Needle felting holiday ornaments is a fun and creative way to add a handmade touch to your festive decorations.
Using a barbed felting needle, you'll shape the wool by repeatedly poking it, which tangles the fibers together to create a firm and solid form. This process is perfect for crafting unique ornaments like stars, trees, or hearts, using cookie cutters or freehand designs. Wool’s natural texture and vibrant colours make these ornaments not only beautiful but also durable, adding warmth and charm to your holiday celebrations!
Here’s how to get started:
What You’ll Need:
Fairy wool in your favorite colours
Felting needle
Foam felting mat
Metal cookie cutters (holiday shapes like stars, trees, or hearts work great!)
String or ribbon for hanging
Sewing needle
Scissors
Steps:
1. Place the foam mat on your work surface to protect it and provide a base for felting.
2. Place the metal cookie cutter on the foam mat. This will act as a guide for your ornament shape.
3. Tear small pieces of wool roving and layer them inside the cookie cutter. Spread the wool evenly to cover the shape.
4. Using the felting needle, carefully poke the wool down into the foam mat. Work around the edges first to define the shape, then focus on the center. Be sure to keep the needle straight to avoid breaking it, and work mindfully to avoid poking yourself!
5. Add more wool as needed to make the shape firm and evenly felted. Continue poking with the needle until the wool holds its shape. Feel free to add accents of other colours to create patterns or designs to your ornament, like I did for my snowflake!
6. Gently lift the cookie cutter off. If the edges are loose, poke them with the needle to refine the shape. You can also felt the back of the ornament gently to compact it a little more.
7. Not a required step, but you can use a pair of scissors to trim off the loose bits of fibre that are poking out.
8. Thread a piece of string or ribbon through the top of your ornament. Secure it with a knot to create a loop for hanging.
Your handmade ornament is ready to decorate the tree or give as a heartfelt gift! Happy crafting!
Blog and photos by Courtney Audette
