White Stork Needle Felting Kit by Charivna Mit V-123C

Felt the White Stork, a needle felting kit by Charivna Mit: a white stork with black wingtips, a long orange beak and tall wire-framed orange legs.

In Ukrainian villages a stork's nest on the roof is said to bring the household luck, and storks return to the same nest year after year.

Why this kit: needle felting needs no sewing and no counting, only wool and a barbed needle, and Charivna Mit sorts the wool by color and adds a color scheme so you always know which shade goes where. With just 3 wool colors it is a quick, forgiving project for a first try. Czech Preciosa beads add the eyes and a little sparkle.

Kit includes: 3 colors of Corriedale wool, 1 color of Czech Preciosa beads, wire in 2 sizes, 2 felting needles, a color pattern and an instruction chart. Made in Ukraine. Not included: a foam felting pad to work on and small scissors for trimming stray fibers.

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 the head, legs and colored details, following the color scheme. Then add the bead details and the wire parts as the instructions show. Work on a foam pad, keep your fingers clear of the needle tip and store the needles safely after use.

Finished size: about 16×12 cm (6.3×4.7 in). Stand it on a shelf, desk or windowsill, or give it as a homemade gift for expecting parents, grandparents and bird lovers; the kit itself is an easy present for teens and adults. Recommended for ages 14 and up; the felting needles are very sharp, so keep them away from young children.