Chart of Uses for Felting Needles- Various Needle Gauges and Fiber Size

NEEDLE

GAUGE

BLADE STYLE

FIBER TYPE

USE A

USE B

USE C

Coarse

32

triangular

Coarse fibers

Micron count 39-45

Cotswold, Karakul, Wensleydale,

Good for beginning stages when working with coarse fiber. Moves a lot of fiber quickly, leaves a large hole.  

Good for needling mohair onto the heads of cloth dolls.  

 

Medium

36

triangular

Medium fibers

Micron 25-38

Romney, Coopworth

 

Good for beginning stages when working with medium fiber. Moves a lot of fiber quickly, leaves a smaller hole than the 32 gauge needle. 

Used for detail needle when working with coarse fibers. 

Used for needling medium fibers onto heavier fabrics such as denim or canvas.

Fine

38

triangular

Medium-Fine to fine fibers Micron 21-24

Corriedale, Finn, Merino

Good for beginning stages when working with fine fiber.

Used for detail needle when working with medium fibers. 

Used for needling fine fibers onto a medium weight cloth such as cotton bubble gauze.

Fine Star

38

star

Medium fine to fine fibers

Micron 21-24

Corriedale, Finn, Merino

Used for needling fine wool onto a fine cloth base such as silk gauze or habotai.

Used as a detail needle for fine fibers.  Leaves a small hole, but is still pretty aggressive at pushing a lot of fiber because it has 4 edges with notches instead of 3.

 

Extra Fine

40

triangular

Fine fibers

Micron 18-20

Merino

 

Can also be used for needling fine wool onto a fine cloth base.

Used as a detail needle for fine fibers.  Leaves a small hole, but doesn't push as much fiber as the 38 star.  Good for finishing the outside "skin" of the felt

 

Ultra Fine

42

triangular

same as above

Used for needling onto a very fine cloth base.

Used as a final detail needle for very fine fibers. Leaves a very small hole.

Used for rooting very fine doll hair.


 

Pat Spark copyright 2004, 2013

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