun 3D sculptures with this method.
What is needed to make art dolls? You will need a felting needle, a foam pad, animal fiber, cloth covered floral wire, scissors, and a great idea.
Felting needles are special needles that have barbs on them. As you punch the fiber with the needle, the barbs tangle the fibers creating felt. You can make different shapes, put those shapes together, layer wool onto the shapes, and build your unique dolls. Felting needles come in different gauges and shapes. A general starting needle is a 36 gauge triangle needle.
You will need a dense foam pad. Styrofoam does not work. Your foam should be at least two inches deep. The foam pad is what you lay your work on to jab it with the needle. The foam pad protects you, or the table you are working on, and keeps the needle from hitting something hard and breaking.
Animal fiber such as sheeps? wool or alpaca fleece should be used. Coarser wool is harder to felt. Medium to fine wool felts great. The wool should be cleaned and carded before using.
A cloth covered floral wire is used as the skeleton or wire frame for your art doll. A wire frame is not absolutely necessary, but it does make your doll more pose-able and sturdy. The wool is wrapped and needled around the frame.
A small pair of scissors is used to trim felt. Once your art doll is made, you may want to lightly skim the surface with the scissors to clip off any stray fibers to make your handmade doll less hairy.
Great ideas are found all around you. Look at your life. What is your profession? What are your hobbies? Can you think of any unusual characters in your life? Would your uncles? quirks work great on a dragon? Start looking at everything in terms of a new character to make and you'll be surprised at the unique art dolls you can create with dry felting.
Learn the simple fiber arts technique of needle felting and use wool to visually communicate your unique personality to the world. You'll have fun and, if you want, you can sell your works of art, too.
