If you’re getting started with needle felting, one of the first questions you’ll face is: Which needles should I use?
Felting needles come in different gauges (sizes) and are typically made from carbon steel. Each needle has small barbs along its sides — these tiny hooks grab and tangle the wool fibers as you poke, binding them together to form solid shapes.
Needles are usually described as coarse, medium, or fine, and the higher the gauge number, the thinner the needle. A 42-gauge needle, for example, is extremely fine and ideal for detailed surface work, but it’s also delicate and can snap easily if used with too much force. Personally, I rarely use a 42-gauge — I find that 36- and 38-gauge needles handle most projects beautifully and work well with nearly any type of wool, including soft merino.
A 32-gauge needle is much thicker and better suited for coarse fibers or the earliest stages of sculpting when you’re forming the basic shape. It can felt quickly but often leaves larger holes and requires more pressure to compact the wool.
Needle Sizes and Their Best Uses
| Gauge | Type | Best Use |
| 32G | Coarse | Fast initial shaping with course fibers. |
| 36 G | Medium | Shaping and joining wool pieces |
| 38G | Medium-Fine | Refining and tightening the form |
| 40G | Fine | Smooth and finishing surfaces |
| 42G | Ultra-Fine | Intricate detailing, adding whiskers or hair |
If you’re just starting out, I recommend a 36 or 38 gauge needle — they’re forgiving, versatile, and ideal for learning.
Want to keep this handy?
👉 Download my free cheat sheet on felting needle types.
And if you’d like to try them in action, check out my needle-felting workshops on EventBrite.
