Needle Felting Animal Creation
A course by Juanamatú (Katerin J Gómez)Toy Creator
A course by Juanamatú (Katerin J Gómez), Toy Creator
Create unique felt figures using a wire skeleton to give them a sense of movement
Imagine taking your memories and turning them into personalized figures. Through the needle felting technique, Katerin Gómez reimagines pets, loved ones, favorite characters, or her own designs in her creative toy store, Juanamatú. Get yourself wrapped up in the world of felt by discovering how to sculpt in a simple way and obtain results in a short time by starting with a wire skeleton.
In this course, learn how to create realistic and flexible figures step by step using the needle felting technique, from the initial creative process to best tips on keeping your works in great condition. Learn all the necessary materials, essential tools, and different ways to personalize your toys. In short, enter the infinite world of possibilities offered by felt with the help of a true toy artist.
What will you learn in this online course?
16 lessons & 12 downloads
What will we do in the course?
1 minute, 10 seconds
Plan the route
8 minutes, 54 seconds
Wool and techniques 1
14 minutes, 33 seconds
Wool and techniques 2
13 minutes, 58 seconds
Tools and materials
9 minutes, 25 seconds
To move the skeleton and give the doll soul 1
13 minutes, 40 seconds
What's included in this course?
In the first lesson of the course, Katerin tells you about her professional career, her influences, and how, through crafts, she feels that she solves problems on a small scale.
The first step to creating your doll is to establish an action plan and to define each step of the process. To do this, make a morphological analysis of the animal and study its proportions in depth. Then, get to know the different types of wools and felting methods, before going deeper into the technique you will use for your final project.
From there, it’s time to get to work. The manufacturing process is carried out from the inside out, beginning with the wire skeleton that defines its structure, continuing with the extremities and the body and, finally, the most identifying features like the face, ears, and tail.
To finish the course, learn the small details that make a huge difference. Discover how a garment can add an extra touch of personality to your doll, tips for taking care of the wool, and other possibilities that felt can offer beyond needle felting. By the end of the course, you will know how to create a realistic and flexible doll from scratch, as well as the basic notions of this versatile material.
What is this course's project?
Create a flexible doll depicting a pet from scratch. Katerin will be making a husky, based on its real proportions and adding details to make it unique and distinctive.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
For anyone who is curious about needle felting and wants to explore their creativity. Also, for those who wish to explore the world of art toys and would like to make their own dolls.
Requirements and materials
No previous knowledge is required to take this course.
As for materials, you will need wool of various colors, foam, needles, scissors, wire, a chisel, pliers, and other elements to complete and personalize your project.
Reviews
- harmzPLUS2 months ago
This course is fantastic for anyone who wants to make felted stop motion creatures or nice ornaments of their pets. I really enjoyed it and think I will make more felted wool sculptures because my first one turned out so well. Everyone in my art club was very impressed with my project when I took it to show them so if you have a teenager at home I'm sure they will love to do this course with you too.
- 7 months ago
Súper recomendado, excelente
- 8 months ago
Good guidance and great information. The translating could have used some improvement. But it was enough to understand and follow along. She is skilled and does great work.
- 8 months ago
Transmite muy bien su pasión y enseña desde sus propias experiencias para lograr llegar al objetivo si encontrarnos con las mismas limitaciones que pudo tener cuando inició con este arte.
- 10 months ago
Kate es increíble, trabajar de su mano es una experiencia memorable, su creatividad, su forma de ser única y su generosidad, son un regalo del universo.
Now she combines her illustration training and her desire to tell stories by designing and making unique dolls in her creative toy store, Juanamatú.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- Presentation
- Influences
- What will we do in the course?
- U2
Plan, understand, know and explore
- Plan the route
- Wool and techniques 1
- Wool and techniques 2
- Tools and materials
- U3
See beyond the obvious
- To move the skeleton and give the doll soul 1
- To move the skeleton and give the doll soul 2
- Felt limbs
- The skin that inhabits
- The face. Where is the character 1
- The face. Where is the character 2
- The face. Where is the character 3
- U4
It's the little details that count
- Details and accessories
- Tips to keep your doll in good condition and the possibilities of felt
- FP
Final project
- Needle Felting Animal Creation
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
Watch professionally produced courses
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FAQs
Needle felting is a technique that uses special needles to sculpt wool into three-dimensional figures, like animals or custom characters, from natural fibers. It allows you to create detailed, expressive textile sculptures.
This course is aimed at people with basic craft skills, ideal for intermediate level. Prior experience with crafts is recommended but not required, even if you haven’t worked with needle felting before.
You’ll need raw wool, specialized felting needles, soft or aluminum wire for the internal frame, a foam pad, and accessories like chenille stems and felt sheets. Optional extras include handmade eyes and ergonomic tools.
You’ll learn how to plan animal figures, build internal wire structures, shape forms and facial details, blend wool colors, create accessories, and personalize felt dolls using needle felting and mixed techniques.
The armature is shaped by bending and twisting wire according to the animal’s anatomy, identifying joint points to create a sturdy, articulated base that supports wool sculpting.
Yes, the course teaches how to make textile accessories, blend colors, and sculpt facial details so you can customize each doll with unique expressions and styles.
Merino wool is soft and great for fine details, while Corriedale is firmer and better for base structures. The course shows you how to combine both depending on the stage and desired effect.