Tutorial: How to use a felting surface

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Tip 1: Types of felting surfaces

When needle felting, you should use a felting surface. You can use a pad or a block of either foam or wool fiber, or you can use a larger mat that takes up a wide area. Our kits come with a foam block that's 2.4 x 4.6 x .6 inches. Fun fact: you can use these melamine foam blocks as cleaning sponges too!

On the left, an inlay displays a small foam felting block. On the right, an inlay displays a medium sized wool fiber felting pad with a partially obscured needle-felted red panda leaning against it.

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Tip 2: Why use a felting pad?

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A felting pad or mat offers a needle-safe work surface, where you can poke your needle without worrying about damaging your furniture (or your lap). I work most often right out of my lap and I'd poke my thighs constantly without a felting pad! You can felt shapes and pieces directly onto the pad, then gently remove them when you're done and even attach them to other pieces.

On the left, an inlay shows a partially obscured left hand holding a round needle-felted in progress grey borb between thumb and forefinger, on top of a foam felting block. A needle from an obscured hand is poking the incomplete borb. On the right, an inlay shows an obscured right hand poking a heart shape with a needle into a small foam felting block. A circular inlay just above shows a left hand removing the heart from the felting block.

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Tip 3: Foam vs Fiber

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When purchasing a felting surface, consider how much time you're going to spend needle felting. If you're just trying out a kit for fun, a foam pad is safe because they're least expensive. However, they aren't durable. Wool fiber felting surfaces are more expensive but they last longer and are sustainable. If you love needle felting and plan on doing lots of projects, investing in a wool fiber mat or pad is worth the expense.

On the left, an inlay shows a close up of a small foam felting block that shows wear: there are fibers stuck in it, and a circular piece of foam is missing from it. On the right, an inlay shows a close up of a wool fiber felting mat which has a few stray fibers in it but is mostly white and clean.

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Tip 4: Keeping the felting surface clean

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As you work on a felting surface, it's totally normal for stray fibers to get stuck in there. You can simply gently remove these by pinching them and pulling them out. I often have to do this so that colors from old projects don't get stuck into my new projects.

On the left, an inlay shows a close up of a small foam felting block with red and grey fibers stuck inside it. On the right, a hand gently pinches fibers from the same block.

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Basic Tutorial: How to use a felting surface

Tip 1: Types of felting surfaces

Tip 2: Why use a felting pad?

Tip 3: Foam vs Fiber

Tip 4: Keeping the felting surface clean