Why do my felting needles keep breaking?!

Challenge: Broken Needles!

We've all had this issue - haven't we?! Breaking needles is a common issue for beginners. It can be frustrating and disrupt your workflow. It's a costly mistake if you're using high quality felting needles. And it's a health and safety issue too! Sometimes it's just the tip of the needle that snaps off inside your work. Rummaging around looking for it can result in an ouch! to the tips of your fingers. 

So here we present three quick and easy solutions to the annoying problem of broken felting needles. 

1. Use the Right Needle: Ensure you’re using the appropriate needle size for your project. Coarser needles are better for initial shaping, while finer needles are for detailing. Take a look at our range of top quality, precision made German felting needles here. 

2. Correct Technique: Needle breakage often happens due to improper technique. Avoid bending the needle or applying too much pressure. Use a straight up-and-down motion. Remember that you're not sewing! 

3. Work on a Soft Surface: Use a felting mat or foam pad to cushion your needle and prevent it from hitting a hard surface. All of our felting kits come with a foam pad but you could treat yourself to one of our 100% wool felting mats, hand-made for us by fair trade workers in Nepal.