Penguin in Yellow Bucket Hat Needle Felting Kit by Wizardi F07N8-W117

Felt the Penguin in Yellow Bucket Hat, a needle felting kit by Wizardi. A yellow bucket hat, a yellow scarf and a yellow bag: this penguin is dressed for a sunny day out.

Felters say round birds are the friendliest first project, because a penguin or a duckling starts as a simple wool ball and only needs a beak, a hat and two eyes to come alive.

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. Collect the whole family: the round body is the same, and the hats and outfits change.

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 2.0 x 2.0 x 1.6 in (5 x 5 x 4 cm). Keep it on a desk or bookshelf, clip it to a bag or keys, or give it as a small homemade gift; the kit itself is an easy stocking stuffer for teens and adults. Recommended for ages 14 and up; the felting needles are very sharp, so keep them away from young children.