The Ultimate Guide to Needle Felting Supplies (What's Worth It vs. What's Not)

I’ve tested the most popular felting supply shops over the last few years and here are my thoughts.

There are A LOT of options when it comes to needle felting supplies. Etsy shops, Amazon bundles, specialty sites. They all want you to choose them (including me!), so there’s an obvious bias everywhere you go. 

After years of felting on the couch, at my desk, on a plane, in the car, etc. here's my honest breakdown of what's actually worth buying, what's not really worth the investment, and where to get it. 

Needle Felting Beginners: What You Actually Need

Before we get into the rabbit hole, let's be clear, there are only three things you truly need to start needle felting:

1. A mat
2. Some wool
3. Felting needles

Everything else is extra. If you’re just felting at home, on a table, very close to your wool hoard, you may not need anything else. And if you’re a beginner, don’t spend a ton before you actually know if you like needle felting. Grab a kit and find out if you actually like it prior to draining your wallet on nice supplies.

But if you're the kind of person who felts on the couch, at your desk, in the car waiting for your kid's dance class to end, and at the beach (like me) then the "extras" start to make a lot of sense.

The Extras (That Are Actually Kind of Essential If You're Me)

I felt everywhere. If I'm sitting for any extended period of time, I'm probably going to want to stab something. That way I’m not biting my nails, spiraling out, or doomscrolling. So over time I've built out a full arsenal:

• Organization: Needle cases, needle holders, portable wool organizers, and large plastic bins.Having a system means you're not dumping out your whole bag to find a single 42 gauge needle.

• Finger protection: I use Thimble Tape from ThimTec and that’s the only thing I like (and I barely like it lol). Those leather finger covers? Absolute trash. They're clunky, too big, they make it impossible to hold your wool properly, and my fingers start sweating immediately. No, thank you.

• Other notions I actually reach for: Snips, an awl, craft glue, pipe cleaners, wire, glass eyeballs, keychains, needle and thread. Sounds like a lot, but once you start adding armatures and eyes to your work, you'll get it.

Mats:

Here’s my rotation.

• On the go: A small wool mat that fits in my craft bag. 

• At my desk: A large ironing felt mat plus a large, thin wool mat cover. The combo gives me options depending on what I'm working on and it’s not too thick of a mat.

• Lounging at home on the couch: A large wool mat made for lap sitting.

For a deep dive into every mat I've actually tested, read the full mat blog post here.

Wool: Don't Overthink It (But Also Don't Buy Acrylic)

There are a lot of wool options out there, and if you're a beginner, just grab a rainbow variety pack in your price range and start stabbing.

If your budget has some flexibility, the one thing I'd avoid is acrylic fiber. It's PLASTIC, it’s too fine, the texture isn't satisfying, it’s not biodegradable, and it just doesn't felt as easily as merino or corriedale. Treat yourself and go natural. 

My go-tos for US-based wool:

Grey Felted Fox or Felted Sky: soft, beautiful, consistent

Personally, I'd go local every single time if I could. But when availability is limited, a specific color is needed, or shipping speed matters, those three don't disappoint. Solid quality, consistent results, good customer service.

Another option:

WoolBuddy: if you prefer working with coarser wool and you don’t mind that it’s shipped internationally from New Zealand. My moral OCD cringes everytime I panic-order from them because I know they are going to ship me what I need really fast. 

For a full breakdown of where to source wool (locally, across the US, and internationally), here’s a handy blog post ALL ABOUT WOOL.

Needles: Which Ones You Actually Need

Okay. There are a lot of needle types (aka star, spiral, twist, reverse) and I'm not going to pretend I can rattle off what each one does from memory. What I can tell you is what I keep stocked and when I reach for each one:

• 36 gauge: core wool work. I'll sometimes run 5 at once on a needle holder if I'm working on something large.

• 38 gauge: shaping with batts or courser roving

• 40 gauge: add color or the final layer. Also great for felting paintings / painting with wool

• 42 gauge: detail work: wisps, tiny eyes and mouths, patching holes

Non-negotiable: whatever you buy, make sure the needles are engineered by Groz Beckert. I skip Amazon brands and I skip Clover. Both break more often than they should. And Clover doesn't have a color coding system (WHYYYY? FOR THE LOVE OF WHATEVER IS HOLY, WHY?)  fine vs. heavy is not enough nuance for me when I'm working across four different gauges. Honestly? Just skip the overpriced Clover tools altogether. 

PSA: At least once a week, someone will walk into the craft store where I work part-time and ask me if they can use sewing needles to felt. There’s no shame in this question, just know that they will not work. Don’t try to carve notches into them either, please!

Where I buy: Living Felt is my go-to because you can order any quantity you want. No variety packs, no forced bundles. One note: if you order in bulk, they won't be color coded. And I genuinely cannot imagine managing 25+ loose identical needles. Pure chaos.

Felting Guns: My Honest Take

I hate them. I hate them so much. I have sensory issues and the vibration is a lot. I bought one on Amazon and returned it immediately.

That said, they might work great for you! If you need to get through a large surface area project without worrying about detail, the power and speed can be useful. I just can't do it personally.

What I use instead: a multi-needle holder on Etsy that holds 3-8 needles at once. I toggle between counts depending on the scale of what I'm working on. Way more control, no vibration, no sensory spiral.

Just Want a Kit?

If you're feeling overwhelmed by all of this, just start with a kit. They take the decision fatigue out of it and include everything you need to get going. Mine include all the essentials and come in a few fun formats, including a taco, a chill pill, and yes, a Trump voodoo doll. Shop my kits and my favorite needle felting supplies here.

Have a supplier you love that I didn't cover? A strong opinion about Clover needles? Tell me in the comments.