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Jare Hares & BearsI am sure that someone has explained this but I am slow in getting the new information.
How exactly does one go about needle felting a face or nose on a bear/bunny that is made out of mohair?
Thanks in advance for the info.
Tami Eveslage Original Teddy BearsHi, Jared.
Have you done any felting at all? My directions assume you have...correct me if you haven't.
Start with a stuffed head. First you would trim the fur from the area of the face that you want to add the felting. You want to cut it all the way down to the backing. The same rule applies here as trimming your snouts, go easy as you can always trim more, but you can't put it back. I begin in the center (nose area) and fan out. Next I take an amount of wool fiber roughly the size of the area I want to felt , roll it up in a ball in my hands, I begin to felt it separate from the head so it just begins to firm up. Do this by placing your "wad" of wool on a rolled up kitchen towel or a foam block and pushing your needle through repeatedly until it begins to hold a loose ball shape. I mean barely firm. Then you hold it over the area you want to cover and felt it right on by pushing your needle through wool, mohair backing and into the polyfil of your stuffed head. Continue this until the piece is well attached, and then you can begin to sculpt the area they way you want. Anytime I add more fiber to create fullness I do it the same way--first felting it a bit off of the critter's face, then attaching it.
Hope this is helpful.
WienJared, thanx for axing this question 
Tami, thanx for answering it....I guess I do understand your description, but I have my doubts that I can bring it to work .
I am thinking of trying it sometime...hopefully soon, because these faces looks so cute.
Gaby 
Matilda Huggington-beareThere are many ways of going about it Jared. I prefelt my shapes first. I trim very sparingly. In case I change my mind. I prefer batt to sliver. But that also depends on what wool is being used. Also the needles.
The more experience you get the more important the choice of fibre and needles, become.
I would HIGHLY recommend that you look back in this forum and check the excellent advice of Judi Paul.
She isnt the only experienced needle felter BUT she has the best advice for the beginner.
The very basics to NFing is that you stab some wool fibre into the mohair with a barbed needle and mind your fingers as you go :crackup: :crackup:
It is very much a learn as you go type of activity.
Good luck! Dont share your needles !and keep some antiseptic by your side! :crackup:
And most importantly.....HAVE FUN 
Jare Hares & BearsI tried NFing a couple of years ago... I was going to NF a bunny... HA! That didn't work. I past my NF kit on to a friend who enjoys it very much. In fact I bought her first couple of pieces, they turned out cute.
My hands end up cramping up and I said that's enough of that. But I thought I might try it on a bear or bunny as an accent.
Tuppies TeddiesI tried the needle-felting too but just could not work it out however I have just started needle-felting the white backing behind the bear eyes and am pleased with the result. Will post a pic tomorrow...
LuxembearsJared there ais some good starting advice in this thread already but in this business there can never be to much information. I'll post s few threads that I have found that might also be helpful.
http://www.teddy-talk.com/viewtopic.php?id=466
http://www.teddy-talk.com/viewtopic.php?id=1508
http://www.teddy-talk.com/viewtopic.php?id=2787
http://www.teddy-talk.com/viewtopic.php?id=2533
Wendy, thanks Hon, for the nice words in your post :hug: !
Matilda Huggington-beareI only speak the truth possum.
Patsy Lake BearsJared I really like the effect that the NF gives to a bear. As Wendy says it is learn as you go sort of thing...
Wendy you crack me up with your comments ... :crackup: :crackup: :crackup:
Matilda Huggington-beareWhen I first start NFing I too gave it up as something way to tedious and boring. It took about 2 months before I got back to the little bear I was making. By that time I had quite alot of advice from Judi and other NFters.
It is only when I get the basics of a face organised then start to get into the real nitty griity of scultpting that I enjoy the craft. Otherwise it just bores me senseless. I have also found that if the fibre is'nt felting hard quick enough I start to nod off. YES , it puts me to sleep. 
:redface: :crackup:
I also only like working on faces on Mohair.
The biggest TIP I could give anyone. ,is to buy your supplies from someone that specialises in the wool and needles. Because there are so many differnt wools and there are specilised needles to felt these different wools.
Accidents with the needles only happened when the wrong needle is being used and( of course when you are distracted. ) Now that I have more experience I figure that you might as well do it all properly from the start.
Not like I'm doing and having to relearn stuff. Also, if you decide that you are serious about doing alot of felting on your critters, that Judi's needle felting workshop on E-Bears should be given serious consideration.
When you know the rules, then you can break the rules. Judi's workshop is a wonderful foundation course for needle felting. Now that I have mentioned it, I wonder if she is still doing it? oops. should have checked aye? :redface:
spotyas Wendy
Wendy
LuxembearsI only speak the truth possum. :thumbsup:
Awe you are too cute platy-lady. :hug: :hug: :hug:
...and yes, I am still teaching the class and am loving it! I personally find needel felting to be such a pure joy...even if it does take quite a bit of time...becasue the end results are so NEAT! Yo can really sculpt in its truest form, as you go :dance: :dance: ...and it's like a box of chocolates...you just never know what you're gonna get! 
Cala Bear DenI'm a Nfter as well. I make 4 inchers and i NFelt the faces on some of my mohair bears.
I'm not sure if it was or has been mentioned anywhere but to relieve some of the knodding off while NFing you can cut a core, for let's say the head out of soft foam and needle felt on that. It will go a little faster and you won't be startled into waking up from a needle that gone through your finger. 
I've done that many times.
hugs
carola
Tuppies TeddiesMy before and after pics of needle-felting. I am still feeling my way with this craft add on to bears but it is so rewarding.
Wow, the image upload worked this time. :dance:
Although they are a bit large on my computer. Will downsize next time....
Tuppies TeddiesTyler my other needle-felted bear is now on e-bay.com.au
Matilda Huggington-beareto relieve some of the knodding off while NFing you can cut a core, for let's say the head out of soft foam and needle felt on that. It will go a little faster and you won't be startled into waking up from a needle that gone through your finger.
hugs
carola
AHAH!!!! I'm not the only 'nodder offfer'!!!!!! Thank goodness for that. (pheww)
I was really starting to doubt my sanity an' all. :crackup:
I wish the core idea would work for me. But alas! no. My felted pieces have to be solid on their own account.
OH well tooo bad. Good idea Carola.
Tiger Lady!!! tooo cute yourself. :hug:
