Whiskers for Needle Felted Animals ☆ I Compare 7 Materials ☆ Needle Felted Cat Head Series: Part 5

Wondering what to use as whiskers for needle felted animals?
I compare 7 materials so you can decide on the best one for you! I demonstrate how to attach them on my Tabby Birman cat head as this is the 5th and final part of the needle felted cat head series. I explain the pros and cons of the options and share my top 3 favourites.
This video is kindly sponsored by HeidiFeathers who are a friendly dedicated felting shop with all the wool and tools you’ll need for your needle felted animals. They are UK based but deliver worldwide.
The horse hair I show you in no. 5 is from their shop! So do check out their website today at www.heidifeath...
I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for watching!
Check out these other cat head videos in the series here • Needle Felted Cats
See my list of recommended wools & tools further down.
If you’d like to be the first to see more videos I'm making to help advance your skills and become a more confident Needle Felter, be sure to press the red subscribe button and bell icon :-)
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NEEDLE FELTING TOOLS & WOOL I RECOMMEND FOR REALISTIC ANIMALS
1) US SUPPLIES (for UK list see part 2)
Wool Needle Felting Pad (by Woolbuddy) - amzn.to/3e5xtt8
Precision Felting Needles - amzn.to/3EjpBin
Clover Multi Needle Tool (holds 1-3 needles) amzn.to/3V586bd
Core Wool (by Woolbuddy) - natural undyed amzn.to/3fyga42
Soft Merino Wool Roving - variety of 39 colors amzn.to/3ebqmPS
Aluminum Armature Wire, 1.5 mm amzn.to/3CvDgBr
22 Gauge paper covered wire amzn.to/3CwR2Um
Pipe Cleaners (pack of black, white, beige & brown) amzn.to/3SHc4p2
Flat Nosed Pliers amzn.to/3rDtNlb
Stork Shaped Rose Gold Scissors amzn.to/3SUGqUP
Professional Scissors amzn.to/3SSokm8
2) UK SUPPLIES
Heidifeathers is my main go to online felting wool and tools supplier. They also have brilliant starter kits.amzn.to/3wYn60T
Horse hair amzn.to/3N601yY for animal whiskers
** NEEDLES - Best quality & range - Heidifeathers - all colour coded.
Ultimate Mix (all the needles you need) amzn.to/3PPBb7V
Or choose by needle type:
Green - Triangle 36G - amzn.to/3UyLsYr
Red - Triangle 38G amzn.to/3oKvTPK
Blue - Triangle 40G amzn.to/2YEct4E
Light Blue - Twisted 40G amzn.to/3g3Z12R
**FELTING MATS **
Eco Wool Mat - 3 sizes amzn.to/3LYct27
Foam Mat - 3 sizes amzn.to/3mDZkAH
** NEEDLE HOLDERS **
Clover Multi Needle Tool (holds 1-3 needles) amzn.to/3amZ3w8
Wooden Multi Needle Tool (holds 4 needles): amzn.to/3Dimrak
Long Wooden Single Needle Handles x5 amzn.to/3FzWFAy
** WOOL **
CARDED Wool - quick & easy to felt
Jacob Batts In Natural Shades amzn.to/3mDlZx3 - for core wool
White Corriedale Slivers amzn.to/30dsfEf - for wrapping over wire
Carded Slivers in animal shades - Menagerie mix - 10 colours amzn.to/3wZi2b0 or wildlife mix - 18 colours amzn.to/3a2aVa8
WOOL TOPS - for attaching longer fur/feathers & adding details
Soft Natural Mixed tops - Animal Mix -10 different breeds amzn.to/3lr3VqH
Merino tops - packs of 6 (choose from 8 different shade packs) amzn.to/3oMB5Tz
** SCISSORS **
Stork Shaped Rose Gold Embroidery Scissors amzn.to/3AtdJVp
Professional Thinning Scissors amzn.to/3A0zhdf
Professional Hairdressing Scissors amzn.to/3Dp3AKH
Small Nail Scissors amzn.to/3lCLJKf
** WIRE & PIPE CLEANERS **
Armature Wire - Paper covered (18-30gauge) or Aluminium (15/30gauge) - amzn.to/3NGvjvV
100 Pipe Cleaners - Brown, White, Black, Flesh & Grey - amzn.to/2Yr0183
** OTHER **
Multi Purpose Pliers amzn.to/3GuFUah for bending/cutting/flattening wire
Air dry clay - 6 Colours amzn.to/3onaZpw for beaks, claws, noses.
Remington Ceramic Hair Straighteners amzn.to/3lC6zto for thin ears / feathers
Horse hair amzn.to/3N601yY for animal whiskers
For affiliate links I may receive a tiny commission at no extra cost to you. This helps to support my channel so I can continue to provide valuable content Thank you :-)
#needlefeltedanimals #howtoneedlefelt #needlefeltingtutorials #realisticart #needlefeltingbusiness

[@crayonzii]

This was super helpful, thank you! I’m deciding to go with feather shafts as I’m making a realistic raptor mask.

[@FittobeLovedFelts]

So pleased it was helpful.

[@suzanneschauer8852]

I’m going to try natural hair paint brush

[@marciahughes8981]

Great video. I've been doing cats for a long time but your little tips have helped me create more realistic whiskers

[@FittobeLovedFelts]

That's wonderful. I'm glad to have been able to help. 😊

[@wonderwend1]

I am delighted my idea of the feather shafts has caught on!

[@FittobeLovedFelts]

That's wonderful. I've seen and heard others do it in the needle felting groups but didn't know you had the original idea! Thanks so much! ❤️

[@mariewalters4847]

Perfect thankyou!!

[@NK-ox9uo]

Thank you!

[@FittobeLovedFelts]

You're welcome! 😊

[@paulonlee]

I would use my 2 cat’s whiskers🤗

[@FittobeLovedFelts]

That's great 👍

[@Carynjoybeader]

I think I will try the fishing line since I do have some. Great tutorial. TYVM

[@FittobeLovedFelts]

That's great! Good you have some!

[@joeyotten2091]

The brush bristle is inspired! Great idea

[@FittobeLovedFelts]

I've heard it mentioned so tried it. It's a good one if you can get the right colour and length.

[@kerriwing421]

I collect my cats whiskers 🥰 they definitely look the best and are so easy to insert

[@FittobeLovedFelts]

That's brilliant. Yes they are the best aren't they if you can get some..😊

[@ellida2358]

Oh...omg

[@foggykoshka8616]

Wonderful video! I will use this when I’m a bit more professional at realistic felting but I’m definitely going to make a few cats in my time😂

[@FittobeLovedFelts]

I'm glad you like it and it'll be useful to you. 😊

[@AndreaPolder]

I like manly horsehair, but will also try the brush bristles.

[@FittobeLovedFelts]

That's great. 😊

[@paulonlee]

Love your fantastic videos as well as your tips!

[@FittobeLovedFelts]

Glad you like them!

[@dodosmamma1692]

This is very helpful, thank you! ❤

[@FittobeLovedFelts]

Glad it was helpful! 😊

[@moffittc1020]

Thank you so much for this. I think I'd try the horse hair and the brush. Would need to see what I can find.

[@FittobeLovedFelts]

You are welcome. Yes for me they were my favourites 😍

[@mydigitalartBieke]

Thank you so much

[@FittobeLovedFelts]

No problem. Glad to be of help 😊

[@marliessantos9371]

Beautiful ❤

[@FittobeLovedFelts]

Thank you 😊

[@mariaandersson3850]

Thank you so much for this video! I would use the brush. If I can get organic material it would be on a animal friendly way of course ☺️

[@FittobeLovedFelts]

You are welcome. Yes the brush is a great one! 👍

[@suekey8048]

Wow. Just found your site. Looking for whiskers for my bunnies. OMG did you actually make that gorgeous cat?

[@FittobeLovedFelts]

Yes I did. There's a series on how to make it. 😊

[@mariaandersson3850]

Do you use same material fore animal eyelashes? I think of a rabbit for instance.

[@FittobeLovedFelts]

You can do if the animal is big enough. Horse hair comes quite thin so possible. The others tend to be quite thick though for eyelashes. Probably easier to use tufts of wool and twist into individual strands.

[@MrsGarks]

If I remember correctly, feather shafts are hollow. I wonder what you could put in them and whether that could improve the durability. Seems brush bristles are the best available option for most people though.

[@FittobeLovedFelts]

Yes I believe you are right about them being hollow.

[@wonderwend1]

They are only hollow at the very end and even then there is fibres in that hollow. They are extremely strong. They are created to withstand great flexibility and pressures so no worries

[@kimmancini8423]

What do you recommend for dog whiskers?

[@FittobeLovedFelts]

Any of the ones I mention. This can be for any animal you make. Horsehair is my usual go to 😊

[@kimmancini8423]

Thank you so much! I tried horse hair but the ones I tried I think were too thick and stiff. It made it look like a cat. I may look for fishing line so it stands out less. I love your videos!

[@kidshuman3097]

Can you do guinipigs

[@FittobeLovedFelts]

Yes you could use these materials for guinea pig whiskers. 😊