Needle Felting: Felted Brooch

This project is taken from one of my kits and is a great way to get started at making a flat piece of needle felting whilst still being able to be creative and make the work your own.
All the tools and materials used in this video can be found on my website - www.beltanegifts.com
In this video I am using a felting bag, a fine generic felting needle in holder, leather finger protectors, a metal brooch back, a pre-cut oval of acrylic felt to fit brooch back, glue (PVA or modpodge are recommended), and a mix of dyed merino broken tops wool fiber.
For some of my past projects be sure to check out my instagram: / beltanegifts
The music used for the crafting chez logo is Aloa Summer by Dynamedion

[@lindaday6797]

Hi, I just started learning how to felt landscapes etc. and your video is such a big help. Thanks so much for sharing your talent!

[@TheCraftingChez]

Thank you so much, that means a lot to me, I hope your felting goes well!

[@neridaneuman9534]

Thank you for showing us how.

[@TheCraftingChez]

You're very welcome, I appreciate you watching! Hope you give it a go, they look great when they're done 😀

[@IngridCrafts]

Hi I have just found your youtube. Thank you for this video. I am going to try making the brooches, your video has been helpful. Can you give me a link for the backings I have tried online but can't find them.Thank you so much for sharing.

[@TheCraftingChez]

Hi Ingrid, thanks for watching. www.beads.co.uk usually have a selection.

[@IngridCrafts]

@@TheCraftingChez thank you so much I have found them under metal brooches, using the link you give me. Appreciate you sharing.

[@beta1436]

Hi! Thank you for your master class. Please explain what your felting pad is made of and how to make it? Is it filled with regular rice?

[@TheCraftingChez]

Hi BeTa thanks for getting in touch. My felting pad is made from a synthetic woven fabric (I think it's some form of polyester) that has an internal lining / coating that helps keep everything in. I do have some unfilled ones avable for sale on my website www.beltanegifts.co.uk If you want to make your own though you'll just need some material, something reasonable thick and closely woven so bits of rice can't escape is best. Try to avoid anything with wool as you don't want your felting to fuse with it. Cut out two piece, make them slightly bigger than the size of felting pad you want. Sew around three of the sides. Turn it inside out and sew over the same three sides so that they are really secure. Fill the bag with dried rice, any sort will do, I just use whatever is cheapest at the time. You want to leave a little bit of space in the top of the bag so that after it's sewn up it's not too tight. You want your filled bag to be a few cm deep so that you don't stab through to the table. Once filled, sew up the end so that it's secure. Hope this helps, any questions though please let me know. Many thanks, Ruth

[@beta1436]

@@TheCraftingChez It's great that you answered so quickly! Thanks. Last year I watched your video where you make a similar brooch, but without metal. I make different jewelry, brooches and I really liked your technique, when the basis is taken felt. Because I'm interested in trying this technique as fragments, combining it with textiles and beads in my products. I already bought some needles and some wool, but then I couldn't find that first video, and today I was very happy to see this new video of yours, But I didn't meet other masters with a substrate with rice. Everyone has brushes and sponges. And how deep do you need to pierce the needle into the rice through the product? The needle doesn't break or get blunted by it?

[@TheCraftingChez]

Hi BeTa, when using the rice bag you need to avoid stabbing all the way through it. You'll definitely feel it if you stab all the way through, that's when you can end up damaging your needle. The trick is to stop once your needle passes through your work. As the notches on your needle are right on the end once you pass these you're no longer felting, and just making holes. It takes a bit of practice but after a while you'll build up a muscle memory and won't need to think about it. I haven't found any down sides to the rice when it comes to my needles and I've found for me that they last longer than they did with the sponge (I never got on with a brush). The main thing to remember is regularly peel your work off otherwise it can get firmly stuck to the pad! It will be tempting too but try not to leave your needles sticking out of the pad, I've broken a few by doing this and forgetting that they're there and catching them with my arm. The bag will wear out over time, when this happens just make a new one and transfer the rice over. Hope this helps, and I'd love to see what you make once you're done! 😀

[@beta1436]

Hi! Thank you for the information! It's so exciting to try out a new technique. Do you also work with wood? What other types of handmade work do you like to do?

[@TheCraftingChez]

@@beta1436 Hi, no problem, thanks for getting in touch. It's great to have someone interested in what I do! I tend to flit from one craft to another. With wood I make mostly basic things like my painting box and display stands, no fancy joints though. I've done wood carving in the past but not in a long while and not very well. I've also done some leather work, glass fusing (until rats ate my kiln), jewellery making and beading, clothes making and sewing, and spinning and weaving. I'm not great at paper crafts and I can't knit with normal sized knitting needles, only with 16mm or higher. I'm always happy to try out new things to keep myself from getting bored! If there's ever anything you'd like to see a video on then let me know and I'll try to give it a go, I'm never sure what people may be interested in watching.

[@cececurmm9427]

Where can I find the metal brooch backing please?

[@TheCraftingChez]

If you're just after the backing rather than the kit there's a website called www.beads.co.uk that usually has a selection 🙂

[@cececurmm9427]

Dose Amazon sell your kit? If so under what title please?

[@samanthathomas7073]

I love these little brooches they are brilliant , what size are they please x

[@TheCraftingChez]

Hi Samantha, thank you, the felted part is 40mm by 30mm, if you search online for 'brooch backs for cameos' then lots of options appear. If you're not into brooches you can also search for pendant trays, some of the square or rectangular ones work really well. x

[@samanthathomas7073]

@@TheCraftingChez aw great thank you so much , loving all your videos, inspirational xx

[@TheCraftingChez]

Thank you 😊

[@msal7084]

@@TheCraftingChez Hi, I have tried searching for the brooch backs you mention, but can't find ones like yours. Do you have a link for them please? I love your video!

[@TheCraftingChez]

Hi, you can try a website called beads.co.uk they have a great selection, or if you're after some fancy designs they have some on pandahall, just search for Brooch Cabochon Bezel Settings. Hope this helps and thanks for watching 😊

[@cececurmm9427]

Is your brooch kit on Amazon?

[@TheCraftingChez]

No, sorry. It should be on my website www.beltanegifts.com though. If you don't see what you're after though you can email me or contact me through the website and I can put together whatever you're after. Hope this helps x

[@cececurmm9427]

Thank you .