Prepare to sew

Which Felt ?

I use a Premium Wool Blend Mix which is 40% Wool, I like the quality, thickness & colours available. It is not too expensive & can be bought in mini rolls, cut pieces or in metres.

There are alternatives like 100% Wool Felts and Acrylic felts but I find the finish and look I prefer can be achieved with a Wool Blend for my own projects. When you are starting out it's good to experiment so have a try of different felt & discover what you like.

I Buy Felt from a supplier who certifies their felt complies with UNE-EN 71-3 standard which requirements are related to safety of toys. Although my projects are decorative I like to ensure they are made from safe materials. 

I also use a Stuffing which is made of HI-Loft polyester it is suitable for toys and is tested for safety.

Which Needle ?

The best needles to use are Embroidery needles, which are similar to regular sewing needles. They have the same sharp tip but are slightly longer because they have a larger eye for thicker threads to fit through. 

For best results, use a needle size that is small enough to stitch through the fabric without stretching it, but strong enough not to break or bend. Select an eye size that is large enough to accommodate the thread, yarn or ribbon you’ll be using.

Packages of needles are labelled by type and size. The length and thickness of the needle increases as the size gets smaller. For example, a size 1 needle will be thicker and longer, while a size 12 needle will be finer and shorter.

Which Thread ?

Embroidery thread/floss is great when sewing Felt projects. It comes in 6 strands usually, but can be split into strands, for most projects I use 3 Strands. Embroidery Threads are soft and give a better look to the finished project than polyester machine threads. The thread can be bought to match the Felt, usually suppliers will sell colour matched thread to their Felt. The video below show how to Split the threads into 3 and thread the needle & knot.

Now you have materials we will take a look at some of the tools you will need to get started with our quick guide