Santa Hat Penguin Needle Felting Kit by Wizardi F07N8-W112

Felt the Santa Hat Penguin, a needle felting kit by Wizardi. Wrapped up in a candy-stripe scarf and a Santa hat, this little penguin is ready for a snowy Christmas.

Many crafters say a homemade ornament is the one that gets unpacked first every December, and a felted one survives being dropped, squashed and packed away year after year.

Why this kit: if you have never felted before, this is a small, forgiving first project, with no sewing and no pattern to follow, just colored wool and a barbed needle; most people finish it in an evening or two. It is a quick, cozy project for the evenings before Christmas.

Kit includes: wool roving in every color of the design, felting needles set in a foam work pad, 2 black bead eyes, a phone strap and pin for hanging, a full-color picture card of the finished figure and an illustrated drawing-instructions sheet. Not included: small scissors for trimming stray fibers, which are handy but optional.

How to felt it: pull off small tufts of wool, roll them loosely and jab them with the felting needle, turning the shape as you go so it firms up evenly. Build the body first, then add the colored details and the face, and set the eyes last. Work on a foam pad or felting mat, keep your fingers clear of the needle tip and store the needles safely after use.

Finished size: about 2.2 x 2.0 x 1.6 in (5.5 x 5 x 4 cm). Hang it on the tree, stand it on the mantel or tuck the kit into a stocking for a crafty friend; it is a cozy project for the evenings before Christmas. Recommended for ages 14 and up; the felting needles are very sharp, so keep them away from young children.