Cute Dogs to Needle Felt

U.K. crafter-author Button shows readers how to needlecraft dollhouse-size dogs using only wool, needles, and a bit of polymer clay for eyes and noses. Offering six popular dog breeds, Button suggests starting with the cocker spaniel and working up to the pug, with the Labrador retriever, shih tzu, border terrier, and standard poodle in between. Remarkably lifelike though teeny-tiny, each project features detailed instructions, including templates and step-by-step needling diagrams as well as standard guidance in the form of colour photographs, a list ofmaterials, and so on. Thorough upfront materials define terminology like neps and rolags, instruct readers mixing colours of wool, and offer common-sense tips (such as “buy extra needles”). Two paws up for these canine likenesses.

Gai Button is a sculptural artist who works in needle felt, clay and other media. With a creative mind and love of animals great and small, Gai used fur from her pet poodle to make her first little dogs before expanding her horizons to take in different wools, silks and fibres to make all manner of creatures. Gai’s needle-felted dogs are in collections all around the world, and she has written a number of articles for both craft and dog enthusiast magazines. She holds craft workshops in her studio near the sea and demonstrates across the UK. Gai lives in Kent, UK.