Sweet Needle Felts: 25 Projects to Wear, Give & Hug

Based on some of the glowing reviews about the instructions and techniques for three dimensional project needle felters, I decided to take a risk and purchase this book. I've been muddling along on my own for a while, experimenting and making mistakes and learning without a book. I've been having fun, but wanted to learn some more techniques, like pose-ability. Based on what other reviews have said, I thought maybe I'd learn some new techniques here.Plus cover is adorable.Incredibly misleading, but adorable.From this point on, when I mention needle felting, or a project, assume I am talking about 3d objects. Dolls, toys. Things like the front of the cover.My first needle felted project, on my own, was far more advanced than the instructions this book gives you. Here, allow me to save you some money: The instructions on making each needle felted toy in this book consists of:Make core. (OR, Wrap roving around a bamboo skewer and felt.)Cover Core.Make ears.Attach ears.It is the same for every project. "Make this piece and attach it." And by 'every project', I mean the three dolls on the front cover (Which do not have their own images. They show you one, and tell you to do it for kitty/bear/bunny.) A doll, a dog, and then three more projects that I have difficulty distinguishing from one another. Some round fruit, or a round mouse, or a round bird. The difference between them being you glue on a piece of fabric to one, and give one ears and the other a beak. The bird doesn't even get eyes, the poor thing. There is also a house, but I'm not sure I would include it as needle felting a figure, considering they are simply having you cover foam shapes with a layer of felt.There are no real instructions on the best way to attach something. (Such as: you can wrap some loose roving around a joint and use that to strengthen the seam. Leave the area where you are going to attach one piece - like a leg, a bit loose so that it is easier to felt onto the body. The book makes NO mention of incredibly simple things like this. It just says attach.)In fact, when attaching "delicate parts" like smoke on a chimney, it says to use fabric glue. Um. ...Wait a minute, what? Doesn't using glue to attach pieces kind of miss the point of being able to felt your fabric together?As a book for PROJECT IDEAS, I suppose it would get five stars.As an instructional book on how to do anything, I would offer one.For the flat felted projects, it does offer different ideas. The projects seem to be a bit kitschy, (Felting a giant purple critter onto your kid's shirt?) but some are quite cute, if this is the demographic you're going for. The three toys on the cover are the most sophisticated this book gets. Otherwise it is swirly flowers and yarn pincushions (okay the pin cushion is actually cute.) Again, the instructions for those are incredibly one dimensional. (Cover with roving. Needle felt onto another object. Use a cookie cutter. Those instructions show up in almost every project.)So... to conclude, I guess I'll reiterate. Project ideas, perhaps for things going to a younger audience: This is the book for you. It'll be cute and offer a variety of things from adding flowers and animals onto scarves and shirts to covering a wallet to give it a felted look. It isn't advanced, and gives projects that you don't really needto know anything more than "poke this with a needle."Looking to learn something new, or to learn ANYTHING AT ALL about felting dolls/toys/etc: Go somewhere else. Run there, if at all possible, and don't look back.

I was afraid to order this book, based on the negative reviews some gave it ("tacky projects", "weird stuff", "unfinished looking", etc). But the cute little cover made me "have" to order it. I'm really glad I did, because I love the majority of the projects in this book. Let's face it, wearable needle felted stuff is NOT for everyone, and that includes the flower pin, ring, bracelets and belt in this book. But the rest of the stuff is great, and unlike anything else I've seen in similar books (I own several). In fact, that is what I loved about this book - it is the first needle felting book I've seen where the projects aren't BOOORING, fuddy-duddy and frumpy. In addition, this book contains the most thorough and clear explainations of needle felting and related applications. I LOVE it! I was afraid that needle felting meant you could only make traditional designs and objects that weren't too exciting, and that idea was really turning me off to needle felting. But this book got me excited about needle felting again. It's fresh, cute, easy to understand and not only gives you some great project ideas, but also creates some great jumping-off points for designing your own items. It's my most highly recommended book (out of 6+) on this topic so far!

It seems that half the buyers of this book love the designs, and the other half hate them. I am in the latter group, as my first impression upon opening this deceptive book and looking at the majority of the projects was "Ugh, what is that?" The projects are ridiculously simple and shabby looking, and in my opinion rather unattractive (except those cute critters, you know, the ones that fooled us all into buying this book). There are better books for needle felting, and I'll actually tell you what they are! Ashford Book of Needle Felting, and Animal Felt by Birgitte Hansen... but these other books are expensive, which is why we all bought this book.There is really not much in the way of "technique" offered, and some of the techniques she uses I would stay away from, as there are easier ways to do things... for example, you don't need all that wiring for the dolls, you are better off adding more wool around the joints of limbs, ears, etc, and felting the attachments together. This way you don't have a wonky end product, you have a more seamless product that looks filled out, and you've saved yourself the need for a needle and wire. Simpler is better.In my opinion, this book was made by an amateur. I recommend Animal Felt by Birgitte Hansen and the Ashford Book of Needle Felting by Barbara Allen (this last one is my all time favorite)!Update Dec 20th 2012. I donated this book to my local yarn shop, and it has been praised by many an 8 year old since! It really is made for children, so if you're just getting your kids into needle felting, than this book would be an inspiration for them.

I was a little nervous about getting this book because I knew I'd never be able to make the little dolls on the cover, but I'm so glad I took a chance and ordered it anyway. The instructions on how to needle felt in the book are great. I bought a beginner's kit awhile ago and was ready to learn more and this really looks like it will be all I'll need. There are some really nice things in the book that I can't wait to make - coasters, a woven basket and felted fruit. There are a few things that are kind of on the "funky" side, like jewelry I'd never wear, but there are plenty of really practical things that I would make for my house or to put on clothing. I think this would be the perfect book for anyone who wants to try needle felting.

This is a good b ook to buy for anybody looking for a book of craft making for thier child really good graphics and instuctions

great

Fast shipping, the book arrived in perfect condition. The book looks easy To follow.

Wonderful book with clear easy to follow instructions for cute little projects that's are a starting point for much more, a wonderful edition to any crafters library.

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