needle felting eyes help

**sarniagirl** · 06-08-2012, 03:55 PM

Hi from New zealand.I have just started needle felting and have so many questions.My main problem is doing eyes.Im trying to do a teddy with pleading eyes.Any tips please.Iim finding it hard to work with tiny bits of wool .

Great site by the way

**lyn** · 06-10-2012, 02:26 PM

Hello there! Does this help a little?
http://feltingforum.com/forums/showt...highlight=eyes

**Feltfinland** · 06-11-2012, 02:19 AM

Look at a few pictures of facial expressions - good old google - this will help you get an idea of shape, not only of the eyes but the face as well. I use a 38 star or 40 to work with small wisps of wool. Roll a few strands of wool between damp fingers to get thin wisps to outline. Avoid wool with very long fibre length, it can take ages to stab all the fuzz in. The odd stray wisp can always be cut off with scissors. Experiment with different eye shapes and colours and don't forget the tiny white dot of wool for the eye sparkle - it just completes the eyes.
Here are a few photos of eyes - the middle photo I took, whilst on a course, of a sample that Birgit Krag Hansen had done.
Let us know how it goes!

**Felted Chicken** · 06-16-2012, 08:54 AM

I agree with Feltfinland! I find that looking at CARTOON eye expressions helps a lot, they are so exaggerated that you can really see what parts of the eye area get the specific emotion you want. i.e. - manipulating eyebrows or brow bones are a great way to make dramatic eyes.

The way I sculpt eye is by rather than felt eyes ONTO the piece, I actually cut into the wool & make an "eye socket" hole. Then add the eyeball (a felted ball of wool) into the hole. I find this helps make the eyes look like they are inside the skull. Then you can needle the wool around the eye to create character!

Here's a couple picts of the eyes from a Koi fish I did. They are kinda stylized, but you can see how working with the shape, and brow (line here) and the "sparkle" can do wonders!

needle felting eyes help-il_570xn.278907449.jpg

**Adriann** · 07-02-2012, 05:32 AM

Originally Posted by Feltfinland

Look at a few pictures of facial expressions - good old google - this will help you get an idea of shape, not only of the eyes but the face as well. I use a 38 star or 40 to work with small wisps of wool. Roll a few strands of wool between damp fingers to get thin wisps to outline. Avoid wool with very long fibre length, it can take ages to stab all the fuzz in. The odd stray wisp can always be cut off with scissors. Experiment with different eye shapes and colours and don't forget the tiny white dot of wool for the eye sparkle - it just completes the eyes.
Here are a few photos of eyes - the middle photo I took, whilst on a course, of a sample that Birgit Krag Hansen had done.
Let us know how it goes!

I'm really curious about how the eyes in the middle pic are done? They are so flat and clean.

**Feltfinland** · 07-03-2012, 02:17 AM

Those eyes were done by Birgit Krag Hansen herself, a master needlefelter! I think the key is small amounts of wool, different shades and a fine needle. Attached is a close up of one of the eyes , which shows more detail. I also remember her saying the iris colour should be darker at the top. Hope this helps!

**Adriann** · 07-03-2012, 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by Feltfinland

Those eyes were done by Birgit Krag Hansen herself, a master needlefelter! I think the key is small amounts of wool, different shades and a fine needle. Attached is a close up of one of the eyes , which shows more detail. I also remember her saying the iris colour should be darker at the top. Hope this helps!

Wow love hem! Thank you! Looks like they were felted onto flat piece of wool

**Adriann** · 07-03-2012, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by Feltfinland

Those eyes were done by Birgit Krag Hansen herself, a master needlefelter! I think the key is small amounts of wool, different shades and a fine needle. Attached is a close up of one of the eyes , which shows more detail. I also remember her saying the iris colour should be darker at the top. Hope this helps!

Wow love hem! Thank you! Looks like they were felted onto flat piece of wool, we're they?

**DraigAthar** · 07-09-2012, 06:33 AM

Eyes are great fun! Those are some great pics and links folks already posted. I agree that putting the highlight on there makes all the difference. Eyes pop once they have the highlight. I had fun recently felting anime style eyes onto one of our figures, I'll have to try and take a closeup photo of just the eyes.

aMY