Where Art Meets Purpose!
Creating Lion Leo for LCIF
Creating Lion Leo for LCIF
“Every creature I create begins as a spark of imagination.
Follow along as this little felted lion takes shape—one tuft of wool, one careful needle stroke, and one loving detail at a time.
These photos capture his journey from soft, fluffy beginnings to the proud, finished lion now helping raise support for LCIF. Watch his story
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A framework is created using pipe cleaners!
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I used a very dense natural wool that has been cleaned and carded. It is wrapped around the pipecleaner frame and needled into shape.
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Gradually more and more fibre is added and needled into place.
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The wool will need a lot needling for it to become firm and hold the shape up.
This is a gradual process .
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Now its time to start creating pieces of colored felt using merino roving.
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The roving is placed in tufted overlapping layers on a matt that can be rolled up.
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Once enough layers are stacked it is wetted with hot soapy water and rolled into the mat.
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It is rolled 100's of times using hot water and soap poured over the matting with the roving inside to create a piece of felted fabric.
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Once it is rinsed, dried and ironed flat, it is wrapped around the shape of the lion and starts to be needled into place.
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More and more pieces are added and needled into place to cover the entire body.
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This image shows where the the felt has been needled and is now part of the shape and where the felt still has to be worked on.
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Now its time to make some paws, getting them to be symmetrical takes time!
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...and needle them onto the body. the hands (front paws) are created in the same way.
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Shaping the head takes time the top and bottom jaw are two separate pieces.
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They are also covered in the felted pieces (in different colors) and ears and nose is attached as separate pieces
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Another piece of felt is created using multi colors, this is then cut into strips and felted onto the lions head for his mane.
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The head is now attached to the body and felted into place
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Continuing the felting process to attach front paws and head and neck and needle the fabric until the seams disappear.
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He now has a mane, a tummy and the background shapes for his eyes.
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Leo is nearly complete he has facial features and a Lions club T shirt!
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Leo is complete! He now has whiskers, paws, and his Heart of a Lion!
Finished!
Leo is ready to go to his new home in July 2026!
Leo the Felted Lion
