Tags cat crafts Craft for Cats Crafting expert Steffi Stern from The Makerss reveals how to turn wool into a felt feline friend! It’s a natural material, and, with the addition of dyes (don’t worry, you buy it pre-dyed), offers creative opportunities much like tubes of paint for a painting. But in this case, the medium is wool, and the creations are tiny characters, animals, charms, or toys.

The mini cat project involves wrapping wool batts around a pipe cleaner, then ‘felting’ them down with the needle. The wool becomes less fluffy as the fibres are tangled tightly together until the texture is firm and the size has become smaller. To make indentations in the shape you are making to give it dimensions, compress the middle of the shape. You can then use the felting needle to flatten all or a portion of the compressed area. This is a great way to make wings on birds, or to give added texture to the interior of animal ears. From sweet little bunnies to life-sized horses (if you have the patience for it!), a range of four and two-legged friends can be created. Once each layer is added with very gentle strokes, use pictures as a guideline or take reference from existing animals to shape them into the form you are aiming to create. You will likely need to add more little tufts of wool to the shape to give it both dimension and contour. Sometimes, needle felters use armature wire or the cheaper version, pipe cleaner, as a frame for a shape or to create bendable parts.Use straight pins to secure your shape down for an easier time. This will also relieve your fingers of getting stabbed. Join us for Craft for Cats, our first-ever virtual craftalong, and you can learn how to make your own needle felted cat from the comfort of your own home.

After signing up, you’ll received a materials kit with everything you need to make two mini cats which you can even purrsonalise to look like your own cat! Needle felting is a fabulous craft that can turn wool into a wide variety of animals – from cats to cows and all creatures in between! With some basic supplies, special needles, and time, you can make your own needle felted animals. I first tried the magical craft of needle felting over 15 years ago, making little decorations for my then-small children,” she explained. You begin any needle felting project by rolling just a small amount of wool fleece or roving into a ball type shape, and puncturing it over and over again with the needle. Place the wool on the cushy mat you chose to use – a little pillow or a sponge will work just fine. I often felt just holding the wool in my hand, or on my kitchen table. You have to remember to be more careful with the needle when not using some type of mat or risk poking yourself or marring the table.Using a felting needle allows you to fully control the shrinking, dry felting process and you can add wool for bulk or to add features to make your creation completely unique. It truly is magical and can be quite addictive, but therapeutic too.” Roving is available from various sources including wool fleece, raw cotton, and other fibers. For projects like this, wool is the top choice. This easy project is ideal for beginners and during the craftalong you’ll be led by felting enthusiast, Steffi Stern who is co-founder of craft supply business, The Makerss. Let your imagination run wild! You can make an entire menagerie of miniature animals once you get into it. General Tips for Needle Felting Animals for Beginners The Craft for Cats craftalong will take place on Facebook at 10am on Saturday 27 February and you can sign up now at: www.cats.org.uk/craftforcats