When you’re first diving into the world of needle felting, it’s easy to think that all wool is created equal. But if you've ever found yourself endlessly stabbing a soft blob of wool that just won't firm up—or if your finished animal ends up lumpy instead of lovely—the issue might not be your technique. It might be your wool.

Understanding the different types of wool is a game changer. It saves you time, money, and frustration—and helps you get that satisfying “aha!” moment when your creation turns out just right.

🐑 What Is Core Wool?

Core wool is exactly what it sounds like—the wool used to create the core structure of your project. It’s often coarser, springier, and a bit less refined. And that’s a good thing!

Why? Because core wool felts quickly and holds its shape well. It’s ideal for building volume without using up your pretty coloured wools.

Common uses:

• Base shapes for animals
• Bulking out larger sculptures
• Creating firm forms before applying detail

💡 You'll find our soft, affordable CORE WOOL in the Shop Wool Page.

What Is Topcoat Wool?

Topcoat wool (also called outer wool, finishing wool, or detail wool) is the wool you’ll actually see once your project is done. It’s finer, softer, often dyed in beautiful colours, and meant to give your creations their personality.

Some popular topcoat fibres include:

• Merino – soft and smooth, great for blending
• Corriedale – a lovely balance of ease and detail
• Shetland – a bit coarser, perfect for texture (like animal fur)

Can I Just Use One Type of Wool?

Technically yes—but you’ll feel the difference. Using only topcoat wool can be costly and slow. Using only core wool may leave you with a scruffy finish.

💡 The magic happens when you combine them: CORE WOOL for shaping, and TOPCOAT WOOL for detail.

Choosing the Right Wool for Your Project

Project Type                                 Wool Needed

Small, detailed animal                                 Core + Corriedale or Merino topcoat

Large sculpture                                             More core, top with dyed batt

Flat artwork (pictures)                                 Merino or blended roving

Textured fur or feathers                              Shetland or coarse topcoat

Don’t forget to check out the New Arrivals Page for limited edition colourways and seasonal blends.

💬 Final Thoughts

Choosing the right wool doesn’t just change how your project turns out—it changes how much you enjoy making it. Pair your wool with a quality felting needle from our Shop Needle Page , and you’ll notice the difference instantly.