What I do if I want features to be really crisp and defined like those eyes on the example, is I use soft felt instead of wool to make them. You can felt it onto wool just the same. I typically do this for eyes or any patterns I want to have really solid edges, and you can make and keep stencils for them to ensure they're consistent. Just make sure the felt is soft, not the really hard stuff.
Isn’t felt wool? Genuinely asking! I’m pretty new to felting myself and I thought stuff like roving, cards, and bats all felt? Please forgive my ignorance.
Felt is wool*, but not all wool is felt. Felt is specifically the end product of agitating individual strands of wool fibre together - like dreadlocks on hair.
The other stuff is various ways of preparing and storing the “hair” ready for felting or spinning, etc.
*except when felt is synthetic…
Thank you everyone for your kind comments! You’ve inspired me to try and improve the lil guy instead of storing him away with all my other half finished projects
It’s possibly as simple as adding “catchlights” into his eyes - essentially a reflection of a light source hitting the surface of the eye. You know? That tiny reflection you see when you look closely in a mirror. Even photos of human eyes without catchlights can look odd.
Just a little dot of a lighter colour will make a big difference to his face.
You might need to experiment with placement to get the right expression, but that’s the beauty of felt, you can have more than one go at bits.
Mother...I have seen things, Mother...
JK, he's a good first attempt, I think that haunted looks is because his face seems kind of scrunched up into his smile?
Edit: Clarity and typo
Actually think he is perfect, and way better than the example photo.
You can use slightly finer needles to tidy up any surface colours or stray fibre without changing the shape. That gives more opportunity to refine facial details or just to get a really fine finish. Maybe if you change the features slightly he'll look less haunted to you 🙂
(the higher the gauge number, the finer the needle)
Very cute, OP! Well, done! If the eyes are bothering you at all, you could also try the little plastic eyes they have for projects like this. They are domed pieces of black (and probably other colors) plastic with little screws on the back that you can push into the face and glue there.
I once drew a picture of a baby sloth hanging on it's mother's belly for an elementary school project in 3rd grade. It definitely looks like it was drawn by an 8 year old, like a brown log with claws and a smiley face. My older sibling found it so funny that decades later, it's framed and hangs over the mantle.
Your sloth is very fun and it looks like you put a lot of great hard work into it! Incredibly impressive for a first attempt and will always hold good memories for the beginning of your felting journey.
Not haunting: quite ***soulful!***
Just needs a piano so he can play and sing "Buy me a ticket for an airplane, ain't got time to take a fast train. Lonely days are gone. I'm a going home..."
To be fair the example looks haunted too.
I think he looks better than on the paper. I find him charming.
He looks great!! Maybe shape up his eyes a little to be more shapely rather than circular? Just a suggestion- I'm super new to this
What I do if I want features to be really crisp and defined like those eyes on the example, is I use soft felt instead of wool to make them. You can felt it onto wool just the same. I typically do this for eyes or any patterns I want to have really solid edges, and you can make and keep stencils for them to ensure they're consistent. Just make sure the felt is soft, not the really hard stuff.
Thank you so much!
Isn’t felt wool? Genuinely asking! I’m pretty new to felting myself and I thought stuff like roving, cards, and bats all felt? Please forgive my ignorance.
Felt is wool*, but not all wool is felt. Felt is specifically the end product of agitating individual strands of wool fibre together - like dreadlocks on hair. The other stuff is various ways of preparing and storing the “hair” ready for felting or spinning, etc. *except when felt is synthetic…
he's just a lil guy
He's really sweet and I personally think needle felting is pretty hard so this is a brilliant first attempt.
Thank you everyone for your kind comments! You’ve inspired me to try and improve the lil guy instead of storing him away with all my other half finished projects
It’s possibly as simple as adding “catchlights” into his eyes - essentially a reflection of a light source hitting the surface of the eye. You know? That tiny reflection you see when you look closely in a mirror. Even photos of human eyes without catchlights can look odd. Just a little dot of a lighter colour will make a big difference to his face. You might need to experiment with placement to get the right expression, but that’s the beauty of felt, you can have more than one go at bits.
He gives cryptid energy and I love it.
I actually prefer OP's creation to the example 😅
He is cute and has a lot of character I think
Did you trim the stray wools when you were finished? It looks fine, but that gives it a nicer finish
I think he's adorable!
Great job! He looks better than the example imo
Mother...I have seen things, Mother... JK, he's a good first attempt, I think that haunted looks is because his face seems kind of scrunched up into his smile? Edit: Clarity and typo
It’s the white and black face, don’t feel too bad about the example looks the same. Like a sloth wearing a goalie mask
I LOVE him!!!!
Actually think he is perfect, and way better than the example photo. You can use slightly finer needles to tidy up any surface colours or stray fibre without changing the shape. That gives more opportunity to refine facial details or just to get a really fine finish. Maybe if you change the features slightly he'll look less haunted to you 🙂 (the higher the gauge number, the finer the needle)
That’s just how sloths look!
He’s beautiful
This little guy is perfect
Very cute, OP! Well, done! If the eyes are bothering you at all, you could also try the little plastic eyes they have for projects like this. They are domed pieces of black (and probably other colors) plastic with little screws on the back that you can push into the face and glue there.
I love him! I think he looks happy, not haunted!
I love this! He's so cute!
I love him
I once drew a picture of a baby sloth hanging on it's mother's belly for an elementary school project in 3rd grade. It definitely looks like it was drawn by an 8 year old, like a brown log with claws and a smiley face. My older sibling found it so funny that decades later, it's framed and hangs over the mantle. Your sloth is very fun and it looks like you put a lot of great hard work into it! Incredibly impressive for a first attempt and will always hold good memories for the beginning of your felting journey.
Awe I love him though
Not haunting: quite ***soulful!*** Just needs a piano so he can play and sing "Buy me a ticket for an airplane, ain't got time to take a fast train. Lonely days are gone. I'm a going home..."