For a DIY project I'm working on, I wanted to make a decorative bird from felt, similar to the ones below.

I bought small rectangles of felt to work with, drew a pattern freehand (but I made sure the seams matched up in length) cut it out and stitched the pieces of felt together by hand using a blanket stitch.

It's actually the first time I used a blanket stitch but I love it! And I really like how it lookes on my birdie. As you may have noticed, my bird is without beak! And eyes! I'm not sure what color I want to make the beak, and I'm considering needle felting the beak and eyes. I've never felted anything before, but while looking for bird inspiration I found really beautiful, needle felted birds!

I'm not quite sure what I would use these for (decoration I guess? As gifts? Do you think I could get away with putting one on a hat or in my hair?) but they are just beautiful! It's probably the child in me. I loved stuffed animals, I had so many in my bed, I barely had room in it myself. I was definitely an animal girl, I never really got the point of barbies (they're not soft! They're not cute!? Her hair keeps getting in the way! Where am I supposed to hold her?!).

Do any of you have needle felting experience? Any tipps or advice for a beginner? What are the essential tools apart from the needle and that foam-mat-thingy? How long will I have to practice until I can make awesome stuff? (I'm impatient, can you tell?)

I'm also working on a humanoid kitty toy. As a child I disliked stuffed animals with clothes on (why is that donkey wearing a t-shirt? What's going on here?) but now I can appreciate their cuteness.