Perplexed by a long-standing needle felting question

[Truffles]

This isn't so much a "how to" question but one seeking better understanding. I'm not a newbie to needle felting. Question: I continue to encounter conflicting info on the better fiber prep for needle felting. Some sources say choose fiber with a draft not much longer than 2 inches and prep it with hand carders. That's what I work with. I find shorter fibers that are hand carded the easiest to manage. The hand carding provides a mesh like prep that blends and hugs the item in a way longer fibers running parallel to each other do not

When I order fiber for needle felting I may receive batts obviously hand carded or I may get wool with drafts of 4-6 inches and combed top preps. A friend recently passed on a big box of wool for needle felting (she said). I told myself the least I can do is try it. The fibers were about 5 inches long. I thought I'd never get those long fibers corralled and tucked in the bunny I am making. Because the fibers were running parallel to each other, it really showed when I didn't get them applied really straight. I gave up and got out my hand carded (mesh-like) batt and went to work covering up the combed top from my friend.

Seems to me the carded wool provides a much nicer finish that molds around cracks and crannies with few ends to tuck. I haven't been able to get the top to do this. Lots of needle felters (said one of my journals) work only with combed top. If so, it could be I'm missing something that others know? If it's just a difference in preference, that's good and I'll put my questions to bed and go spin the top. Thank you for any insight.      

[lyn]

It probably is just personal preference. I find hand carded fibres (mesh-like as you say) much easier to needle felt.

For anyone not familiar with hand-carding for needle felting here's a little demo:
rosiepink.typepad.co.uk/rosiepink/how-to-use-hand-carders-for-needle-felting.html

[Ann @ frabjous fabrica]

It is as Lyn says just a matter of personal preference, and also depends upon what the subject of your needle felting is.  If you're felting a highland cow for instance, you'll need long staples for some of it at least.
Now a bit of Sacrilege for spinners - if your fibres are too long, get your scissors out  😲🤯.  It is perfectly permissible to cut fibres (so long as you don't cut a length of tops from a supplier's stock).  In fact If you don't want a fluffy result in your finished project, invest in some disposable razors so you can get rid of any unwanted "whiskers".

I mainly use tops for my needle felting, but that is only because that is what I have in stock.  I used to do a lot of wet felting and ran workshops where I provided merino for students' use.  That is what I have so that is what I use.  I have a pair of mini hand carders (dog combs actually) which I use to mix colours I want to use from the colours I have and that produces the so useful "web".

 We'd love to see some of your work.

Happy Felting.  😄

[MTRuth]

I agree that it's a matter of preference. I find hand carded batts with shorter fibers easier to needle felt.

[Shepherdess]

I am on the hand-carded shorter fibre page too. the combed top is prepared for spinners. Many people who have been doing it a long time use them because it is all there was for a long time unless you bought raw and dyed your own. So it's what they are used to. There is so much more available now. I find most Merino too fine and takes forever to needle in. I use it a lot to make wet felted backgrounds and like Ann, it is what I mostly have on hand because I mostly wet felt. I do "mess up" my fibres so they are not like top anymore.

[Karen]

I find carded fibres are so much easier to work with and give a much better finish to my needle felting. I’m always surprised when I see needle felting kits that contain combed fibre rather than carded.

[mitten]

I'm so happy that someone posted about this subject.  I'm trying to learn about wool on my own, and I thought there was something wrong with my technique that made such a streaky mess when I used it.  I switched to Maori batts and have had much more success. I unfortunately bought quite a bit of merino thinking it was the "it" fibre to use.  I see in one of the posts that it's okay to cut and card it...I'll try that because I do love some of the colours. I'm very curious to know what Surrey (sp?) is and what is it used for. 

[Shepherdess]

one use for your Merino would be some wet felting. You can make things you can then needle felt onto, like little bags, balls, pouches, book covers, bookmarks, pictures or big bags for that matter.