This was my very first time felting. The pen worked perfectly throughout the entire project. I didn't have any issues with needles breaking or the cap getting stuck, as some users have complained about. If you put the cap on properly (there are two channels to line up), I can't see how that would ever be an issue. The pen was very easy to unscrew to remove or add needles. For smaller details, I stuck with 1-2 needles. If I was covering more area, I used all 3 at the same time. The pen style makes it easy to control and it felt very comfortable in my hand.
About my project: this is a crocheted dog with acrylic yarn that's been brushed out to look like fur. The extra fuzz that results from the brushing is then saved and used as roving to felt on details (the mouth, for example), hide knots, etc. As you can see, the pen worked beautifully on the acrylic yarn and adhered it to the single crocheted body perfectly.
My kids received a Klutz felting kit this past Christmas and have become quite enamored of the felting art. The cheap little tool that came with the book recently broke and when I came out to Amazon to look for a new tool I was a bit overwhelmed at all the options available! I went with this Clover one because I have a number of other Clover products and I've always been happy with their quality.
I'm glad I chose this pen! It is very easy to grip. It is nice and light weight, and a good size for little hands. It comes with a safety cap and medium gauge (38 mm) needles. I like that you can choose to use either 1, 2, or all 3 needles at once depending on the level of detail on your felting piece. This pen looks sturdy and I'm hopeful it will hold up well to love from the kids. Two thumbs up!
I'm writing this review as a first time needle felter who has only used this on 2 projects. I used this to make a hamster and a penguin. I didn't have any problems aside from poking my fingers a few times. My projects worked up pretty fast and I haven't had any needles break. It's my first needle felting tool and it seems like I'll be able to use this for all my projects.
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This is the first pen style needle felting tool I have used, and am very glad to have it! I have a wider tool (also by Clover) that holds five needles, but that isn't good on smaller or 3-D projects (I use it on cookie cutter ornaments and wall hangings). For smaller projects and 3-D items, I have been using a single needle alone, without a holder. I decided it was time to ramp it up a bit and try some pen style holders. I chose the Clover brand 1-3 needle pen because I have liked other Clover products, including some for needle felting.
The needle holder is a good size and shape, and works very well. So far I have just used it with three needles, but I sure like how much faster things work up doing so. The needles are placed close together, so it is easy to control the area being worked on.
NOTE: The three needles included are "fine" (Clover needles only come in two sizes) and are best for finishing work, details, and small pieces. You will want to use lower gauge felting needles for working up cores. Clover does not number their needles, but these are maybe 39/40?
If you need the needles to go further in the project you are working on -- like a larger 3-D animal -- the top pink section is removable. Just beware the needles could break more easily (and is not recommended with the included needles), especially if using 2/3 needles. Twist the white ring off the pink handle to change out or replace needles. The clear needle cover has ridges in it that fit over an indentation in the pink top of the tool.
This needle is the only one you need. You're able to choose how many needles you're working with (I've found that 2 is optimal) and adjust the length of needle / depth of puncture by removing the end, exposing the white interior. If you wanted to use the needle without the casing for some reason, you can remove and use them individually too.
I personally haven't broken any needles but knowing that it could happen has made me cautious. If you have a densely packed area, find ways to fasten the felt, maybe by directing the needle at an angle instead of head-on. Forcing it beyond its capabilities is a fault of the user, not the product so feel free to disregard those types of reviews :)
Feature Product
- For creating 3 dimensional designs and appliques
- Pen style grip
- Easy to handle
- Can use 1,2 or 3 needles
Description
The pen style needle felting tool allows application of small or delicate materials using one, two, or three needles. The tool can be adjusted to two length of needle sizes that can be used with the needle felting molds (sold separately) for creating 3-dimensional design and appliqué. The handle offers Ease of use because of the -inch pen style-inch grip action. easy replacement of thick and thin needles.
First off, all felting needles are brittle, and they will eventually lose their sharpness, or break. This little tool saves me so much time because I'm getting 3x the work with one motion.
What I've learned:
I snapped one of the needles when I was going through an already dense part of my piece. = With this tool, I don't have the same type of feedback like when I use a single needle. I couldn't tell that the density was too much for the needle.
I took out the broken needle, and then proceeded to continue working with just two needles. (I probably should have went to bed after I snapped the first needle.) Well the piece I'm working on does have a wire armature, but I got so use to going through the wool so easy, I started using more force than I would ordinarily use with a single needle, and I hit the wire, and broke the second needle.
Conclusion:
I can either work super fast, which can sometimes lead to carelessness, and I will snap needles, or I can recognize that because I'm getting 3x the work with one motion, I'm still ahead of the game if I go slower, and am more cautious. Sometimes I'm not going to care, like when I'm trying to add a piece, and I have it in place just right, and I'm going to felt with a stupid level of force to just get it on there. I'll probably break the most needles when I'm tired, and it's late, and I should have been sleeping an hour ago. I'll most likely be the most cautious when I don't have backup needles. (This is similar to reckless abandonment when dispensing shampoo when it's a new bottle, compared to when you just have 1/2" left at the bottom of the bottle.)
I'm going to order a second one so that I can have a higher gauge needle, and not have to change the needles out. This will most likely lead to less needle breakage because I can move to a finer needle when I feel I've reached a certain level of density.
Love this felting tool. I have been felting for about a year now. Before purchasing this tool, I would use an insulated single needle and loved using that. I have seen a number of friends use this tool, so I finally ordered one for my work. It is easy to use, easy in the hand...comfortable, and works fast to cover space...felting faster. I now use my single needle for smaller spaces and detail work, and this Clover Pen for the large areas. It is a wonderful addition to my tool pouch. I rarely break needles with this tool...since my purchase, I have broken one needle. It is a pleasure to work with this tool...I love it. I am currently working on small rabbits right now...works perfectly! I am so happy with this purchase!
The Clover 507079 Pen Style Needle Felting Tool arrived quickly and with a very good instruction pamphlet.
It is easy to use and seems durable. The only issue is that when I replaced the needles the top does not screw down as it had originally. I used same size needles. I can continue using it, feels sturdy even if not screwing down as originally did.
This is a wonderful tool! I am a starting out felter and was just using single needles and holding them. It was taking forever. I read reviews and saw this in use by others and selected this tool. It holds the needles close together which is very good for detail work. It is also easy to change out and adjust needles. I recommend this tool.
I have just started felting and this is a good tool and easy to use. However, I found that the instructions were too vague (even for my advanced degree mind!). I could not figure out how to remove the needles after all three broke at the same time (my fault I’m sure).
Also, the item came with no extra needles so I ordered from Amazon another product that comes with 60 needles as well as needle holders. Fortunately the needles fit into the felting pen.
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