As a beginner needle felter, I have been intimidated by other books that do not break down step-by-step instructions for creating a felted plant or animal. This book too each step, with photographs, to explain how to achieve the desired look of the felted animal or plant you are creating. I would definitely recommend this book to those who are searching for a simple way to learn the needle felting method.

Complete Starter Guide to Needle Felting: Enchanted Forest is enchanting. I have felted quite a bit and I found this book fantastic!

Claudia Lenart the needle artist for felting has created a guidebook with a lot of photos of step by step to make the reader feel confident to take on many charming creations. She even teaches us how to dye the wool for some of the projects one might not be able to find the colors that you need and for in the future which is so helpful to understand. So we don't have to have not being able to find a color we need stop us.

Claudi gives us a photo and list of supplies we need and also the step-by-step photos that I mentioned. Each project has its individual list of supplies needed. I think the only feedback I could add that would be helpful that wasn't included is the approximate amount of time needed to complete each individual project.

Some of the designs are advanced and intricate so the starter guide could be a bit misleading but don't let that deter you that you could take these enchanting project on.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher Fox Chapel Publishing for the opportunity to read and review Complete Starter Guide to Needle Felting: Enchanted Forest by Claudia Lenart.

This was a super informative guide to needle felting. Straightforward instructions with step-by-step photos to show the progress.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I am not a novice needle felter, but I am definitely not an expert either. This book is a great way to get started on needle felting and has all of the introductory information about supplies, technique, etc. that you would expect in a starter guide. In fact, I found the introduction very solid, providing the right amount of information and photos to show someone who has just started to needle felt the basics.

The actual enchanted forest instructions and designs are set up with different levels of complexity and to build on the basics with things like armature and realism. They are all themed around, you guessed it, an enchanted garden or forest. And there is definitely a set of instructions for all readers. If you like fantasy, then you can build a fairly or a gnome, but if you tend to prefer realism you can focus on trees, foxes, and other animals of the forest. You can also use each of the designs as a way to kick start other work. Like removing a horn to have a horse instead of a unicorn .... Lenart is very skilled and she really hits her stride when she is demonstrating the more detailed and realistic figures like the unicorn and the rabbit.

If you are looking to learn how to needle felt or simply want inspiration and some tips to expand your skills, this is a great book to pick up and thumb through. The instructions are clear and include images of detail work, and the ideas are definitely fun. I also think it would be fun to put them all together into a scene of sorts.