38 Gauge Fork Felting Needles — Wholesale 100 Pack
Description
38 gauge fork felting needles feature two closely spaced parallel tines, making them uniquely efficient for surface coverage — every punch covers twice the area of a single needle. This listing is a 100 needle wholesale pack — our best per-needle value, ideal for studios, teachers, and anyone who uses these needles regularly.
The fork configuration works both tines simultaneously, doubling your coverage per stroke compared to a single needle. This makes it particularly effective for flat work, large backgrounds, and any project where surface coverage is the priority. Fork needles produce a slightly textured surface due to the dual tine pattern and are well-suited for mid-stage work.
Key Uses:
- Fast surface coverage over large areas
- Efficient mid-stage smoothing and compaction
- Texturing flat surfaces
- Speeding up repetitive felting work over broad areas
When to Use It:
38 gauge fork needles are best used when you need to cover a lot of surface area quickly. They are particularly effective for flat work and large backgrounds. Follow with a finer single needle for surface refinement.
Needle Details:
- Type: Fork — 2 parallel tines for double surface coverage per punch
- Gauge: 38 — medium
- Barbs on each tine for simultaneous fiber movement
- Barb spacing: Regular — consistent, even coverage
- Pack size: 100 needles — wholesale value
Also available in packs of 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 38 gauge fork felting needles for smaller quantities.
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.
How do felting needles work?
Each needle has a number of barbs that catch the fiber as it is pushed through the project. This causes the fibers to become entangled to make a solid felt. The greater the number of barbs, the faster the project will felt.
What is Felting Needle Gauge?
The term “Gauge” simply refers to the thickness of the barb. There are many tables on the web that will let you convert from gauge to millimeters or inched but for the craft felter, its really not important. Gauge is a simple whole number that’s easy to remember. The confusing part about gauge is the larger the gauge, the smaller the shaft size. I.e. a 32-gauge needle will have a larger shaft diameter larger than that of a 42-gauge needle. Also, keep in mind that the larger the shaft size, the larger to whole left in your project. For quick felting, 32 gauge 9 point needles will felt quicker than 40 gauge 3 barb needles. The 40 gauge 3 barb needles will, however, leave a smoother service.
How do I care for my felting needles?
Felting needles are very delicate and break easily if not used properly. They designed to go into industrial machines that hold thousands of needles at a time and operate in an up and down motion. Using your needles at a sever angle, twisting manor or in a manner that would cause them to bend can cause them to break. Also, take care that the pad you felt on is thick enough to allow the needles to not hit the hard surface under the pad. This is the quickest and most common way to break needles. Felting needles are for dry felting and will rust if exposed to water or moisture.
If you are purchasing needles for a multi needle tool or felting machine, please ask before you purchase to make sure they will fit.
Notes:
- Needles are very sharp, please use caution when using.
- Children should always be supervised while using or handling Needles.
- Always felt on an appropriate surface.
- Needles are delicate and can break easily, use proper care when using.