Felt is one of the most beginner-friendly fabrics you can work with. It doesn't fray, it doesn't stretch, and it holds its shape when you cut it. But sewing felt — whether by hand or machine — does require some specific techniques to get clean, professional results. This guide covers everything you need to know about how to sew felt, from choosing the right needle and thread to mastering hand stitches and machine sewing settings.
Why Felt Is Great for Sewing
Before diving into techniques, here's why felt fabric is ideal for sewing projects, especially for beginners:
- No fraying: Cut edges stay clean. No hemming, serging, or edge finishing needed.
- No grain direction: Unlike woven fabrics, felt has no warp or weft. You can cut in any direction without worrying about bias or grain lines.
- No stretching: Felt stays exactly where you put it. It won't shift, slide, or distort under the presser foot.
- No ironing: Felt holds its shape without pressing (though light pressing can help with some projects).
- Holds complex shapes: You can cut tiny, intricate designs that would be impossible with woven fabrics.
Types of Felt for Sewing
Not all felt sews the same. The type you choose affects your technique:
| Felt Type | Thickness | Best For | Sewing Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acrylic felt (standard) | 1.6mm | General crafts, appliques, costumes | Easy to sew by hand or machine. Most affordable option. |
| Thick acrylic felt | 3.2mm | Cosplay armor, stiff projects, structural pieces | Harder to machine sew through multiple layers. Hand sewing easier for details. |
| Wool felt | 1–5mm | Heirloom crafts, jewelry, premium projects | Easier to needle (hand sew). Holds stitches beautifully. More expensive. |
| Wool-rayon blend | 1–3mm | Applique, ornaments, quality crafts | Combines wool's quality with affordability. Great for hand and machine sewing. |
| Eco-felt (recycled) | 1–2mm | Budget crafts, classroom projects | Thinner, softer, can be harder to sew precisely. Prone to pilling. |
Tools You'll Need
Essential Tools
- Sharp scissors: Dedicated fabric scissors with sharp blades. Felt dulls scissors faster than woven fabrics, so keep them sharp. Small embroidery scissors are ideal for detailed cuts.
- Rotary cutter and mat: For straight lines and long cuts. Gives cleaner edges than scissors on large pieces.
- Needles: Hand sewing: embroidery needles (size 5–7) or sharps. Machine sewing: universal needle (size 80/12 for standard felt, 90/14 for thick felt).
- Thread: All-purpose polyester thread for machine sewing. Embroidery floss (6-strand, use 2–3 strands) for decorative hand sewing.
- Fabric marking tools: Chalk pencil, water-soluble marker, or fine-tip pen (on the back). Avoid permanent markers that bleed through.
Helpful Extras
- Fabric glue: Tacky glue or hot glue for no-sew projects or to hold pieces in place before sewing
- Wonder clips: Better than pins for felt (pins leave permanent holes)
- Templates: Cardboard or freezer paper templates for repeating shapes
- Stuffing: Polyester fiberfill for 3D felt projects (ornaments, plushies)
Hand Sewing Felt: Essential Stitches
Hand sewing is the traditional and often preferred method for felt projects. These five stitches cover virtually every felt sewing need:
1. Blanket Stitch (Most Popular)
The blanket stitch is the signature stitch for felt work. It creates a decorative edge that's both functional and beautiful.
- Use for: Edging, joining two pieces, appliques, ornaments
- Thread: Embroidery floss (2–3 strands) in matching or contrasting color
- How: Bring the needle up through the felt about 1/4 inch from the edge. Loop the thread under the needle point, then pull through. Repeat at even intervals along the edge. The looped thread creates the characteristic "L-shaped" stitches along the edge.
- Spacing: Keep stitches even — about 1/4 inch apart and 1/4 inch from the edge for standard felt.
2. Whip Stitch (Fastest)
The simplest joining stitch — fast and functional.
- Use for: Quick seams, closing stuffed items, joining pieces where decorative stitching isn't needed
- How: Push the needle through both layers from back to front, close to the edge. Bring the thread over the edge and repeat. Creates a spiral of thread wrapping over the edge.
- Tip: Keep stitches small and close together for a neat appearance.
3. Running Stitch (Simplest)
The most basic stitch — a dashed line of stitches.
- Use for: Basting, decorative details, gathering, simple seams
- How: Push the needle in and out of the fabric in a straight line, creating evenly spaced dashes. Can load multiple stitches on the needle at once for speed.
4. Back Stitch (Strongest)
Creates a continuous, unbroken line of stitches — the strongest hand stitch.
- Use for: Structural seams that need to hold weight, embroidery details, outlines
- How: After making a stitch, bring the needle back to the end of the previous stitch (going backward), then forward again twice the stitch length. Each stitch overlaps with the previous one.
5. French Knot (Decorative)
Creates a small, raised dot on the fabric surface.
- Use for: Eyes on felt animals, flower centers, decorative dots
- How: Bring the needle up through the felt. Wrap the thread around the needle 2–3 times. Push the needle back down very close to (but not through) the original hole, holding the wraps tight. Pull through.
Machine Sewing Felt
Machine sewing is faster for long seams, large projects, and production work. Here's how to set up your machine for felt:
Machine Settings
- Needle: Universal needle, size 80/12 (standard felt) or 90/14 (thick felt or multiple layers)
- Thread: All-purpose polyester thread in a matching color
- Stitch length: 2.5–3mm (slightly longer than default to prevent perforation)
- Stitch type: Straight stitch for most seams. Zigzag for decorative edges or appliques.
- Presser foot: Standard presser foot works fine. A Teflon or roller foot helps if felt sticks.
- Speed: Medium speed. Don't sew too fast — felt can bunch if pushed through too quickly.
Machine Sewing Tips
- Don't pin through visible areas: Pin holes are permanent in felt. Place pins within seam allowances only, or use clips.
- Use a shorter stitch for curves: Reduce to 2mm for tight curves and small pieces.
- Backstitch at start and end: Felt's density can cause the first few stitches to bunch. Start with 2–3 backstitches to secure.
- Topstitching: Topstitching looks great on felt. Use a slightly longer stitch (3–3.5mm) and contrasting thread for a decorative effect.
- Multiple layers: Standard machines handle 2–3 layers of 1.6mm felt easily. For 4+ layers or thick felt, sew slowly and help feed the fabric through by hand.
Common Felt Sewing Projects
Beginner Projects
- Felt bookmarks: Two layers, blanket-stitched edges, embroidered details
- Coasters: Cut circles or squares, stack 2–3 layers, blanket stitch or machine sew edges
- Simple ornaments: Cut two matching shapes, blanket stitch together with stuffing inside
- Pin cushions: Small, simple, and practical — great first project
Intermediate Projects
- Felt flowers: Cut petal shapes, layer and stitch centers, attach to stems or pins
- Quiet books: Multi-page interactive books with buttons, zippers, snaps, and felt pieces
- Stuffed animals: Cut body pieces from patterns, hand-sew with blanket stitch, stuff with fiberfill
- Applique projects: Cut felt shapes and sew onto blankets, pillows, or clothing
Advanced Projects
- Cosplay accessories: Using 3.2mm thick felt for armor, masks, and structural costume pieces
- Felted bags and pouches: Machine-sewn with reinforced seams
- Felt food play sets: Detailed, multi-piece sets with realistic colors and shapes
Troubleshooting Common Felt Sewing Problems
| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Needle breaks | Needle too thin for thick felt | Use size 90/14 or 100/16 for thick felt or multiple layers |
| Stitches skip | Needle too dull or wrong type | Replace with a new universal or sharp needle |
| Felt bunches under foot | Starting stitch pulls fabric down | Hold thread tails behind the foot when starting. Use a scrap of felt as a leader. |
| Pin holes visible | Pins leave permanent holes in felt | Use clips instead of pins, or pin only in seam allowances |
| Thread shows too much | Thread color doesn't match | Match thread to felt color exactly, or use intentional contrast |
| Felt pills after sewing | Low-quality felt or friction | Use higher-quality acrylic felt. Shave pills with a fabric shaver. |
| Glue shows through | Too much glue applied | Use tiny dots of tacky glue, not floods. Press pieces together immediately. |
Felt vs Glue: When to Sew and When to Glue
Not every felt project needs sewing. Here's when each method works best:
- Sew when: The item needs to be durable, washed, or handled frequently. Stuffed items, garments, bags, and anything for children or babies should be sewn for safety and longevity.
- Glue when: The item is decorative, temporary, or for display only. Wall decorations, scrapbook embellishments, prototyping before sewing, and classroom projects where speed matters more than durability.
- Combine both: Many projects use glue to temporarily hold pieces in position, then sew for permanent attachment. This "baste with glue, sew for permanence" approach gives you the precision of glue with the strength of thread.
Shop Felt Fabric at EOVEA
EOVEA carries acrylic felt fabric by the yard in standard 1.6mm thickness and 3.2mm thick felt, available in 50+ colors. Our felt is 72 inches wide, sold as continuous cuts with no seams, and ships fast from the USA.
Perfect for crafts, costumes, education, and home projects. Need bulk felt for classrooms or production? Visit our wholesale page for volume pricing. Free shipping on orders over $150.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best stitch for sewing felt?
The blanket stitch is the most popular and versatile stitch for felt. It creates a decorative edge that's both beautiful and functional. For structural seams that need extra strength, use a back stitch. For quick assembly, use a whip stitch.
Do you need to hem felt?
No. One of felt's biggest advantages is that it doesn't fray when cut, so raw edges can be left as-is. This eliminates the need for hemming, serging, or any edge finishing. Cut edges on felt are finished edges.
Can you machine wash sewn felt projects?
It depends on the felt type. Acrylic felt can handle gentle hand washing in cold water, but may shrink or distort in a machine wash cycle. Wool felt will shrink and felt further in water. For items that need regular washing, consider using wool-blend felt (more water-stable) or accept that some shape change may occur.
What size needle for sewing felt?
For hand sewing, use embroidery needles (size 5-7) or sharps (size 7-9). For machine sewing, use a universal needle size 80/12 for standard 1.6mm felt, or 90/14 for thick 3.2mm felt and multiple layers.
Why does my machine skip stitches on felt?
Common causes: dull needle (replace it), wrong needle type (use universal or sharp, not ballpoint), or bobbin thread tension too loose. Also check that your felt isn't too thick for your machine - try sewing fewer layers.
Can you use hot glue on felt?
Yes, but use low-temperature hot glue. High-temperature glue guns can melt acrylic felt. Apply small dots rather than lines to prevent glue from seeping through. For washable projects, fabric tacky glue is a better choice than hot glue.
Related Fabric Guides
- What Is Felt Fabric?
- Acrylic Felt vs Wool Felt
- How to Work with Acrylic Felt
- Acrylic Felt Craft Ideas
- Felt Sheet Craft Ideas
Shop all fabrics at EOVEA Fabric — premium craft fabric by the yard with fast USA shipping.
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