Damon Mcknight
Felt animals are a fun craft activity for both children and adults. They can be made using a variety of methods and materials, such as needle felting, sewing, and gluing. Felt animals can be created in a range of sizes and styles, from finger puppets to nature table displays, and can even be made into pincushions, magnets, or baby mobiles. To make a needle-felted animal, one must start with a wire armature, or skeleton, and build up the body using core wool. The head and face are typically created first, with coloured wool added for detail. Sewn felt animals, on the other hand, are made by drawing a simple outline of the desired animal, cutting it out, and sewing the pieces together, leaving space for stuffing. This method is perfect for creating stuffed toys or decorative ornaments. With some creativity and patience, anyone can bring their favourite Australian animals to life using felt.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Materials | Wool felt, organic cotton, loose wool, felting needle, sponge, paper, scissors, pins, sewing machine/ needle and thread, fabric glue, wire, pipe cleaner, rice/lentils/synthetic beads |
| Techniques | Needle felting, sewing, embroidery, cutting and sticking |
| Uses | Imaginative play, nature table displays, pincushions, baby mobiles, magnets, brooches, wall decor, festive displays, gift packaging, photography, ornaments, wedding cake toppers |
| Types of Animals | Any animal can be made, but some sources suggest starting with simpler animals such as a fox, hedgehog, badger, butterfly or pig |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing your animal
If you are a beginner, you might want to start with a basic animal shape and work your way up to more intricate designs. Think about the key features you want to include, such as a torso with four legs, a head with ears, a tail, or a snout. These features can be adapted to various animals, so choose an animal that lends itself well to these characteristics.
Additionally, consider the size of your felt animal. Some animals are naturally smaller, such as the bilby or echidna, which would require more delicate work. On the other hand, larger animals like the kangaroo or emu offer more surface area to work on and can be a good choice if you want to focus on details and intricate designs.
The choice of animal will also depend on your intended use for the felt creation. If you plan to use it as a toy, ornament, or wedding cake topper, choose an animal that suits the purpose. For example, a koala or kangaroo could be a cute and iconic representation of Australian wildlife. If you want to make a baby mobile or finger puppet, consider a smaller and simpler animal design that is easy to grasp and manipulate.
Lastly, think about the colours and specific details of the animal. Some animals have more intricate patterns or markings, while others have simpler colour schemes. If you want to focus on perfecting the shape and structure, opt for an animal with a less complex colour palette. However, if you're eager to explore colour and detail work, choose an animal with distinctive markings, such as the yellow-bellied glider, which can showcase your needle felting skills.
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Using a template
Choose or Create a Template
Start by selecting a template that resembles an Australian animal you want to create. You can search online for free templates, or you can design your own. If you're feeling creative, grab a blank piece of paper, fold it in half, and draw half of your chosen animal along the folded edge. Remember to include wide openings at the arms, legs, and neck for easy stuffing. Don't forget to draw a separate outline for the tail if your animal has one!
Trace the Template
Once you have your template, lay a sheet of freezer paper on top of it. Trace each shape wholly onto the rough side of the freezer paper, not the waxy side. After tracing the main shape, add the individual parts like legs, tails, or ears that will be cut out in different colours of felt.
Cut and Iron
Carefully cut out the shapes you've traced on the freezer paper. Then, place the freezer paper cutouts onto your chosen felt colours and iron them on. This will make it easier to cut out the felt shapes with clean lines.
Cut Out the Felt Shapes
Using the freezer paper as a guide, carefully cut out the felt shapes. You can also use fabric glue to attach small pieces of material for added detail. Once all your felt pieces are cut out, you're ready to start assembling your Australian animal!
Assemble and Decorate
Place your fabric pieces together with the decorated sides facing outwards. Pin them together and sew along the edges, leaving a gap for stuffing. You can use a simple stitch like the blanket stitch for a cosy, homemade look. Before you finish sewing, remember to stuff your creation! Risotto rice is an unusual but excellent choice for sustainable stuffing, giving your animal a charming weighted feel.
Final Touches
After stuffing, sew up the remaining gap to complete your felt Australian animal. Now, it's time to add the finishing touches. You can use needle felting to add fluffy textures or embroidery to bring your creation to life. Get creative and add as much detail as you like!
With these steps and your chosen template, you're well on your way to crafting a delightful felt Australian animal.
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Needle felting
To make an Australian animal using needle felting, you can follow these steps:
Step 1: Gather Materials and Tools
Get your wools and tools together before starting. You will need felting wool, a felting needle, pipe cleaners, and scissors. You may also want to get a needle holder, safety eyes, and wire for armatures for larger pieces.
Step 2: Study and Plan
Study reference images of the Australian animal you want to create and observe their unique skeletons, muscles, and proportions. Decide whether you want to make a realistic-looking animal or a more characterful one. Break down the animal's body into simple shapes and gradually add more detail as you go.
Step 3: Create the Base
Roll your wool tightly into a rough shape, tucking in the ends as you roll. You can also tie a knot or two in the centre to create a firm core, which will save time and make it easier to create a ball shape.
Step 4: Form the Head and Body
Start by forming the head and muzzle of your animal. Take a pipe cleaner and fold one end over about an inch to create a smooth end. Then, take some wool and spread it out between your fingers to thin it out. Wrap the wool around the pipe cleaner and repeat for the body, legs, and tail.
Step 5: Assemble the Animal
Assemble the different parts of the animal by needle felting them together. Attach the legs using the needle by placing them in the correct positions and adding a bit of wool at the point of insertion. Close the gap between the head and body by adding a little more wool and felting it together.
Step 6: Add Details
Add details to the paws with black wool. Form little toes and attach them to the paws, and add colour to the paw pads. Create ears by cutting the rough shape from flat felt fabric and fraying the ends with scissors. Wrap them in the appropriate colour wool and felt them onto the head of your animal.
Step 7: Finalize and Refine
Add eyes to your creation, using glass eyes with wire loops attached if desired. Pull the wire loop through a slit made in the head and knot the thread at the back. Cover the thread knots with merino wool. Shape the head and snout by felting denser areas and adding or subtracting wool. Add details with a fine felting needle, such as darkness around the eyes, a nose, and a mouth.
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Sewing and stuffing
When you're ready to start sewing, place your fabric pieces together with the decorated sides facing outwards. Pin them together and sew around your animal, leaving a 4-5 cm gap at the top (this is where you'll add the stuffing). Sew up your animal's tail, if it has one, ready for stuffing. You can hand stitch or use a sewing machine, and a simple blanket stitch will give a cosy, homemade look. Sew about half a centimetre from the edge of the fabric to prevent gaps.
Use a needle and thread to neatly sew your fabric together. You can add the stuffing through the hole you've left at the top, and add a small amount to the tail, too. Risotto rice makes an unusual but excellent choice of sustainable stuffing, with the added benefit of creating a weighted stuffed animal. You could also use dry lentils, split peas, dry rice, beans, or synthetic beads.
If you're making a more complex design, you can add the legs and tail using the needle felting technique. Place the legs in the correct positions and, adding a bit more wool at the point of each insertion, attach them to the body by poking the needle lightly. To add the tail, make a small cut in the backside and insert the tail inside. Add a little more wool and poke it with the needle to smooth things out.
If you're making a finger puppet, leave the bottom 1-2 inches open when you sew up your animal. You can also leave the bottom open and stuff it with something weighty, like lentils, before stitching it up.
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Displaying your creation
Now that you've crafted your Australian animal, it's time to display your creation! Here are some ideas for showcasing your handmade masterpiece:
Nature Display
Create a nature table display with your felt animal as the centerpiece. You can add other elements such as leaves, twigs, and flowers to create a miniature ecosystem that represents the habitat of your chosen creature. This is a great way to connect with Australia's indigenous fauna and learn more about the animal's natural environment.
Framing
Turn your felt animal into a work of art by framing it. Use a window box frame and glue or double-stick tape to attach your creation to a colored paper or mat board background. This will make for a charming wall decoration that showcases your craftsmanship.
Shelf Display
Modify your felt animal to stand on its own by sewing and stuffing the bottom. You can use lentils, split peas, dry rice, beans, or synthetic beads to give it stability. Place your self-standing animal on a shelf or mantelpiece, perhaps alongside other Australian animal creations to form a delightful menagerie.
Baby Mobile
If you're feeling crafty, turn your felt animal into a baby mobile. This can be a fun and whimsical addition to a nursery, especially if you include multiple animals hanging at different levels. You can find tutorials online to guide you through the process of assembling the mobile.
Pincushion
For a practical application, transform your felt animal into a pincushion. This is a unique way to keep your pins and needles organized while adding a touch of Australian wildlife to your sewing kit. It's a conversation starter for sure!
Photography
Take your felt animal on an adventure! Bring it with you as you explore Australia and snap photos of it in various locations. You can share these photos on social media and create a story for your little creature, documenting its travels and experiences.
There are endless ways to display your felt Australian animal, so feel free to get creative and think of unique ways to showcase your handiwork. Enjoy the process of bringing your creation to life and sharing it with the world!
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Frequently asked questions
You will need wool felt, organic cotton, loose wool, a felting needle, a sponge, a pipe cleaner, and non-toxic azo-free dyes. You can also use fabric glue, embroidery thread, and decorations such as eyes and whiskers.
First, create a wire armature or "skeleton" for your animal. Then, study the anatomy and skeletal structure of the animal, and use this to build up the body with core wool. Next, add colour and detail to the head and face, before moving on to the rest of the body. Finally, add any finishing touches, such as whiskers or an artist's tag.
Needle felting is a common technique used to create felt animals. This involves repeatedly poking a barbed needle into wool to create a fluffy texture. You can also use needle felting to add details to your creation. Alternatively, you can use embroidery or cut and stick small pieces of material using fabric glue.
