Ready to add some handmade spookiness to your Halloween decor?
Follow this step-by-step tutorial to create your own needle felted Halloween eyes!
Materials Needed:
- Wool roving (white, black, and colored wool for the iris - you can choose to make each eyeball the same color, or opt for using up some of the colors you already have to make each iris unique)
- Felting needles (preferably coarse for shaping and fine for detailing)
- Foam or felting mat (to protect your work surface)
- Small pair of scissors
- Optional: Embroidery thread can be used for veins, or you can use wool roving, or a wool sheet like the eyeballs shown here.
Scroll down for a complete shopping list
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Step 1: Prepare Your Workspace
Set up your workspace: Place your foam or felting mat to protect your table.
Gather your materials: Have all your wool roving and felting needles within reach.
Step 2: Form the Basic Eye Shape
You may be aware that a felt ball, regardless of its size, is incredibly versatile and essential for needle feting projects, as well as other craft projects.
To begin, take a small amount of white core wool and wrap it tightly until you have about a half inch roll.
Begin felting: Use the coarse felting needle to poke the wool a few times into the half inch roll to start its shape and to keep the fibers together. Keep wrapping the wool tightly around and periodically poke it with your needle repeatedly shaping it into a firm, round ball. Rotate it frequently to keep the shape even. As the ball begins to solidify, gradually add more wool and continue felting until you achieve the size and density you desire.
Adjust the size: Add more wool if needed to achieve the desired size of your eyeball.
Alternatively, you can purchase ready-made wool balls. See link below in the shopping list.
Attaching the iris, adding size, to make it match.
Step 3: Create the Iris
Choose your iris color: Take a small amount of colored wool roving.
Form a flat disc: Roll it into a small ball and then flatten it slightly between your fingers.
Attach the iris: Place the disc on the front of your white eyeball. Use the felting needle to poke around the edges, securing it in place. Continue to felt until the iris is firmly attached and smooth. At this point, you can still use your coarse needle.
Try to make each iris approximately the same size. Should you need to add size to the iris, pull off a thin strand of roving and roll it out until you have enough to go around your iris and make the correct size.
Start with a small amount for the iris. You can always add more. Here I mixed Angelina fibers with the black wool roving for that glint that pupils have.
4: Add the Pupil
Start with a small amount of black wool roving: Form it into a tiny ball.
Attach the pupil: Place the black ball in the center of the iris. Use the felting needle to secure it in place, poking until it is firmly attached and smooth. Gauge to a finer needle at this point so you don't poke the pupil all the way into the eyeball with a more aggressive needle.
Angelina Fiber is an ultra-fine synthetic fiber known for its incredible luminescence. Its soft texture makes it perfect for felting projects, where it can be seamlessly incorporated by anchoring it with wool. A little goes a long way - this small sandwich-sized bag will last for years.
Angelina Fiber is not very easy to work with, in my opinion. It tends to clump instead of mixing well with the tiny amount of wool needed for the pupil. Also, if the slightest breeze catches it, it tends to travel and ends up as some little shiny thread in your curtains, or rug.
Step 5: Add Details
Optional veins: If you want to add veins for a creepy effect, use a small amount of red embroidery thread or wool. Lightly felt it onto the white part of the eyeball in a vein-like pattern.
Smooth the surface: Use a fine-felting needle to smooth out any rough areas and refine the shape.
Lots of stray fibers!
Step 6: Final Touches
Check for firmness: Ensure that your felted Halloween eyeballs are firm and hold their shape well.
Trim any stray fibers: Use small scissors to trim loose wool fibers for a neat finish.
Step 7: Use Your Felted Eyes
Attach to projects: Use fabric glue to attach your felted eyes to Halloween wreaths, costumes, or plush monsters.
Create a display: Arrange your felted eyes in a bowl for a spooky centerpiece or scatter them around your Halloween decorations for an eerie touch.
Optional Step 8: Wet Felting Halloween Eyeballs
Depending on the usage of your new Halloween eyeballs, wet felting is an option you may want to include for a more polished look.
If you wet felt after trimming stray fibers, you may have to do it again as the wet felting will dislodge fibers.
Shopping List:
- Wool Roving: white core wool, black, and various colors in one package - this is a great way to get started.
- Felted Wool Balls - if you don't want to make your own, you can find them on Etsy.
- Felting needles - may be a good idea to mark them with different colors of nail polish so they don't get confused.
- Felting mat - I would get at least a mat that is a square foot.
- Scissors - I love these scissors. They're my go to pair, especially for tight or small cuts.
- Embroidery Thread - Optional. If you do not wish to use embroidery thread, make sure you purchase a variety pack of 3-gram wool roving that comes with black and red.
- Angelina Fiber - Optional.
And there you have it!
Your very own needle-felted Halloween eyeballs!
Use colors that simulate eye colors or colors that don't - like hot pink! Remember, don't make them perfect - make them fun!
Enjoy adding these handmade, spooky accessories to your Halloween decor, and have a frightfully fun time crafting! 🎃👀
Images Courtesy of Canva and personal project
