Machine Needle-felting Tutorial

1. First I gather my materials, by color. Starting with the kit from
Suzanne Morgan (Refer back to the piece I made last week, and follow along with my article from Quilting Arts, seen here.)

2. From my own stash: Recycled Sari Ribbon

3. Iron the ribbon flat

4. Sheers from my stash. Some dyed and some plain

5. Wool roving and knitting rejects and some silk roving
 (only because I already have it.)

6. Lay out the pre-felt piece 

7. I begin building the layers by laying out a thin layer of roving, all in one direction.

8. Using your needle felting machine, 'sew' down the center of the piece to begin anchoring the roving.

9. Anchor roving by needle felting a few rows

10. Begin adding layers of texture like ribbons and bits of knitting. I like the ribbons to run off the edge, you can always trim them later.

11.  After your roving  textured pieces are down and lightly secured, begin adding strips of sheers, like organza, tulle, cheesecloth to cover the whole surface.

12.Once the whole surface is covered with strips/pieces of sheer, needle-felt the whole piece securely. I go over the whole surface to compress the layers.

13. Here's a view from the back. I also needle felt from the back, which will bring up the backing color to the front.

14. Here's a close up of the front, you can see how compressed it is.

15. Because I like to work small, I cut the piece in half and now I have a series! :-)

16. At this stage, I'll add any additional color or shape to balance the composition.

17. Once you're happy with your background, you can add shapes (I like circles) using roving, yarn and ribbon.

In progress ~ machine needle felting by Jane LaFazio

In progress ~ machine needle felting by Jane LaFazio

Machine Needle Felted "Rainbow Series: Turquoise and Gold" by Jane LaFazio

"Evidence of Fossils" by Jane LaFazio

"Rainbow Series: Green and Blue" by Jane LaFazio

"Rainbow Series: Pink and Yellow" by Jane LaFazio

When I created new needle-felted art work, you can purchase it in my JaneVillle Etsy Shop. I also teach machine needle felting at art retreats, check my teaching schedule here.