The felting needle was invented for industrial use. The first needle loom produced on a commercial basis came from the Bi-Water Company of Leeds, England about 1866, but not until the late 1950's did the needle punching industry start to expand with companies utilizing fibrous waste.

Needle punched non wovens were first used as spring insulators in the mattress and furniture industry and later as car carpet. The needle punching industry increasingly uses the felting needle to texture woven and knitted fabrics.

Some artists have been Needle felting as far back as the 80's when David and Eleanor Stanwood used a barbed needle from an industrial felting factory to develop needle felting as a handcraft. They taught Ayala Talpai, who continued to promote the technique. 

There are many artists who have taken this technique into their studios and found a myriad of uses, Soft Sculpture, One-of-a-kind Bears, Animals, Fairies, Dolls etc. This has led to an increase in the popularity of Needle Felting. A quick search on the internet will bring up a wonderful selection of creatures made by this versatile and enjoyable craft.

While wet felting remains the preferred method for hand crafters to create firm felt and even sheets of flat felt, needle felting offers an effective means of shaping and enhancing felted surfaces and sculpturing fine detail. Initially securing areas of colour or fiber embellishments with the felting needle greatly reduces the risk of designs moving during the wet felting process.

Other handcraft uses for needle felting vary widely, including strengthening yarn joins, blending felt pieces together instead of sewing seams, thickening thin areas, and mending holes in felted fabrics or knitted socks. Needle felting will allow you to explore new techniques and ideas.