Needle felting books: my top 15 best for beginners

Needle felting books: my top 12 best for beginners.

Top 15 needle felting books

So my first pick of the top 15 best needle felting books is this beautiful book by Danielle Ives: 

1 Painting with Wool: Sixteen Artful Projects to Needle Felt

Dani Ives’s style of needle felting uses wool fibers and a felting needle to layer and “paint” embellishments for pieces that are bursting with texture and depth. Whether you want to decorate a tote or garment, or create frameable artwork, Painting with Wool is the guide to everything you need to know—including the tools required, the basic techniques, clear instructions and how to get started. By the end of the book readers will have discovered that needle felting is an easy, therapeutic form of self-expression that offers beautiful, unique results. Ives is a pioneer in this art form and a skilled instructor who makes learning this craft fun and approachable for all.

Danielle also sells a range of her artwork and kits on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/DaniIvesFiberArtist

2 Needle felting 20 craft projects Emma Herian

I know Emma and was lucky enough to be sent a review copy of this beautiful book when it came out. Emma also very kindly shared one of the step-by-step tutorials from the book with my readers, which you can read here: 

How to make a needle felted rabbit

Easy needle felting made very cute. Emma’s book takes you through all the steps to make your own adorable item whether that’s easy projects to make beautiful flowers or your own adorable figures.

The other cute projects include cupcakes, polar bear, mushrooom, fox, strawberries and Christmas baubles. Each project has a step-by-step guide with clear photographs. There are also lots of expert tips from Emma to help you on your way.

3 Kawaii Needle felting

This book is due out next month (March 2025) and is available to pre order now. It looks fresh and worth a browseWith accessible step-by-step instructions and the minimum of tools and experience, readers will be able to make 20 cute kawaii-style lucky charms inspired by cultures from around the world. From the well-loved Swedish Dala Horse to the waving Japanese Maneki-neko Cat, and Irish Shamrock, each project is designed to infuse positive vibes and good fortune. They are also great fun and very simple needle felts to make.

4 Complete Felt making by Gillian Harris

In her book Complete Feltmaking, Gillian Harris (aka Gillian Gladrag) demonstrates that any crafter can learn the art of wet felting with a little wool, water and soap.

This exciting book covers all aspects of felt making, from making simple flat felt to felting 3D shapes, as well as felting knitted work, needle felting and some slightly more advanced techniques such as cobweb felting. Each technique is carefully explained in detail with step-by-step instructions and with creative projects for you to enjoy trying your hand at. From a cheerful polka-dot bag and cozy felted slippers to a whimsical mobile and heart-warming tea cosy, Gillian is a popular teacher and this book is a 

Once you’ve mastered the basic techniques, this book will help you move on to more complex felting techniques in the advanced chapter. 

5 The Ashford Book of needle felting by Barbara Allen

With just a little wool, a felting needle and this book you can create unique, beautiful felted works of art – including figures, flowers and scenes. 
Barbara Allen, a popular teacher and author, explains and illustrates all the techniques, materials and equipment you’ll need.
For each project there are step-by-step instructions, all pattern templates and full colour photographs of each process.
There are projects for absolute beginners and skilled felters with each project building on the knowledge gained. It’s fair to say this book demonstrates and will help you to discover for yourself the unlimited potential of needle felting.

6 Needle Felting for beginners by Judy Balchin and Roz Dace

is another great book to know about. Particularly if this is your first time felting. There are fun projects ad thousands of rave reviews on Amazon. It takes you through all the essential techniques and explains how the tiny barbs in the needle are the key to making felt from pieces of natural wool.

7 Painting with Wool Landscapes by Bethany Harris

8 ​Lovable felted animals by Yuko Sakuda

9 Little Felted dogs by Saori Yamazaki

10 Make Animals Felt Arts from Japan by Yoshinobu

11 Happy Wool Felt animals by Makiko Arai

12 Hand dyeing yarn and fleece by gail callahan

13 Wild Colour by Jenny Dean

is a fantastic book on the subject.

14 Botanical Dyes Aurelia Wolff

15 Next Level Felting by Nancy Wesley

I hope my pick of the best needle felting books inspires you to try felting projects whatever your skill level. Whether you’re drawn to making fabulous flowers, lifelike cats, cute critters or beautiful landscapes. 

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Meet Emma Herian https://www.frombritainwithlove.com/emma-herian-of-sew-recycled/

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A Pin to share to Pinterest

Image credit: The adorable koalas pictured above are from Yuko Sakuda’s book Lovable Felted Animals (featured above). Contact with Yuko on Instagram: @yucococafe