How to Choose Wool Felt Colours & Work Out the Right Size for Any Project

We will be using Harnie the Hen by Carolyn Stannon in the newest edition of Inspirations Studio Magazine.

If you’ve recently picked up the newest edition of Inspirations Studio Magazine, you may have noticed the delightful wool felt project Harnie the Hen (project link at bottom).

She’s completely made from felt and is absolutely full of personality. Since the magazine landed, I’ve had quite a few lovely customers call or email asking the same two questions:

1. What colours would you recommend using for the felt?

2. How do I work out how much felt I actually need?

Both of these questions come up all the time when working with patterns from magazines or books, because the felt sizes listed in the pattern don’t always match the felt sizes we sell.

Let’s walk through it together.

Step 1: Understanding What the Pattern is Really Asking For

In the pattern instructions for Harnie the Hen, one of the materials listed is:

25cm x 40cm (10" x 16") piece of dark beige marle wool felt

At first glance this can feel confusing if you’re browsing wool felt online and can’t find that exact size.

But here’s the important thing to understand:

That measurement usually represents the total amount of felt needed if all the pattern pieces were placed together.

It does not always mean you need one continuous piece that size.

When you look at the actual pattern pieces for the hen, you’ll notice something interesting.

Most of the pieces are much smaller than the listed felt size, often smaller than an A4 sheet of paper.

That means there is usually a bit of flexibility in how you source the felt.

Step 2: Check the Pattern Pieces First

Before purchasing any materials, it’s always a good idea to read through the entire pattern and look at the pattern sheet.

Ask yourself:

• What is the largest single piece in the pattern?

• Could that piece fit inside a 20cm x 30cm felt sheet?

• Would two or three smaller sheets work instead of one large one?

For example, if the largest piece in the pattern is only about 18cm long, then a 20cm x 30cm sheet of felt would work perfectly.

If there are several pieces that together equal the required size, you might simply use multiple smaller sheets.

Step 3: Matching Pattern Requirements with My Felt Lady Felt Sizes

At My Felt Lady we carry a wide range of felt sizes, which means there is almost always a way to make the pattern work.

Some options might be:

• 2–3 pieces of 20cm x 30cm wool felt

• One 30cm x 40cm piece

• A combination of sheets from a bundle

It really depends on how the pattern pieces are arranged.

The key thing to remember is that the pattern’s measurement is often about total material quantity, not necessarily the exact shape you must purchase.

Step 4: Choosing Your Colours

One of the most fun parts of a project like this is selecting the colours.

For Harnie the Hen, I chose the following My Felt Lady wool felt colours:

Body (dark beige marle wool felt):
Heather Brown

2 units of 20cm x 30cm or 1 unit of 30cm x 40cm

Body, breast, handle, eye patch (ecru wool felt):
Ivory

1 unit of 20cm x 30cm

Wing, neck feathers, lower handle, head (piece of light beige marle wool felt):
Heather Beige

2 units of 20cm x 30cm or 1 unit of 30cm x 40cm

Comb and wattle (dark salmon wool felt):
Papaya

1 unit of 20cm x 30cm

Beak (tomato wool felt):
Coral

1 unit of 20cm x 30cm

One of the lovely things about working with wool felt is the depth of colour. Because it’s made from natural wool fibres rather than synthetic materials, the tones tend to be richer, softer, and more beautiful when layered together.

If you’re unsure which colours to choose, try laying a few sheets next to each other before cutting. Sometimes the combination that surprises you is the one that works best.

Step 5: There’s Always a Workaround

When working with felt patterns from magazines, remember:

• The listed felt size is often flexible

• Multiple smaller pieces can work just as well

• Reading the pattern first saves frustration later

There is almost always a creative workaround, and that’s part of the joy of crafting.

Want to Make Harnie the Hen?

You can find the full sewing pattern in the latest issue of Inspirations Studio Magazine.

👉 Harnie the Hen by Carolyn Stanton in Inspirations Studios Magazine

If you decide to make her, I would absolutely love to see your version.

Happy stitching!

Yours Feltfully,
Candice
My Felt Lady