The Wool Felt Sewing Secrets You NEED to Know!

If you’ve ever found yourself wrestling with wool felt—uneven edges, tricky stitching, or threads doing their own thing—you’re not alone! Wool felt is an absolute dream to work with, but it does have its little quirks. Lucky for you, I’ve got all the best tips and tricks to make cutting and sewing felt as smooth as butter.

Whether you're crafting teeny-tiny details or sewing up a masterpiece, here’s everything you need to know to get those crisp edges and perfect stitches.

Cutting Wool Felt Like a Pro ✂️

You know that feeling when you slice into a fresh piece of felt and it’s chef’s kiss perfection? That’s exactly what we’re going for!

✔ Scissors Matter (A Lot!) – My ride-or-die scissors are Kai 5" sewing scissors. They’re ridiculously sharp, super comfy, and make cutting through wool felt feel like slicing through clouds. (Seriously, if you haven’t tried them yet, you’re missing out.)

✔ Never Use Fabric Shears on Paper – It might be tempting to snip out your pattern pieces straight from paper, but trust me, your felt will thank you if you cut your paper templates separately. Blunt scissors = fuzzy, messy edges.

✔ For Tiny Cuts, Try Embroidery Scissors – If you’re working on detailed shapes, a pair of sharp embroidery scissors will give you that clean finish without the wonky edges.

✔ Trace Smart! – Use a light fabric chalk or disappearing ink pen to mark your pattern pieces. Avoid heavy markers—they can smudge or leave unwanted stains.

Hand Sewing That Looks Effortless (Even If It’s Not) 🧵

Ahh, hand sewing. There’s something so peaceful about it—until you realise your stitches are uneven, your thread’s knotting up, and your needle is staging a rebellion. Here’s how to keep things looking neat and stress-free!

✔ The Perfect Needle & Thread Combo – I swear by a No.7 DMC embroidery needle paired with DMC embroidery threads. They glide through wool felt beautifully and give you that polished, professional finish.

✔ Use Just the Right Thread Strands – For a delicate look, split your embroidery thread and use 2 strands. If you want a bolder, more defined stitch, go with 3 strands.

✔ Knot-Free Zone – To avoid pesky knots in your thread, try running it through a bit of beeswax or thread conditioner. It helps keep everything smooth and tangle-free.

✔ Keep Those Stitches Even – If you struggle with stitch size, use a water-soluble fabric pen to make tiny dots as a guide. Your blanket stitch or running stitch will come out chef’s kiss perfectly.

Bonus Tips for a Flawless Finish ✨

🔹 Press, Don’t Iron! – Wool felt doesn’t like direct heat. If your felt needs flattening, use a pressing cloth and lightly press with an iron on high heat.

🔹 Store Felt Flat – Rolling felt can lead to creases that are so annoying to remove. Keep it stacked flat in a drawer or on a shelf for easy access and no wrinkles!

🔹 Test First – If you’re hand sewing for the first time (or using a new thread colour), test it on a scrap piece of felt first. This saves you from stitch regret later!