Carolyn J. Braden • 4 Minute Read
I Tried Needle Felting for the First Time—and I'm Officially Hooked!
There are days when my brain feels completely fried. As someone who creates content for a living, I spend hours in front of a computer and phone editing videos, writing blog posts, designing graphics, researching ideas, and answering emails. Eventually, I hit a point where my creative battery is empty and looking at another screen is the last thing I want to do.
Ironically, it was AI that nudged me toward one of the most relaxing hobbies I've discovered in years.
While creating AI-generated artwork in Canva for future creative projects, I generated an image that looked like it had been made from fluffy wool. Instead of scrolling past it, I found myself wondering, "Could I actually make something like this?"
As it turns out...I could.
The AI needle felting image that inspired me to try it…this is me and my my husband…generated from an actual photo!
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How I Ended Up Needle Felting
Around the same time, I applied to create content for Felted Sky, a company known for beautiful needle felting kits. They enjoyed my creator portfolio and generously sent me several beginner-friendly kits to explore.
While this article isn't just about one brand, I do want to thank Felted Sky for introducing me to this incredible craft. Their beginner-friendly instructions and video tutorials gave me the confidence to dive in, and I'll happily point readers to their website if you'd like to learn even more about needle felting techniques and projects.
I decided to begin with their Forest Mushroom Mini Needle Felting Kit, and within minutes I realized I had found exactly what my overworked brain needed.
Feeling Burned Out? This Cozy Craft Helped Me Recharge
What Is Needle Felting?
Needle felting is the art of repeatedly poking fluffy sheep's wool with a specially designed barbed felting needle. Each tiny barb catches the wool fibers and tangles them together. As you continue "stabbing" the wool, it slowly transforms from soft fluff into a firm felted sculpture.
It sounds almost too simple...
Because it really is.
With enough patience—and enough poking—you can create:
Animals (like this cute frog)
Mushrooms
Flowers
Plants
People
Landscapes
Seasonal ornaments
Home décor
Jewelry
Almost anything you can imagine
One of my favorite discoveries is that you can even paint with wool, layering different colors to create beautiful artwork with incredible texture.
I'm especially excited to make Felted Sky's Mountain Sunset Needle Felting Kit next.
👀Check out my 1-minute 📹 video tutorial for this project on my TikTok now or via my YouTube channel @carolynjbraden!
My Adorable Mushroom Needle Felting Project (Beginner Friendly!)
Why Needle Felting Felt So Therapeutic
As someone with a Master's Degree in Art Education, plus years of taking fiber arts classes in college, I have experimented with many creative techniques over the years.
Needle felting surprised me.
There was something incredibly calming about focusing on one tiny section at a time.
Instead of worrying about notifications...
Instead of checking emails...
Instead of editing another video...
I simply stabbed fluffy wool over and over again.
Oddly enough...It was exactly what my brain needed.
The repetitive motion became almost meditative. My hands stayed busy while my mind slowed down. Time disappeared, and before I knew it, I had created adorable little mushrooms completely by hand.
I honestly haven't felt that creatively relaxed in a long time.
Forming the mushroom and caps
My First Needle Felting Project
I started with the Forest Mushroom Mini Kit and slowly worked through each section using Felted Sky's printed instructions and helpful video tutorials.
Along the way I learned how to:
Sculpt fluffy wool into rounded mushroom caps
Build dimensional mushroom stems
Create tiny felted leaves
Add realistic leaf veins and mushroom line texture simply by repeatedly poking the wool
Roll loose wool into soft, textured grass
Attach multiple felted pieces together by felting them into one another
Build up texture one layer at a time
Adding details to the mushrooms
Watching loose clouds of wool slowly transform into finished sculptures honestly felt a little magical. The more you poke, the firmer the wool becomes and less fluffy.
I also find clay projects to be therapeutic and here’s an easy air-dry clay project using coffee grounds! See it too via my YouTube channel @carolynjbraden above.
Attaching the mushrooms to the base
Where to Find Needle Felting Supplies
If you're ready to give needle felting a try, you can often find beginner kits (like via Felted Sky), wool roving, felting needles, finger protectors, foam work surfaces, and project books from a variety of retailers. See my links below in this article.
Covering the base after blending wool colors
I've linked some of my favorite beginner-friendly supplies from my affiliate partners here, including
so you can easily compare options and find a project for your budget and that inspires you.
For additional inspiration, tutorials, and beautifully designed kits, I also recommend browsing Felted Sky's collection of projects.
Attaching leaves and rolling the wool to form grass
Tips I Learned as a Beginner
If you're thinking about trying needle felting, here are a few things I learned immediately:
Buy Extra Needles
Felting needles are very sharp—and they're also surprisingly delicate. Since they are made with tiny barbs, they can snap if bent sideways. Having a few extras on hand is definitely worth it.
Attaching the rolled yet fluffy grasses
Wear Finger Protectors
The finger covers Felted Sky sent me were lifesavers.
Yes...I absolutely poked myself while learning. Thankfully, the finger guards kept those pokes to a minimum while I figured out the proper technique.
Trust the Process
At first, your project just looks like fluffy wool. Keep stabbing. Eventually everything firms up, takes shape, and suddenly looks exactly like what you're creating. It's incredibly satisfying. You can trim loose fibers by using small scissors or try using the needle to poke them into the sculpture.
Trimming the random loose strands as needed
Why This Hobby Is Perfect for Screen Fatigue
Many of us spend our entire day consuming information.
Needle felting asks us to do something different.
Instead of consuming...
We create.
Instead of rushing...
We slow down.
Instead of multitasking...
We focus on one tiny poke at a time.
That shift made a huge difference for me.
If you've been feeling creatively drained, stressed, or simply need a hobby that lets your mind breathe for a while, I genuinely think needle felting is worth trying. I liked spending time listening to music and hanging out with my dogs while I did this. It relaxed them too as they both fell asleep while I quietly worked.
The Beginner Needle Felting Kit That Made Learning So Easy—love Felted Sky!
What's Next?
I'm already planning my next projects.
The Mountain Sunset landscape kit is waiting for me, and after that I think I'd love to start designing my own needle felted ornaments for the holidays. I can already imagine tiny woodland creatures, festive mushrooms, snowmen, birds, flowers, and personalized keepsakes hanging from a Christmas tree. I even think I can make the AI generated characters of my husband and I come to life!
Needle felting has officially become one of my favorite creative hobbies, and I honestly can't wait to keep learning.
If you've been searching for a relaxing, screen-free activity that lets your creativity shine, this might be the hobby you've been looking for.
More Fiber Arts Inspiration
Long before I discovered needle felting, I had the opportunity to share another favorite fiber art technique on an episode of HGTV's That's Clever, where I demonstrated Shibori Tie Dye. I'll be embedding that video below via my YouTube channel @carolynjbraden if you'd like to explore another relaxing textile art that combines creativity with hands-on making.
Who knew that an AI-generated image would eventually lead me back to the world of fiber arts?
Sometimes inspiration appears in the most unexpected places—and I'm so glad I followed it.
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If you try any of my ideas, let me know how it turned out—or tag me when you try them because I LOVE seeing your posts💖 If you tag me using @carolynsbloomingcreations or @carolynjbraden, I’ll see it! Or tell me about it in the comments below.
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Carolyn J. Braden is the owner of Carolyn’s Blooming Creations is a regular contributor and editor for CBC. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.