How to make a needle felted monster

Are you on a budget and wanting some toys for your kids this Holiday Season but don't have the cash? Why not make your own? Little scary monsters are all the rage for the last few years and they cost an arm and a leg! Do you have basic needle felting supplies and an idea of what you want your monster to look like? Follow these simple steps to create a cute and at the same time scary monster with tons of personality!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wool roving
• Basic needle felting supplies
• Buttons
• Imagination
• Touch of whimsy

1. Sketch out a design that you want your monster to look like. Do you want it to have antennas, tail, creepy bulging eyes, or have one eye above his body? The choice is all your since it is YOUR monster!

2. 
    
   The monster needs antennas.

   With all round or oblong monster body parts I start out with a small needle felted ball then I build it up from there. As I am building, I think about the object that I want, "is it going to be an eye, leg or arm?" Then needle felt the item out into it's shape.

3. 
    
   It all starts with a ball.

   Once the body parts are all formed I think about the actual body shape itself, "do I want it: fat, skinny, or flat?" then I build the body up all the while keeping that image in my mind's eye. Don't be alarmed if the body doesn't turn out the way that you want it in the beginning because any body shape that you come up with is fine and you can work with that. The only warning that I have is not to make the body part too flat or transparent because it will not stand up tall on it's own so that you can display it on your shelf. That would be a disappointment because after you make your monster you HAVE to show it off in your room!

4. Attach all of the body parts to that actual body by needle felting it onto the body and reinforce it with small amount of wool.

5. Once the body is formed it is time to attach the eyes and any embellishments that you might want to give the monster sparkle. Just in case it is a girl monster you can't have here without her sparkle gems! Since there are no rules to monster making (really there aren't) this is the time to have at it by placing all the buttons that you have or any beads that you want to put on.

6. 
    
   I am born!

   Once that is completed, you are finished and ready to display the monster on your shelf in your room!

Tips & Warnings

• Remember your color wheel rules and make some of the colored wool that you have pop by using complimentary colors and odd shapes.
• There is no mistakes in monster making so don't be intimidated when you are creating!
• For reference about monsters try watching the movie, "Monsters Inc." it will give you tons of ideas!
• Wool roving is fairly cheap and you can get it from many sources on the web or check out Ebay for great deals!
• Keep all needle felting tools away from small children to avoid injury!

[veryirie]

on 11/21/2008 Truly, I've never seen nor even heard of needle felting until I read your article. You are extremely talented, your monster is extremely cute and I'm amazed! Great info; great read!