DANI IVES
WOOL FELTED PUMPKINS
Discover the tactile and soothing art of wool felting as we sculpt a trio of charming pumpkins in luscious Merino wool roving. Fiber artist Dani Ives was introduced to needle felting in 2010 and has been hooked ever since, combining her background in biology and conservation education with her love of art. Dani shares her expertise and passion for the craft as we create our pumpkins in different sizes and silhouettes, learning how to turn soft wool fibers into shapes by sculpting and felting them together with a barbed needle.
FELTED WOOL KIT
Dani’s curated kit includes everything needed to create three wool felted pumpkins, including wool roving and a needle felting foam block to use as a work surface. A variety of needle sizes and barb shapes allows for both quick, larger-scale felting as well as detail work. The 38 star felting needles are perfect for all-purpose use and Dani’s favorite. The 42 triangle needle is slightly smaller and is ideal for detail work and fine fibers such as Merino wool. A handy 8-needle tool helps to speed up the felting process, and needles can be removed as necessary to achieve less resistance.
EXPLORING DIFFERENT TYPES OF FELTING WOOL
In the workshop, we begin by molding the basic shape of each pumpkin by rolling, tucking, and felting Corriedale wool. This core wool is a thicker, less processed heritage wool from Corriedale sheep, a breed that was developed by crossing fine wool Merino sheep with longwool Lincoln sheep. Its density serves as an ideal felting base and you’ll notice a difference in weight as you work.
The exterior extra fine Merino wool is most known for its super soft feel and smooth texture. As its name implies, it’s extra fine and combed to offer an almost a wisp-like quality. It’s the perfect outer layer for wrapping, finessing and shaping your treasured handmade pumpkins.
Wool felting is forgiving and gratifying, making it a wonderful artform for fiber artists and other crafters looking for a new medium to explore. Dani shares some advice for those getting started, “the materials and process take just a little bit of time and practice to get used to,” she shares. “So, if it seems like things are not happening as you expect, keep poking. And remember that mistakes are easy to fix. You can remove wool that is already felted down, or you can layer more wool on top to make changes.”
Dani shares her favorite tips in creating with both wools in this workshop.
The Curated Kit of Tools & Materials
This workshop includes:
- Tools & materials to create three wool felted pumpkins
- A detailed digital class led by Dani Ives
- A live Maker Chat Q&A for our community to join in on a creative conversation with the artist
- PDF download with step by step instructions
The tools & materials included in this workshop:
- Corriedale wool tops in Natural, 6oz
- Extra fine Merino wool roving in Pumpkin, 3oz
- Extra fine Merino wool roving in Fir, 3oz
- Extra fine Merino wool roving in Butternut, 3oz
- Extra fine Merino wool roving in Chestnut, 0.5oz
- Four felting needles, 38 star
- Felting needle, 42 triangle
- Wood felting 8-needle tool
- Needle felting foam, 6 x 6"
Gather from home:
- Smooth working surface
Materials for More Exploration
Classic Autumn Wool Felt Colorway
Create additional home decor in the original Corriedale wool and extra fine Merino wool roving in the same luscious autumnal colors featured in the original workshop.
Fairytale Wool Felt Colorway
This calming colorway features cool mint with soft coral and cream hues for your pumpkin trio. A whimsical spin on muted pastels for more exploration.
Antique Wool Felt Colorway
The neutral shades of Merino wool roving in this colorway create a chic set of pumpkins on their own, but also pair well with any of the other colorways.
Painting with Wool Book
Discover more about wool felting, from decorating garments to creating frameable artwork. Painting with Wool: Sixteen Artful Projects to Needle Felt with Dani Ives is an introductory must have for any crafter looking to explore this art form.
More About our Artist: Dani Ives
Dani Ives is an award-winning artist, educator, and author. She creates images with wool through needle felting techniques in a process she calls Painting with Wool. Though she’s always loved art and creating, becoming a full-time artist was never her plan. She originally pursued education in biology and a job working with animals, which led her into a conservation education career at a zoo. But one day, an urge to nurture her artistic side and a conversation with a coworker sparked an interest in needle felting. Internet searches commenced, supplies were ordered, and the making hasn’t stopped since 2011! Over the following years, she transitioned her fiber arts hobby into a part-time and then full-time art business.
In addition to creating art, one of Dani’s favorite things is teaching others how to express their creativity and discover the joy of using wool as an artistic medium. She’s taught thousands of students how to needle felt in in-person workshops around the world, as well as through her popular online courses. Her book, Painting with Wool: 16 Artful Projects to Needle Felt, is also a great resource for beginners.
Dani lives in Northwest Arkansas with her husband and their adorable dog, June Bug. When she’s not playing with wool, she can be found working in her sketchbook, reading, or hiking the beautiful woodland trails in her corner of Arkansas.
We look forward to sharing this fulfilling and joyful experience with you and cannot wait to see how your projects turn out. Be sure to share your creative journey and finished creation with us by tagging @thecraftersbox and @begoodnatured in your social posts, and use #thecraftersbox so our community can also see your workshop come to life! Happy making.
by 