Sitting Basset Hound Needle Felting Kit by Charivna Mit V-148C

Felt the Sitting Basset Hound, a needle felting kit by Charivna Mit: a sitting tricolor basset hound with long velvety ears and soulful eyes.

A basset hound's long ears sweep the ground as it walks, and dog lovers say they help stir up scents for its famous nose.

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 New Zealand wool, 1 color of Czech Preciosa beads, 2 felting needles, a color scheme and instructions. 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 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 12.5×16 cm (4.9×6.3 in). Stand it on a shelf, desk or windowsill, or give it as a homemade gift for dog lovers, pet owners and friends; 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.