How to use the reverse felting needle – video tutorial for beginners

Have you dreamed about making fluffy felted figurines? Learn how to use the reverse felting needle to make it a reality!

'How is it so fluffy?' - you may have wondered while looking at several needle felted figurines. Fluffiness does not necessarily mean planting fur on your felted friend. Not even on animals woollies. You can make your own fluffy friend with a reverse felting needle even if you're a beginner.  Are you ready to learn how? Let's go!

How the reverse felting needle works

You already know that felting needles have tiny barbs or notches on their shaft. They work like a hook: they grab the fibres and push them down with themselves. That allows the shape to take form and get firmer and firmer.

On a reverse needle - as its name suggests - those barbs work exactly the opposite way. Instead of pushing the fibres down, it pulls the fibres up and out as you pull the needle out of your felted piece.

That's it! Quite simple, really. 

What to look out for before starting to use the reverse felting needle

Just like with the regular felting needles there are several things to keep in mind before you start in order to have the best result possible.

Safety first!

Exactly because the barbs are not grabbing onto the fibres when pushing them into your felted figurine, reverse felting needles slide into it easily and fast! There's a good chance of poking your finger if you're not careful.

So, always, ALWAYS start slow when switching to a reverse felting needle!

Needle quality

You might have broken a few regular felting needles, but in my opinion - and experience - it's much easier to break your reverse needle. They are doing a much more difficult job by pulling the already felted fibres out.

Think about it! You've just spent a lot of time - possible hours - working on that shape. You compacted that bad guy to make it hold that shape and now you're going to pull some of those fibres out. 

(It may even sound crazy to non-felters that you put several hours of work into that felted figurine so that now you can do the exact opposite of what you've been doing!)

So, you need quality needles to do the job. I've found that European felting needles are the best.

Reverse felting needles also come in several sizes: 36, 38, 40 gauge. Your wool's micron count and the stage of your job decides which size you need. Simply choose the same size you would when using a regular felting needle.

Firmness of the felted piece you plan to fluff up

Like I've mentioned at 'Needle quality', pulling out the fibres from a felted form is a much more difficult job and not just on the needle but also on your felted figurine!

You will need to hold your felted piece down and firmly in your hands when using the reverse felting needle. There's a lot of resistance when you try to pull the already felted fibres out of your felted figurine. So you need to hold it tight. 

This is exactly why you need to make sure that your felted figurine is firm enough not to lose its shape while using the reverse felting needle. If your piece is soft, it will certainly deform!

My advice is to felt your soon-to-be fluffy piece to an almost tennis ball kind of firmness, especially if you plan on making the whole or almost the whole figurine fluffy. I speak from experience, so please trust me on this.

Reverse felting needle video tutorial for beginners

I hope you're eager see the reverse felting needle in action. Just press play and learn the basics!

It's your turn to give the reverse felting needle a try

Now nothing can stop you from trying the reverse felting needle and make as many fluffy friends as you want!

Let me know how you liked this little tutorial in the comments below! 

Interested in learning more about the amazing reverse needles?

Would you like to see many more tips, learn different techniques and see application ideas? No problem!

Happy felting!