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