Needle Felted Sheep Tutorial

Make two ear shapes from 1/4 oz (5g) carded fleece. Create a rough triangle and, with the fleece over a block of dense foam, work the felting needle along the center to anchor the fibers, then roll the edges inward and stab along each side. Leave unworked fibers at the base of both ears.

Make four legs from 1/3 oz (12g) carded fleece. Roll each piece of fleece into a rough tube shape, then stab the fibers all around, turning the legs as you work. Leave unworked fibers at the top of each leg.

Now make a head with 1/4 oz (5g) carded fleece, leaving unworked fibers to attach the head to the body. Shape the nose and under the chin carefully.

Attach the ears to the head by pinching them down the middle lengthwise and laying the unworked fibers on either side of the head. Stab the felting needle through these fibers.

For the body, divide 1/3 oz (12g) fleece into three and card each bundle. Lay out one bundle then place the unworked fibers of one front leg and one back leg on top of it, leaving the shaped ends protruding below the body. Place the next bundle on top, then the remaining front and back legs on top. Finally, place the last bundle over the top, to make five layers ready to be worked as a whole.

Lightly stab the fibers over the whole body and through all five layers, slowly compressing them to incorporate the legs and part-felt the body.

To attach the head, push the part-felted body in to the splayed-out unworked fibers of the head, and stab the fibers so that they hold together. Continue to stab the fibers, gradually compressing them to create the body of the sheep.

Stitch features onto the sheep’s face using one long piece of dark brown wool yarn. Start by threading it up through the chin. To finish, take the yarn back into the body and snip off close to the body to hide the end.

This needle felted sheep project is excerpted with permission from "Craft: Techniques & Projects" from DK Publishing.