Embarking on a new crafting journey can be both exciting and a bit daunting. But fear not! In this comprehensive tutorial, we’ll walk you through the process of creating a charming felt bear brooch, perfect for beginners. Whether you’re looking to adorn your own clothes, create a unique gift, or simply explore the world of needle felting, this project is a great place to start.
Before we jump into the step – by – step process, let’s make sure you have all the necessary materials. Here’s what you’ll need to create your felt bear brooch:
- Wool: You’ll need brown wool for the bear’s body, head, and ears. White wool for the mouth, cheeks, and some details. And black wool for the nose, eyes, and mouth details. The kit mentioned above comes with high – quality wool in the perfect colors for this project.
- Felting Needles: These are essential for the felting process. They are sharp and help to mat the wool fibers together. Make sure to handle them with care.
- Felting Foam Pad: This provides a soft surface to work on while you’re felting. It protects your work surface and allows the needles to penetrate the wool easily.
- Scissors: You’ll use scissors to cut the wool to the appropriate length, especially when working on the finer details.
- Brooch Pin: This is what will turn your felted bear into a wearable brooch.
- Glue Stick: To attach the felted bear’s head to the backing.
- Felt or Faux Felt (Non – Woven Fabric): This will serve as the backing for your brooch.
Start by taking a small amount of brown wool. Remember, since the brooch is small, it’s best to take a little wool at a time. You can always add more if needed. Roll the wool between your fingers to form a rough ball. This will be the base of the bear’s head.
Once you have the rough ball, place it on the felting foam pad. Take your felting needle and start gently poking the wool. The idea is to mat the wool fibers together. Be careful not to poke your fingers! As you poke, the wool will start to take on a more defined shape. Keep turning the ball as you felt to ensure all sides are evenly worked on.
To make the bear’s head look more three – dimensional and fluffy, we’ll add some extra wool to the cheeks. Take a small amount of brown wool and place it on the sides of the head where the cheeks would be. Use your felting needle to attach this wool to the head, poking gently until it’s firmly in place. This will give the bear a cute, chubby look.
Now, it’s time to add the bear’s mouth. Take a small piece of white wool and shape it into a small oval. Place it on the lower part of the bear’s head where the mouth should be. Use your felting needle to attach it to the head. This white wool will contrast nicely with the brown head, making the mouth stand out.
For the nose and mouth details, take a tiny piece of black wool. First, shape it into a small round ball for the nose. Place it on the bear’s face above the mouth and use your felting needle to attach it. To create the mouth shape, you can take a thin strand of black wool and carefully felt it onto the white mouth area to form a curved line. This will give the bear a sweet expression.
The eyes are what really bring the bear to life. You can use small black beads for the eyes, or if you prefer, you can felt small black wool balls. If you’re felting the eyes, take a very small piece of black wool and roll it into a ball. Place it on the bear’s face where the eyes should be and felt it in place. Make sure the eyes are evenly spaced for a symmetrical look.
To add some more character to the bear, let’s work on the eyebrows and cheek details. Take a small piece of white wool and cut it into a short length. Use your scissors to fray the wool slightly. Then, felt this white wool onto the bear’s face above the eyes to create the eyebrows. Poke it onto the cheeks to add facial details, making the little bear look more vivid and adorable.
For the ears, take two small pieces of brown wool. Shape each piece into a teardrop – like shape. These will be the bear’s ears. Place the ears on the sides of the bear’s head and use your felting needle to attach them firmly. You can add some white wool to the inside of the ears for a more detailed look. Just take a small piece of white wool and felt it onto the inside of the ear shape.
At this point, your bear’s head is complete! It should be looking super cute and ready to be turned into a brooch.
Cut two small holes in the non-woven fabric according to the size of the brooch base. Thread the brooch base through the holes from the underside and secure it in place on the fabric. Then apply glue from a glue stick to the back of the felt bear, attach it to the fabric, and leave it undisturbed for a few minutes until the glue dries completely.
And there you have it! Your very own felt bear brooch is complete. It’s a cute and unique accessory that you can be proud of.
As mentioned earlier, because the brooch is small, it’s crucial to work with small amounts of wool at a time. This gives you better control over the shape and size of your bear. If you take too much wool, it can be difficult to manage and may result in a misshapen brooch. And don’t be afraid to add more wool if you feel that a particular area needs more volume or definition.
When it comes to creating the finer details like the eyes, nose, mouth, and eyebrows, using scissors can be a great help. Cut the wool to a short length, then use your fingers to fluff it up or re – arrange the fibers. This makes it easier to felt these small pieces into the desired shape. It also gives you more precision when working on these tiny areas.
Creating a felt bear brooch is not only a fun and rewarding project but also a great way to start your needle – felting journey. With a little patience and the right materials, you can create a charming accessory that you’ll love to wear or give as a gift. Remember, practice makes perfect, and don’t be discouraged if your first bear brooch doesn’t turn out exactly as you expected. Each attempt will teach you something new. So, go ahead, grab your materials, and start creating your own adorable felt bear brooch today! And don’t forget to share your creations with us. We’d love to see how your bears turn out.
