Little Felted Dogs

A gentle, beautifully photographed guide to creating miniature dog sculptures from wool using nothing more than a felting needle and some roving. Saori Yamazaki walks you through two dozen breeds, from golden retrievers to chihuahuas, with the kind of clear, patient instruction that makes even a total beginner feel confident picking up a needle for the first time.

Why Start Here

Yamazaki’s other books cover a wider range of subjects, from wild animals to baby accessories, but Little Felted Dogs is her most focused and accessible work. The projects are designed to build your skills gradually. Early dogs use simple shapes and minimal detail, while later projects introduce more complex techniques like wire armatures and layered color blending. By the end, you will have a solid foundation in needle felting that transfers easily to any subject you want to tackle next.

The book also benefits from Yamazaki’s deep understanding of dogs as subjects. She lived in Tokyo with her three dogs, Charmy, Beau, and Mametaro, and that affection shows in every project. The instructions do not just tell you where to poke the needle. They teach you to observe: how a pug’s face wrinkles, how a retriever’s ears fold, how a bulldog carries its weight. This attention to real anatomy is what makes her finished pieces look alive rather than generic.

At 112 pages, the book is compact enough to work through in a few weekends, but substantial enough to leave you with real skills.

What to Expect

A 112-page hardcover organized around individual dog breed projects. Each project includes step-by-step photos, materials lists, and tips for achieving realistic results. The tone is warm and encouraging, reflecting the Japanese craft book tradition of making complex techniques feel approachable. You will need basic needle felting supplies: felting needles, a foam pad, and wool roving in various colors.