Member Reviews

I enjoyed this book. Its a book about needle felting. It had easy to follow instructions and illustrations of each work.

I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. This my honest unbiased opinions.

Was this review helpful?

An Introduction to Needle Felting is a fun and well written introduction to needle felting. Five stars. This is a useful and beginner accessible guide and would make a great selection for library acquisition.

Was this review helpful?

Learn to make your own adorable, tiny creations with this introduction to the art of needle felting. Calver includes step-by-step instructions with photos for each step (always helpful), and patterns for everything from a tiny bee in its own hive, to a mouse with a basket, to felted wool pictures. A good introduction to the subject.

Was this review helpful?

An Introduction to Needle Felting is an excellent beginner guide to the craft. It will guide you through all the tools, techniques and materials you will need to get started. The photographs are beautiful and the projects are adorable. This is a brilliant book for anyone wanting to give it a go and it would make a great gift book for the keen crafter.

Was this review helpful?

Great guide to the art of felting. Ideal for beginners or those looking for inspiration in the craft.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

A beautiful, illustrated guide to show the basics of needle felting, both wet and dry, and get you started with a few simple but adorable patterns, mainly cute animal friends.

Was this review helpful?

I love needle felting and this was a sweet little book about it. Highly recommend to anyone interested in the craft of needle felting

Was this review helpful?

An Introduction to Needle Felting is a fun and well written introduction to needle felting small sculptures and sculptural elements for other crafts written by Linda Calver. Due out 30th March 2022 from Pen & Sword on their White Owl imprint, it's 176 pages and will be available in paperback format.

This is such an appealing and accessible technique and tutorial guide with clearly written instructions and colour photographs throughout which illustrate the steps from tool and materials selection through to the finished project. Many of the projects (there are, by my count, more than 20 including variations on the basic shapes) can be repurposed for other uses or just used as they are. They're full of whimsy and charm and will appeal to almost everyone. Since some of the projects contain small parts such as crowns, necklaces, etc, they might not be suitable without modification for babies or toddlers.

The introduction includes a good overview over the basic tools and supplies. The author has included a retailer list in the back of the book to make a basic kit. The stockists listed in the links are slanted to readers in the UK, but readers who live elsewhere won't have problems sourcing tools online or at larger crafts shops. The following chapters contain the tutorials: basic shapes, bee & beehive, owls, mouse, fairy, kitty, wet felting, and several seasonal holiday projects.

Five stars. This is a useful and beginner accessible guide and would make a great selection for library acquisition, maker's groups, activity groups, and the home library.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Was this review helpful?

I was so excited to have an opportunity to read this book.
I will enjoy and appreciate it repeatedly as I work my way through the projects included.
Clearly identifying and explaining the items needed to create using felting wools and also what to look out for, this book is enjoyable, informative, educational and just plain FUN.

I have wet felted before, but never a picture, so I will also be giving that a try.
I read through a digital version of this book, via Netgalley, but I am more old school and will be ordering a print copy for my personal library.

The beginner projects are cute and fun. The author tells us this is a jumping off book and the results are limited only by imagination. She also tells us how to overcome (and not get discouraged by) common unintended results.

I am going to get family members of various ages involved to enjoy crafting together.

Was this review helpful?

Outstanding! As a complete novice to Needlefelting I feel more confident to give a project a shot. Easily described step by step with excellent advice regarding tools and materials. I can’t wait to try my new knowledge out, a book I’m sure to revisit

Was this review helpful?

This was a very creative book. Needle felting is a craft I have been eyeing for awhile. The creatures created are very unique and going through this book I’d consider it a fine craft. I’m not sure I could do it justice despite this being an intro book. The author did a great job in the step by step but yet another craft I’m just not crafty enough for. Still I admired the skill and would definitely love to try and recommend to other crafters. Five stars!

I received a complimentary copy to look at and voluntarily left this review!

Was this review helpful?

This was the perfect book for someone who didn't know anything about needle felting, like me.
It's a very useful and informative book because it starts from the beginning and guide you through tools, materials, techniques and all you need to know.
The project are richly illustrated and easy to follow.
An excellent guide, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Was this review helpful?

This is an excellent book for beginners. Easy to follow instructions, plenty of photographs to help explain and some lovely projects to get you started. Written in a friendly manner, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend. Thank you #netgalley

Was this review helpful?

Super cute projects with step by step instructions and clear photos showing the process. Clearly, I need to make a felted cat... or six. I also love the wet felted picture, like painting with wool.

Thanks to Pen & Sword, White Owl and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I’ve been needle felting for a couple of years and have read many books on the subject. Some books say they are for beginners but often they are not as they assume basic knowledge and/or present complex projects. However, this book by Linda Calver is perfect for someone who wants to learn how to needle felt.

An Introduction to Needle Felting begins with a thorough discussion of the tools and materials. Calver explains the four different types of wool and there are photos to illustrate them. She shows you all the tools, which are not many. As hobbies go, this one requires a rather small investment — needles, wool and a foam pad will get you going. Next it’s on to learning basic shapes. What I really appreciate in this book is Calver takes it to the next level and while teaching basic shapes, you also are making something, like a toadstool, a heart or a flower, and not just the shapes like in other books.

Then it’s on to the five major projects — beehive with bees, owl, mouse, fairy, and cat. For each project Calver goes step by step and there are lots of photos illustrating the different stages. Next is an introduction to wet felting and in the process of learning about it, Calver shows you how to make a picture. The final chapter consists of seasonal projects and includes a bunny pin, pumpkin, black cat, snowman, and a Christmas penguin and owl wearing Santa hats.

An Introduction to Needle Felting accomplishes exactly what it’s title suggests and does so in an inviting and methodical way. If you work through the book and make the projects, I have no doubt that you will have a lot of fun and be a master needle felter in no time.

Thank you to Pen & Sword, White Owl and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

What an amazing book! If I could give this book ten stars I would. An Introduction to Needle Felting by Linda Calver is a complete workshop (or maybe two) in a book. From tools, materials, and simple shapes to more complex miniature animals, this book hit all of the must haves for me. Having taken an introductory class in needle felting, I still had many questions which this book addressed, for example using small layers of roving rather than one larger piece. The illustrations were clear, high quality and helpful to understanding the techniques. (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.) This is one book that I am glad to have on my crafting shelf and will refer to often. If you are interested in learning about needle felting or improving your needle felting techniques, add this book to your library now.

Was this review helpful?

A couple of months ago a friend of a friend on Facebook (you know how that goes 😉 ) showed a picture of needle felted dogs that was so adorable that the technique has intrigued me ever since. My only knowledge of felting is knitting an object in real wool, throwing it in the washer then dryer (which in normal life would be a big no-no resulting in bye-bye hat, sweater, etc. or, you know, giving it to a little child for their Barbie) and have the resulting object being stiffly joined together as the fibers seem to melt into each other. When I saw An Introduction to Needle Felting by Linda Calver as a Wish for It on Netgalley, I did and my wish was granted. Thank you!

An Introduction to Needle Felting is indeed an excellent introduction, providing the newbie with a brief history and terms used. As well, a list of the instruments, wool, and other accessories needed in order to undertake beginning needle felting projects is presented as well as a description of what different needles do and what you should expect (needles breaking and how to avoid that and avoid poking yourself with the needles(!)) and why you should use certain instruments over others.

Instructions are given to complete objects from the very simple like hearts and an easy flower to more complex like cats, owls, a delightfully cute mouse, penguins, fairies and so many more. The instructions also have colorful pictures that offer guidance. I love all of the designs and can easily see myself wanting to do each one.

The list of resources is for UK markets because this is a British book, but the needles and wool can probably be found in craft and knitting shops locally and online wherever your location.

I highly recommend An Introduction to Needle Felting for any budding needle felter, such as myself. It’s a great resource.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

It was a very nice introcuction to sew felting. The projects look great. Easy to read directions. Maybe one day I will try to do a small project.
Thank You

Was this review helpful?

Thanks NetGalley for the eARC! As someone newly interested in needle felting Calver's book is a great first place to start! Direct and easy to follow, it provides all the potentially necessary tools and walks readers through basic shapes and how to build up projects for optimal results. Reading the book made me excited to jump in and practice what I was learning!

Was this review helpful?

I have been needle felting for some year, but mainly flat pieces which later become home wear or clothing. This book is mainly 3D with one picture made on the flat. Which means that it has been a real learning experience for me, the skill to sculpture these lovely little forms are a eye opener.
The book starts of with a history of felt making, then tools and material and lastly a series of projects to make, tarting from simple shapes and progressing to different items such a cute little beehives with bee, fairies and animals and owls amongst the items show .
I really enjoyed this book and have learnt about a different type of needle felting and I think my granddaughters
may have a little fairy or two in a gift parcel

Was this review helpful?