How To Attach Body Parts To Your Needle Felting

One of the first big surprises for beginners is learning that needle felted sculptures aren’t sewn or glued together. Those adorable little snowmen, penguins, or llamas you see? Their body parts are felted together—literally joined with wool and a felting needle.

That said, it’s not as simple as just poking the pieces together. If you try that, you’ll end up with weak joins, obvious lines, and wobbly animals. The good news is, with the right technique, you can create strong, seamless connections that look completely natural.

This guide will walk you through my step-by-step process for securely attaching body parts, whether you’re making a snowman, a bunny, or one of the animals in my felting kits.

Step 1: Make each body part separately

Begin by felting each piece into shape before you join them together. Here’s the part that often surprises beginners:

• Softer pieces are easier to attach because the fibers are still loose and can grab onto the wool from another part.

• Firmly felted pieces hold their shape better but can be more challenging to connect.

That’s why we use both: felt each piece firmly enough to hold its shape, but don’t worry if attaching feels tricky. The real “glue” comes from the next step—adding those small wisps of wool across the joins.

Tip: Our premium felting wool is perfect for this because it felts into strong, dense shapes without wire while still being workable at the join.

Step 2: Start with the head

I usually begin with the head because it sets the scale for the whole figure. It also takes the most detail and has a habit of getting a little bigger as you refine the features. Attach it to the body by holding the pieces together and stabbing straight through the join from different angles. This locks the two parts in place.

Step 3: Strengthen the join with wisps of wool

This is the part that makes all the difference. Simply poking two finished pieces together isn’t enough—they’ll stay loose and you’ll see a visible line where they meet.

Here’s what to do instead:

• Pull off a very thin wisp of wool roving (less is more here).

• Lay it across the join (not around it). Think of it like building a bridge between the two parts.

• Felt the fibers in place, poking from both directions so they blend into each side.

• Repeat with more wisps until the join disappears and feels secure.

Why across instead of around? Wrapping wool around the join creates a “belt” that emphasizes the seam and can even elongate the connection, making it look unnatural. By laying the fibers across, the two parts blend seamlessly into one another, giving the appearance of a single continuous piece.

Step 4: Refine and fill out the shape

Once all the parts are attached, you can add extra wool to balance proportions or smooth any rough areas. At this stage, it’s all about refining the shape and making sure everything feels solid.

Ready to Practice?

If you’ve picked up one of my needle felting kits, you’ll get hands-on practice with this process while creating your first animal. Each kit walks you through the steps from start to finish.

And if you’d like even more guidance, the Bear Creek Needle Felting Academy is where you’ll find in-depth video tutorials, tips, and a supportive community of felters ready to help you along the way. You’ll never be left guessing at how to attach those tricky parts!

Other Articles you may enjoy:

• Why Romney Wool Is Better Than Merino Wool For Needle Felting
• How Does a Felting Needle Work?
• The Link Between Crafting and Intelligence
• What you need to get started in Needle Felting
• How Much Wool do I Need for a Felting Project?

Frequently Asked Questions about Needle Felting