How to Needle Felt a Ball

Needle felting is a wonderfully calming and creative craft—and one of the most fundamental skills to master is making a smooth, round wool ball. Whether you're crafting miniature animals, ornaments, or keychains, this simple shape forms the foundation of many needle felting projects. In this tutorial, we'll walk you through the step-by-step process of making your own perfect felt ball.

Step 1: Tightly Roll the Wool

Start by pulling off a small amount of wool roving. Tightly roll the fibers into a compact ball with your hands. The tighter you roll it, the easier it will be to shape.

Step 2: Felt the Rough Shape

Using a felting needle, begin poking into the wool to form a rough sphere. Here's the key: rotate the wool constantly as you felt. This ensures that all sides get even pressure, which helps achieve a balanced, round shape.

Step 3: Refine the Shape

At this point, your felt ball might still look a bit lumpy or uneven. Don’t worry! Focus on the raised or bumpy areas and gently poke them down. This gradual adjustment will help refine the ball into a smoother, more symmetrical shape.

Step 4: Smooth the Surface

Now that your ball is mostly round, it’s time to perfect the surface. Take a very thin layer of wool and gently wrap it around the ball. Using shallow pokes (about one-third of your needle's depth), felt this layer into place.

This final layer smooths out any rough textures.
The result? A soft, beautifully round felt ball—ready for any creative project!