Welcome to the Wonderful World of Felt
Ah, felt – the fruitcake of the crafting world! It’s been around forever, is delightfully versatile, and never goes out of style. Whether you’re making a cozy garland or sprucing up a coffee table, using the right type of felt can take your project from “meh” to “wowza!” Let’s felt our way into this magical fabric craft world and pick the perfect materials for your creative venture.
Felt 101: Meet the Main Players
Soft Felt: The Cozy Companion
Picture this: snugly toys, festive decorations, and cot mobile toys gently swaying above a baby’s crib. That’s the magic of soft felt – it’s the ultimate cuddle buddy for any craft project that needs a bit of fluff and comfort.
In fact, I almost made a big mistake when I first started crafting.
When I decided to make my first cot mobiles for babies, I only had hard felt at home – the stiff type I usually used for beaded jewellery. I didn’t realize at the time how important it is to choose the right felt for the right project. Hard felt made sewing difficult because it’s tough to push the needle through. Worse, once stuffed, the toys developed ugly wrinkles and sharp angles instead of soft, rounded shapes. It looked rough, not cuddly – exactly the opposite of what you want for a baby’s mobile.
That’s why for any plush toy project, soft felt is essential.
Soft felt not only makes sewing easier but also helps stuffed creations look smooth, unified, and truly huggable.
If you’re ready to get into soft felt, I highly recommend the Pastel Soft Felt Sheets Bundle (21 x 90cm).
This is the one I use for nearly all my projects – especially for baby cot mobiles – because the gentle pastel colours create such a calm, delicate feel in a nursery.
Need something a little thicker and colourful for detailed plushies? The 28pcs Thick 1.4mm Felt Sheets (20 x 30cm) are a fantastic choice.
And if you want to add a little sparkle to your creations, don’t miss the 20pcs Glitter Felt Fabric (20 x 30cm) – perfect for special details like stars, hearts, or magical accents!
Choosing the right felt matters more than you might think.
When you’re just starting, your projects won’t be perfect (and that’s okay – it’s part of learning!). But using the wrong type of felt or poor-quality supplies can make your creations look worse than they really are, which could kill your motivation. Trust me, you want your supplies to help you, not work against you.
That’s why selecting not just good-quality felt, but the right type for your specific project, is one of the best choices you can make as a beginner.
Hard Felt: The Sturdy Sidekick
If stability is what you need, then hard felt is your name-tag-wearing bestie. This material is perfect for projects that require structure – think table decorations, sturdy coasters, or embroidered jewellery that needs to hold its shape beautifully.
In fact, hard felt was where my crafting journey truly began.
At the start of my career, I specialized in creating embroidered jewellery using seed beads and gemstones. Fortunately, I did my research beforehand and discovered that hard felt is perfect for anything where you want a design to keep its shape. I used it to create earrings, brooches, and necklaces shaped like animals, flowers, and all sorts of imaginative objects.
Working with hard felt made the process so easy.
I would simply place my pattern onto the felt, outline it with a pencil, and then the magic would begin. Using different seed beads, embroidery threads, and gemstones, I decorated each piece until it came to life. What made everything even more convenient was having a full set of felt sheets with a wide variety of colours – so no matter what stones or beads I had, I always found the perfect matching felt.
It was a very special time in my life, and I truly loved creating jewellery with hard felt.
The possibilities you can unlock with just felt, beads, and a few creative patterns are simply mind-blowing!
If you’re ready to explore hard felt yourself, I recommend the 40pcs Stiff Felt Sheets for Crafting.
This set comes with plenty of colour options, so you’re always ready for your next creative project.
Personal Picks: My Felt Favourites
Here’s a peek into my felt handbook: I gravitate towards hard felt for beaded jewellery and soft felt for toys – because, let’s face it, I’m soft at heart.
I definitely loved working with hard felt, and honestly, sometimes I miss it. Creating jewellery pieces with seed beads and gemstones had its own stunning beauty – structured, bold, and full of character.
However, as time passed (and maybe because I’m getting a little older and softer!), I completely fell in love with making plushies from soft felt, especially adorable collections of different animals.
It feels like building a little world – once you finish one, you immediately want to start another, and another, and another!
This creative addiction never really ends.
Compared to working with hard felt for jewellery, making plushies with soft felt brings a completely different feeling.
It’s softer, more heart-warming, almost impossible to explain – you simply need to try it yourself and discover which creative path speaks to you more.
If you’re ready to experience this magic, take a look at this sewing pattern collection for plushies.
You’ll find a world of cute characters just waiting to come to life with a little bit of soft felt and a lot of love.
Sparkling Extras: Decorating Your Felt Creations
Now, let’s talk about that extra sparkle – those perfect little decorative touches that bring your felt creations to life.
Imagine stars, moons, and heart shapes cut from mirrored or glitter faux leather, adding shimmer and charm to your plushies and ornaments.
I absolutely love using Holographic Faux Leather, especially when making Christmas ornaments for my tree. It adds just the right amount of shine and creates such a festive atmosphere.
If you’re working on seasonal decorations, like Halloween projects, this kind of material also works beautifully and makes your creations stand out.
For even more sparkle, the 20Pcs Shiny Glitter Faux Leather is another favourite.
It’s perfect for adding bold accents and giving your designs that little extra magic without overwhelming them.
Choosing Your Felt: What to Consider
When you’re exploring the felt world, consider a few essentials. Think about your project type – are you organizing a plushie party or arranging a formal affair of table décors? Do you need a flirt of softness or the gritty determination of stiffness? Consider the felt’s texture and, yes, durability, so your creations last through the ages (or at least a few family gatherings).
Step-by-Step: Crafting Felt Projects Like a Pro
- Gather your chosen felt and tools.
- Cut your felt according to your pattern.
- Stitch the pieces together with love and care by using a Blanket Stitch.
- Add your favourite embellishments – the more glitter, the better!
- Marvel at your felt creation, glowing with artistic pride!
Wrapping Up: Felt-tastic Creations Await!
Choosing the right felt makes all the difference. Whether you aim for something snuggly soft or fiercely firm, the world of felt awaits your imagination. This crafting adventure brings stories to life, so go ahead, pick up that felt and create some fabric magic.
Key Takeaways
- Know your felt type: soft for cuddly projects, hard for structure.
- Boost your crafts with delightful decorative elements.
- Consider project needs before picking your felt.
- Dive into felt crafting with enthusiasm and a sprinkle of creativity.
If you’re ready for even more inspiration, don’t miss my guide on 23 Felt Crafts You’ll Want to Make Right Now — perfect for your next creative adventure!
