38 gauge fork felting needles are a specialty tool with a forked tip — two closely spaced tines with no barbs — designed to catch and push individual fibers or small groups of fiber into felt to create realistic hair, fur, and grass-like textures.

Unlike standard felting needles which use barbs to tangle fiber inward, the fork needle works by trapping a small amount of fiber in the channel between its tines and pushing it into the felt surface. This produces a distinct, strand-like texture that closely mimics the look of individual hairs or blades of grass. The 38 gauge fork is the most versatile in the range — capable of inserting a moderate amount of fiber per punch, making it a practical choice for most hair and fur texturing applications.

Key Uses:

• Creating realistic hair, fur, and grass-like surface texture
• Inserting individual fiber strands or small groups into felt
• Adding dimensional surface detail to felted figures and animals
• Rooting fiber into doll heads and soft sculpture pieces

When to Use It:

Fork needles are a specialty tool used after the main structure of your piece is established. Use them when you want to add realistic strand-like hair or fur texture to the surface rather than compacting fiber in the conventional way. They are not suited for shaping or compaction — that is what standard barbed needles are for.

Needle Details:

• Type: Fork — split tip with two tines and no barbs
• Gauge: 38 — medium, most versatile fork gauge
• Action: catches and pushes fiber strands rather than tangling with barbs
• Specialty tool — not for shaping or fiber compaction

Available Pack Sizes:

• 1 needle
• 5 needles
• 10 needles
• 25 needles
• 50 needles

Need more? The 38 Gauge Fork Felting Needles — Wholesale 100 Pack offers our best per-needle value.

This needle is also available in the following mixed sets: Fork Mix.

About Felting Needles

Felting needles come in a wide range of configurations — different gauges, shaft shapes, barb counts, and point styles. These variations let you choose the right tool for each stage of your project. Originally manufactured for industrial textile machinery, they have been adapted by artists and craftspeople into the hand tools used in needle felting today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a 38 gauge fork felting needle used for? 38 gauge fork needles are used for creating realistic hair, fur, and grass-like surface texture by catching and pushing individual fiber strands into felt.

How does a fork needle work? Unlike standard barbed needles, a fork needle has no barbs. Its split tip creates a channel that catches a small amount of fiber and pushes it into the felt surface, creating strand-like texture.

Is a fork needle the same as a reverse needle? No — a reverse needle pulls fiber out of the felt surface to create a fluffy raised texture. A fork needle pushes individual fiber strands into the felt to create strand-like hair and fur effects.