Welcome to the DIY Felt Crafts Tutorials page for DelilahIris Designs! If you’re new to sewing with felt, hand stitching, or making your own felt animals, this page will be a perfect place to start!
Getting started with hand-sewn felt animals is easier than you might think. The art of hand-stitching is a comforting, timeless skill, the kind that gets passed down through generations, and it requires only the simplest of tools to begin. If you are entirely new to sewing, felt is the perfect fabric to learn with because its edges don’t fray and it holds its shape beautifully. Before you know it, you’ll be turning basic shapes into expressive little wildlife companions. In this guide, we’ll walk through the essential beginner stitches, the simple tools you need in your sewing basket, and the tips that will help you bring your very first felt creatures to life with confidence.
My patterns are designed for hand stitching with felt or any other nonwoven kind of material, making them a perfect craft project for newbies to hand sewing. I’ve created this section for a sneak peek into what sewing with my patterns might be like, as well as tips and tricks for creating beautifully hand crafted felt toys and more.
Felt Crafts Tutorials and Tips
How To Make Felt Animals, Dolls, and More!
To get started on your first felt animal, you really only need a handful of simple supplies. Here are the basics to tuck into your sewing kit:
Wool or Wool-Blend Felt: Unlike synthetic craft felt, wool blends are sturdier, easier to sew, and have a beautiful, professional-looking finish.
Embroidery Floss: Use a matching or contrasting color to sew your pieces together. You can pull the strands apart to adjust the thickness of your stitches.
Hand Sewing Needles: A pack of embroidery needles (sizes 5–10) will work perfectly for most felt projects.
Clear Wide Tape: I like to use a wide clear tape made for shipping packages, mainly because it covers a lot of space.
Marking Tool: A disappearing ink pen or a simple tailor’s chalk helps you trace your patterns onto the felt without leaving permanent marks.
Sharp Detail Scissors: Since felt doesn’t fray, you can get very precise with your shapes. A small, sharp pair of scissors is a game-changer for cutting out tiny ears or paws.
Poly-fill or Wool Stuffing: This is what brings your creatures to life! Use small pinches at a time to keep your animal smooth and lump-free.
Stuffing tools: These kinds of tools are things I usually find around the house. A pair of wooden chop sticks, tooth picks, and lollipop sticks, are amongst my favorite tools to keep in my sewing basket.
What else can you expect to see here from me, Delilah Iris? I will be adding more Felt Crafts Tutorials featuring my favorite hand sewing stitches, how to create unicorn manes and needle felting. How to create your own fun sewing notions such as pom poms and tassels, embroidery tips and more!
I love to sew and make felt crafts more than anything else. My hands just can’t keep up with ideas!
Want to contribute a felt craft tutorial of your own? Contact me! I would love to feature fan favorite ideas for my readers!
Happy Sewing everyone!