Marr Haven Homemhyarn@marrhaven.com
 | This is
the most sensible needle felting tool I have used so far. It is made by Clover
and has several very useful features that are not in any other needle felting
tools. The first feature is the lock/unlock that you engage by turning the green section on the needle end. That prevents the needle points from being exposed when they are not in use. Second, a safety cover at the needle end of the tool stays in place when the tool is locked so the needle points are protected from being bent or broken when the tool is set aside or in storage plus it keeps you from poking your self. When you unlock the tool and poke your needle felting, the safety cover retracts into the handle. The base of the handle (green unlock section at the bottom in this picture) is 1 inch across and prevents the needles from being poked too deeply into your foam form and ruining the form or blunting your needles. The top green section has a protrusion you can see in the picture, makes it easy to unscrew the top and change or replace needles. Inside the top section, a metal inner cover keeps the needles in proper position so they all work for you. |
| The
tool holds 5 needles and comes with five 40 gauge (fine) needles. I tried it out
first using 38 star needles for the main needle felting then changing needles
back to the 40 gauge for finish work. 36 gauge needles may also be used in the
tool but they are longer than the 38 star and 40 gauge so they extend beyond the
safety cover enough that you could get poked accidentally. Maybe the best feature for some is; it is spring loaded so takes no effort to poke into your fibers. The tool is 4 inches long, plastic, comes with 2 illustrated instruction
sheets showing how to use all the features and how to take it apart to change
needles or clean it. (see below for more needle information) |
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Clover Manufacturing Company does have refill sets of felting
needles, 5 to a package. Two of our Case of 3 needles
which are Foster Needles would give you a spare needle and the total of
6 needles would cost less than the Clover package of 5 needles 40 gauge
which they call Fine or 38 gauge which they call Heavy. I do not sell the
Clover needles. |
3 Felting Needles in a snap open
case, all $3.50 for case of 3 needles of the same size choose: 36 gauge triangle for general felting. 38 gauge star point has more sides, faster than 36, more resistant to breaking than 40. 40 gauge triangle is for fine fiber and detail. |
| The Clover Company also has a small plastic mat that is shown on the package of their felting tool. You do need something beneath your work, primarily to protect the tips of the needles, however the largest Clover mat is only 6 1/4 inch by 4 1/2 inch and costs approximately $17. I use the foam rectangular form shown in this picture. The foam rectangular form is 10 in. x 15 in. long, 2 in. thick $10.00. |  |
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The new Clover Pen Style Felting Tool is really great for adding details to your finish work. A great comfort tool when you are making small scultptured animals, etc. It is so light in your hand and fits into little spaces easily.Read more about the Pen Style Felting Tool. |  |
Hardwood Handle Felting Needle tool Comes with six 40 gauge needles more info |
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Needle Felt Purse Instructions. See pictures |
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Needle Felt a Silk Scarf Instructions, |  |
Little Teddy Bear Felting Needle Directions for sculptural needle felting. $5. Author Sue Pufpaff has several wet felt instructions. |