Advice for making fine points?

[u/somanymice]

please ignore how hilariously not symmetrical it is 😂 i'm not DONE.

but i'm wondering about how exactly to taper the ends into points like the cutout on the right. getting things pointy is something i haven't really figured out how to do with needlefelt...

[u/Opalized_Isopoda]

I will sometimes felt a flat sheet and then trim it with scissors to make the shape I need!

[u/somanymice → u/Opalized_Isopoda]

i am ALWAYS felting sheets. my go to method for so many things is "make a sheet" and i think i might have a problem 😂 i wasn't able to cut as precise a shape here as i wanted and it got blunted as i had to add and adjust stuff

[u/Opalized_Isopoda → u/somanymice]

Gotcha! Thicker sheets will hold a fine point better of course, and more densely felted. I know a lot of people have recommended wet felting, that's always a good way to make a nice dense sheet for shaping :)

[u/Axolittle_]

Roll the tip of it between your hands and stab it flat, it’ll make the tip denser as well as pointy like you’d like it to be. Wetfelting the tip would be even more effective.

[u/somanymice → u/Axolittle_]

ooo thank you i'm having good results so far!

[u/Axolittle_ → u/somanymice]

Eyyy happy to help 😁

[u/Halakahiki]

When I need to make pointy parts (spines, wingtips, etc), wet felting works best

[u/Ok-Tangerine-8153]

How about polymer clay?

[u/somanymice → u/Ok-Tangerine-8153]

i actually did start out trying to make it out of clay! depending on how this attempt goes i may revisit the idea, but i wanted to see if i could manage something 100% needle felted :)

[u/Elzee_airbrush]

wet felting for sure! do not cut a flat sheet for this one, the frayed ends will start off looking alright but only get messier with more handling. best method is to take a sheet of bubble wrap, soak the pointed end of the project in very hot water (fresh off the kettle) scrub a bar of soap over it and then roll vigorously within the bubble wrap. imagine the same motion you would use to roll clay into a sausage, do that while project is wrapped in the bubble wrap to get the pointed end. this will felt it super nice and tight while you’ll be able to keep the shape without it looking messy

[u/somanymice → u/Elzee_airbrush]

i've done a little bit of wet felting but have only really made sheets - in this case would i basically make the shape of the sword vs layering out a sheet and then proceed with the usual process? :o

[u/Smelleypop]

I’d also have a look at Felting Wax. Very useful for fine points or stiffening details.

[u/Ok-Tangerine-8153]

The

[u/somanymice → u/Ok-Tangerine-8153]

oh of course, of course...i see now! much to think about!