Needle Felting for Beginners - Newark Library - Adult Learning

This four-week course introduces needle felting with simple 2D projects inspired by nature and sustainability. You’ll learn basic felting skills by making items such as an autumn leaf door hanger, decorative patches for mending or upcycling, and other nature-inspired designs.

During the course, we will focus on a range of needle felting techniques to create nature-inspired textile art. These will include shaping and layering wool fibres, blending colours for simple landscapes, and adding fine details using different felting methods. Projects will include a leaf-shaped door hanger, a felted nature scene, and a hoop art picture featuring a bee surrounded by flowers.

We will also explore sustainable approaches by encouraging the use of reclaimed wool, scraps, and visible mending to promote creative re-use. Each session will begin with a short demonstration followed by guided support as learners develop their own pieces in a friendly and relaxed setting.

You will learn how to use felting needles safely, shape and attach wool fibres, build texture and depth, and combine colours confidently. Inspiration will be drawn from natural themes, and there will be opportunities for learners to personalise their projects with guidance and support.

Resources required:

Medium Gauge Felting Needle (a couple of spares may be useful as they can break).

A Felting Mat – There are many different types, this is down to the makers preference, however a cheap starter option is a car cleaning sponge. You could also use upholstery foam.

A small selection of felting wool in natural colours of your choice.

1 or 2 twelve-inch square pieces of felt in autumnal colours.

An old woolen item that is either damaged in need of repair or needs updating for week 2.

Funding and Fees

If you receive certain benefits, you may be able to take the course for free.
If money is stopping you from enrolling, please visit our funding page to see what help is available.

Living in England

To book and join one of our courses, you must live in England permanently and either:

• Live inside the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) area (Nottinghamshire or Derbyshire)

or

• Live outside the devolved areas listed below

You cannot enrol if you live in these devolved areas:

• Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA)

• Liverpool City Region Combined Authority

• Greater London Authority

• North East Combined Authority

• South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority

• Tees Valley Combined Authority

• West Midlands Combined Authority

• West of England Combined Authority

• West Yorkshire Combined Authority

• Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority

• York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority

• Hull and East Yorkshire

• Greater Lincolnshire

• Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority

• Cornwall Council

• Lancashire Combined County Authority

• Buckinghamshire

• Warwickshire

• Surrey

Residency Requirements (Additional Information)

If you live in the UK on a visa, we’ll need evidence of your visa to confirm funding. You can upload this when applying, and you’ll need to complete a short questionnaire.

Some exceptions include:

• Your visa must last until after your course ends.

• Asylum seekers must have lived in the UK for at least 6 months while their claim is being processed.

• You are supported by your local authority under Section 23C or 23CA of the Children Act 1989, or under the Care Act 2014.

Anyone who does not meet the funding criteria would need to pay full course fees.