||Home | 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 ( the 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 forms and ruining them 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) see the Clover Embroidery Tool to stitch on felt. |  |
Clover Manufacturing Company does have refill sets of felting needles, 5 to a package. Two of our Case of 3 needles (see below) 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 so I will not carry the Clover refill needles.
| 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 round base foam forms shown in this
picture. The round base foam form 12 inches across, 1 1/2 inch thick for $8.00. You can see all the foam forms here. See more forms to make Mittens, Slippers and a Darner. |  | Round base $8.00. |
 | 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 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. $14.95 |
 | Needle Felt Hat Instructions are $5 details here. |  | Needle
Felt Purse Instructions are $5.See pictures | Needle Felt a Silk Scarf Instructions,can
be sent by email attachment. $5 White undyed silk scarf is $4.50 see the vest made with 2 scarves. |
 | Little Teddy Bear Felting Needle Directions for sculptural needle felting. $5. Author Sue Pufpaff has several wet felt instructions. |  The book, Needle Felting Art Techniques and Projects explains felting needles, techniques and fibers. Detailed instructions are given for flat and sculptural felt techniques, also combining wet felting and dry needle felting. Great photos show each technique. Convenient size, spiral bound, 8 in. by 7 1/4 in. with 60 pages. $17.95 See details and pictures. |