Learn Sculptural Needle Felting with Stephanie Metz
There is nothing quite like learning in person: the interactions with a skilled instructor, a front-row seat to demonstrations, the hands-on experience, and the chance to get direct feedback and answers to your particular questions. I truly love teaching students about sculptural needle felting. Twenty years in I’m still dazzled by the fact that one can poke at wool fibers with sharp, notched needles and create three dimensional forms.
My approach is informed by my background in ‘traditional’ materials and techniques for sculpture: shaping clay, carving stone and wood, and joining metal. Needle felting doesn’t come from a long and storied tradition full of rigid rules: we’re making the rules as we go, and breaking them, too. Sculpture can be framed as problem-solving: finding creative and satisfying ways to make your materials act and look how you want. Students get excited by my unconventional ways of addressing armatures, vessel forms, inclusions, color, and making changes. Sign up for one of my ‘sleep-away-camp’ workshops if you want to get a fresh, helpful, and playful approach to sculptural needle felting.
In-Person Sculptural Needle Felting Workshop in 2026
Haystack Mountain School Summer Session 6, August 22-29, 2026
I’m so excited to teach at Haystack in Maine— I’ve hear so much about it over the years and they’ve invited me to teach a week-long workshop at the end of August. My workshop is aimed at beginner through intermediate students (although I find that advanced students also find huge value in my approach); here’s the full description of the session.
Learn How To Apply here- and note that applications close February 20, 2026.
Available Any Time: Online Video Workshop
Sculptural Needle Felting: The Comprehensive Guide with Stephanie Metz
As lovely as in-person learning is, it’s not always possible to find the the time and money to take a break from normal life and go learn something new. When the world shut down in the midst of COVID-19 in 2020 I was scheduled to teach a few in-person workshops that were, of course, canceled. That’s when I decided to make a video version of my week-long in-depth workshop. With a video class I could reach students all over the world, and they could keep the information forever and learn and review at their own pace— from the comfort of their own home or studio. Surely a week-long class wouldn’t take too long to film and edit, right? Nine months later I launched Sculptural Needle Felting: The Comprehensive Guide. I’m so proud of this class, and it’s gotten rave reviews from students. My favorite aspect of it is that I have some sections filmed in real time so you get a sense of how long it takes to build up a basic form, but I can also utilize timelapse in parts to use your time better and show you the process. I’ve also included bonus projects that address different aspects of sculpting from life and from photographs, working in low relief, adding in mixed media, and addressing color and tiny details. I think you’ll be as delighted as I am. Find all the details and purchase the workshop at courses.stephaniemetz.com.
Read up on needle felting techniques and solutions in my illustrated blog:
Felting Needles: What Are They and How Do They Work?
Looking to gift (or receive) the online workshop?
You can purchase a gift card for the course through my shop; I’ll create a custom gift certificate for the recipient with a unique redemption code.
Gift the online video workshop to a loved one. After purchase, Stephanie will email you to create a personalized digital/printable gift certificate with a unique code and simple instructions. You can forward the email to the recipient, or print it out for in-person presentation. More information and free previews are available at https://courses.stephaniemetz.com.
Whether you describe yourself as a maker, artist, crafter, sculptor, or a person who likes to create things with your hands, it feels good to develop mastery of your tools and techniques so you can create the forms you envision. In this workshop I present direct, clear, knowledgeable information and examples that will significantly improve your needle felting. This is a techniques-based class; move beyond working from a kit or following along with a guided felting project--instead learn the skills to make it your own.
The workshop provides 11 hours of well-organized video content in the main workshop, plus 13 additional hours of ‘Special Projects’ that walk the viewer through creation of 6 sculptures.
Class starts: Any time, on your schedule.
Tools & Materials: Learn which work best and where to get them.
Accessibility: Stream or download, closed-captioned videos, yours for life.
Time commitment: Over 24 hours of video lessons, available at your own speed.
Outcomes: Improved skills and confidence to effectively and efficiently achieve the results you crave.
Satisfaction: 100% money-back guarantee if you're not fully satisfied within the first 30 days.
Praise for Sculptural Needle Felting: The Comprehensive Guide
“Living in Germany I would never have a chance to do a live workshop with you. With the very detailed and in-depth explanations I mastered all the different needle felting techniques and I had so much fun. All your knowledge is shared so freely and in the videos it is presented in a very appealing way. The videos show each step very clearly and I am sure students of all levels will benefit from your deep knowledge. After taking the class my own work will definitely be of higher quality. Thank you!” -K. Schleicher
Looking for felting supplies?
A limited quantity of kits are available through my shop; I’ve also assembled links to purchase my preferred tools and materials through an affiliate partner, The Woolery. Visit the Felting Workshop Supplies page.
This kit contains:
-1 lb (16 oz) of natural white Corriedale Roving
-1.5 oz of multicolored Corriedale Roving in 15 colors** see below**
-5 Medium (38 Gauge) Triangle Felting Needles, marked with red
-5 Fine (40 Gauge) Triangle Felting Needles, marked with white
-8x10x2 Inch Foam Work Surface
This kit is made for sculptural needle felters: plenty of natural white Corriedale roving for creating forms in three dimensions; a selection of colored wool roving for details, a generously-sized but easily portable foam pad work surface, and 5 each of fine and medium felting needles. These are the supplies I recommend for my students; the only thing missing is a multi-needle holder— and there are several on the market.
** Colors of NZ Corriedale Wool Roving are from GreatLakesFibers.com, (formerly Weir Crafts); in case you want to purchase more of these colors their names are below, and included on the tag attached to the kit, in the order pictured/prepared:
Sage, Fern, Cornflower, Violet, Plum, Hothouse Rose, Salmon, Marigold, Custard, Amber, Rust, Off-White, Cocoa, Espresso, Black.
Some workshop students modeled their projects on my mushroom sculpture. Note the view out the window to the Pacific Ocean!
Common Needle Felting Questions
My needle felting workshops answer all your questions about sculptural needle felting, from tools and their use to creating complex forms and smooth finishes. Throughout your course I’ll demystify this unique process and answer your questions through words and demonstrations. Beginning, experienced, and advanced needle felters will find they learn valuable new skills in my needle felting classes, whether in person or through my video course.
General Questions:
What exactly is needle felting? - Needle felting is the process creating nonwoven textile (felt) through repeated poking with sharp, notched steel needles that catch fibers and tangle them with their neighbors.
How does needle felting work? - The tiny notches cut along the edges of steel felting needles are enough to snag and push wool fibers so that they tangle with the others around them. The wool fibers grab each other because they’re covered with microscopic scales, like you see on human hair in a shampoo commercial. Those tiny scales help hold wool fibers in place. Poking straight down on a mass of wool will result in a flat slab of felt, but poking inwards toward the center from all around will result in a sphere.
What do I need to get started needle felting?
How does needle felting compare to wet felting?
How difficult is needle felting?
How long does needle felting take?
Can beginners learn needle felting?
Do I need previous experience with art or fiber to needle felt?
Tool Questions:
What wool do I use and where do I find it? - I strongly prefer to use Corriedale wool roving for sculptural needle felting. The fibers are rather long, wavy, and not too fine— perfect for needle felting. You can find it online in bulk or smaller amounts- search for Corriedale roving.
What size felting needle should I use?
Why does felting needle size matter?
What does gauge mean in needle felting?
What are the different shapes of felting needles?
Should I use a triangle, star, or spiral felting needle?
Why are my felting needles breaking? - The short answer is that you’re using them wrong. Felting needles were designed for use in machines. You are not as precise as a machine. Read more about why your felting needles are breaking in my blog post ‘Why Do My Felting Needles Keep Breaking?’
Do I need a multi-needle holder?
What kind of needle holders work well? - I’ve been needle felting for 20 years and I have a few favorite multi-needle holders. You can watch my video on the topic on YouTube: Improve Your Needle Felting Effectiveness & Efficiency: Understanding Your Tools with Stephanie Metz , a free preview section from my online video-based masterclass, Sculptural Needle Felting.
When should I use multiple felting needles?
How many felting needles should I use?
How close together should felting needles be? - This might not be a question many people ask, but it really does matter. The short answer is that the more dense or thicker the felt, the farther apart your felting needles should be spaced. So working on thin, flat felt allows you to use many needles close together, while one (yes, one!) is best for dense, thick felt. Learn more about using felting needles in this blog post.
Why does it seem like my felting needles aren't working?
What work surface is best in needle felting?
Should I use a foam pad or brush mat in needle felting?
Technique Questions:
Can you over felt needle felting?
Why is my wool not felting?
I made a mistake, how can I change my sculpture?
How do you get smooth and firm sculptures?
How firm should needle felting be?
How can I needle felt faster?
How can I needle felt better?
Do I need a wire armature?
How do I add a wire armature?
How can I needle felt more efficiently?
How can I needle felt more effectively?
Finishing Questions:
How do you get a smooth surface when needle felting?
How do you add color to felt sculpture?
Can I add other media to felt sculpture?
How can I make my felt sculpture less fuzzy?
How do I know when I’m done?
If you see yourself in any of these questions, whatever your current skill level you’ll be pleased with all I can teach you. With twenty years of needle felting experience I’ve got a lot to share, and I love teaching this incredibly unique process.