More cuddle-able in felted form (pic heavy)

[Harlan]

These are sweet!!! I especially love the duckling!! =^..^=

I personally use a range of needles: #36s, #38stars, #40s and #42. Different size needles have slightly different purposes. #38stars are great all around needles and #42s are wonderful for finishing a piece. Not all needles are "the same" in quality. A good needle should have the first barb on the blade very close to the tip (about 1/8th"). Most felting needles have 3 edges on the blade and 2 barbs per edge. Star needles have 4 edges so they have a total of 8 barbs compared to the typical 6 barbs per blade. There are many variations out there, but they are often not easily available to crafters. Felting needles were designed for use in the production of non-woven materials and are used on the industrial level.

There are a lot different fibers available for needle felting. I know a lot of felters who prefer Corriedale either in ropes or batt. I personally prefer Merino which takes a little more effort to needle felt, but results in a fine smooth finish. I also use Shetland and other fibers depending on the project.

I do have excellent sources for both fiber and needles - drop me a private message if you'd like the links.

[CDEeeek]

That duckling looks completely real.

[Nandra]

I just can't believe how adorable these things are. I mean, it shouldn't be possible for that much cuteness to be concentrated in one place like that.

Congratulations!

And speaking as someone who's just barely learning how to knit, and is pretty excited about all the possibilities - I'm curious about how you made them. I'm not familiar with needle felting! Is there a book or a website that you could direct me too, perhaps?


EDIT--
I just realized that we are, in fact, in a needle-felting forum. (Headslap.) I'm looking through the tutorials right now! But I guess my question still stands; if there are any resources that you'd particularly recommend for a beginner, that would be awesome. ^^ Whatever you learned from clearly worked!

[JadedMoonlight]

Thanks for all the compliments, guys! My duckling is now with my mother, hence the general lack of pictures... but I was mega-proud of him, hahaha.

Nandra, I won't lie... I honestly found a little yarn store, bought a kit for a hedgehog on a whim, bought 1 yard of white roving, and then the 3 things I've made have just kinda been all trial and error. I actually didn't have internet or computers while I was making the 1st two, just the picture of the hedgehog from the kit. The duckling was mostly by memory (that being said, I'm getting my grad degree as a vet....).
As far as hobbies go, I'm finding it one of the most intuitive of the ones I regularly do, which is why I'm really interested in learning more about it. Um... I'm not really sure what else to say! Haha.

[Ruby Copperhead]

So very cute!

[Onyxnox]

The duck is just gorgeous and I love the bears plump rounded little hiney