How to Make a Needle-Felted Snowman

06 December
Have you ever tried, or wanted to try needle felting?


If you aren't sure what it is, it can best be described by what happens when you accidentally wash a wool sweater and have it shrink up to half its normal size and become very thick and dense feeling. Basically, it turns into felt!


Needle felting is felting without using water. Instead, you use a special barbed needle to push the top layer of wool down into the inside layers. Wool roving sticks to itself so with the needles it creates a very dense shape... whatever shape you form it into!


I occasionally like to play around with it, it's so fun to take a handful of wool roving and see a cute little creature come to life.


Today I will show how easy it is to make a simple little snowman.


How to Make a Felted Snowman


How to Make a Felted Snowman

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Supplies Needed:
I also found a great starter kit that has everything you need to get started!


These are the most basic supplies and really all you'll need to get started!


How to Make a Felted Snowman


You'll use the foam pad to work on, if you accidentally poke the needles all the way through your project you won't break the needles on a hard surface underneath and it's a nice flexible surface to work on.


Start by taking a large piece of the wool roving and rolling it up into the basic shape of your item.


How to Make a Felted Snowman


Then, using the needles you just stab your little ball of felt repeatedly until it starts to form the shape you want.


How to Make a Felted Snowman


It will look really "rough" for a while but eventually, it will all come together.


How to Make a Felted Snowman


Once you have the body formed you'll make the head. Using the same method form a ball for the head. Leave a little bit of it loose and unfelted at the bottom of the ball, then attach it with the needles the same way you form the shapes. There is no need to sew or glue anything in needle felting!


Here is my crude body and head.


How to Make a Felted Snowman


Now create some long, skinny sausage-looking arms 😀


How to Make a Felted Snowman


Attach them to the back neck area and then bring them around the front and use the needles to felt them to the sides of the body.


You can create some definition by drawing an imaginary line on your item (don't actually draw on it!) and using the needles to stab repeatedly along that line. You can add more wool if an area needs more definition or fullness. I added some to one of the arms here.

How to Make a Felted Snowman

I made the bottom of my snowman flat so he could stand on his own. Again, I just stabbed over and over with my needles until it was flat!


If you've got someone in your life you are mad at you can take out your frustrations this way... kind of like a voodoo doll! 😂


I created a cute little orange nose and attached it in the same manner. (Note: Be careful with tiny pieces like this, it's very easy to stab your fingers and those needles are S.H.A.R.P!)


How to Make a Felted Snowman


I gave him a little red heart too!


How to Make a Felted Snowman


Use a needle and some embroidery floss to stitch where his eyes will be. Stitch through the head, back and forth a few times pulling it tight with each stitch to create a little indentation. This will create a more realistic look instead of his eyes just sitting on the outside of his head.


Do not knot your thread when you do this, leave both ends hanging out on the same side. You will just tie these into a knot and it will be hidden by his eyes!


See how it pulls in a little bit creating a little indent? His eyes will be adorable!


I used round-head quilting pins for his eyes. I had them on hand but small beads would work too.


If you are using pins like I did, trim them with wire cutters to make the pins a little shorter so they won't poke out the back of his head. Put a little dab of glue into the indent and then put his eyes in!
How to Make a Felted Snowman
Aww, isn't he cute?!


How to Make a Felted Snowman


I made a little winter scene with a chalkboard shelf and other things I had on hand.


How to Make a Felted Snowman


His scarf is just a strip of green wool felt.


How to Make a Felted Snowman


It took about an hour to create this little guy. I made the little tree with a paperback book a few years ago.


How to Make a Felted Snowman

How to Make a Felted Snowman

How to Make a Needle Felted Snowman

How to Make a Needle Felted Snowman



I hope that you enjoyed this post. If you did, you might also like these:


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  1. Oh my gosh!! This is the cutest thing ever!! Great tutorial - I've wanted to try felting for awhile. I'm definitely going to be stopping at JoAnn's to grab the supplies. Your tutorial is great and easy to follow and I LOVE the way you've displayed him on that shelf with the book tree, bottle brush trees and banner. Great job!

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  2. Thanks! For this kind of felting you don't use sweaters though, you would use wool roving. :)

    Tania

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  3. Thanks Vikki!! Glad you are enjoying the hop!!

    Tania

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  4. lol, thank you! Everyone needs a snowman in their life!!

    Tania

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  5. Debra PashkowskyDecember 03, 2017

    He is so adorable. I don't come across many wool sweaters but I will certainly look so I can give it a try.

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  6. Thanks Lauren! I think you'll really like needle felting, it is something you can do while sitting in your favorite chair and just relaxing!

    Tania

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  7. Well, I have decided I need that snowman in my life!!! ADORABLE!!!!!

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  8. This is the cutest one yet and what a good idea to give him a heart. I'm really enjoying your 12 Days of Christmas.

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  9. Nancy CarrollDecember 03, 2017

    Your little snowman is ADORABLE!!! Great tutorial!

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  10. He's adorable Tania! I'm not sure I have the hang of felting. You just poke it with a needle? How can doing that create a snowman? Ha! Yours is so cute & has so much expression. I'm really impressed!

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  11. Thanks Janie! He took about an hour to make!

    Tania

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  12. Janie@Pineconecottageretreat.cDecember 04, 2017

    Tania, thanks for sharing your snowman. He is the cutest! About how long did he take to make?

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  13. Thanks! I love him too!

    Tania

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  14. ha ha! Well they are special needles and there is a bit of shaping and forming as you go but basically yes... poke the wood repeatedly with needles and a snowman emerges! :o)

    Tania

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  15. Stephanie AbbottDecember 11, 2017

    What a cutie! Fantastic idea. I need to try this. Thanks for sharing at our link party!

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  16. Thank you Stephanie!

    Tania

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  17. Wow I've never seen felting done like this before. You make it look so easy! Your little guy is adorable. Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm! xo Kathleen|Our Hopeful Home

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  18. Thanks Kathleen! It really is pretty easy!!

    Tania

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  19. Emily Harper Waggoner FishDecember 14, 2017

    I've never felted before but now want to try it!

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  20. You definitely should give it a try! It's very relaxing and fun!

    Tania

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  21. Kerryanne @Shabby Art BoutiqueDecember 14, 2017

    Tania, he is absolutely the sweetest!!
    Delighted to be featuring hime at Create, Bake, Grow & Gather tonight.
    Merry Christmas!

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  22. Aww, thanks Kerryanne!

    Tania

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  23. He looks so cute! I always wondered how felting was done.

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  24. Your little felted snowman is adorable, Tania! I've never tried needle felting but feeling inspired. Wishing you and yours a beautiful holiday season🎄 and looking forward to seeing what you have in store for us in 2024.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Marie! I hope you are doing well, I miss seeing your blog projects. You have a wonderful holiday season as well :)

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