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Bear Paws by RoxanneOk, I have done a search on this question, but really did not come up with a good answer...
When you needle felt a muzzle, do you do it directly on the muzzle or is the entire muzzle the wool felt?
Also, Is there a way to get it to look smooth without little holes showing?
Thanks!
Roxanne, I think it can be done both ways. Some people make really short or stubby muzzles then build it up with the felt. Or, start building a felt muzzle separately, attach it to a flatter face then shape it further. Or you can add on to the mohair muzzle. Whichever you prefer I suppose. You get the smoother textures by using the finer finishing needles( #40 or#42 I think) after firmly felting. I'm no expert tho LOL
Ruby Mountain BearsYou should definitely ask Judi!! She would be the Expert here!!
Bear Paws by RoxanneOh! Thanks gals :hug:
puca bearsHi Roxanne
I don't profess to being an expert on this, but i started a couple of years back (with lot of encouragement from Bobbie).........I needle felt onto the muzzle - first plucking out all the mohair(!) - seems to take forever till it takes shape - but eventually it WORKS.............I often chuck in a bit of needle sculpting as I go.
As for getting a smooth finish - the more you felt, the firmer it gets, and using finer needles at the end helps - but SMOOTH?????????
Like all techniques - a bit of experimentation goes a LONG way - good luck, and have fun!
huggies
Maria
Tuppies TeddiesI have dabbled a bit with this, or should I say stabbed..(poor bears).
I needle-felt directly onto the muzzle and I find that to get it smooth I feather the felt with the tip of the needle..smaller needles are the go too.
Dolls N DreamsHi Roxanne, I took Judis online class it was a blast,
the little guy started out looking alittle strange, but as you go, you can see him come alive.... Take the class you learn so much,
I felt on for any protruding muzzles, but my Sloths are felted onto wool felt. Marmite, my BBAA bear, had an entirely felted snout which took and age: I did it in two parts. Easier to felt onto mohair, methinks!
EDIT: The bear in the background has a muzzle needle felted onto mohair; just to be contrary 
Patsy Lake Bears
I have just had a go at this Roxanne, I needlefelted straight onto the muzzle. I designed a new pattern, the muzzle I made alot narrower from nose to chin and built up on that. I will post a pic as soon as I get one done
WienVery interesting subject, as I wanted to needlefelt muzzles too!
They always look so full and cute.
Gaby 
Creative Design Studio (RKR4CDS)While we wait for Judi, I'll give my input:
1 - On/over fabric, shaving off the nap down to the shortest bristle really help make a good bond between the fiber and the stuffing (if possible, i.e., you have enough fiber, I'd stuff the muzzle with the same wool fiber instead of polyfil). Or pluck to remove, especially where the fiber will end and the mohair nap begins.
2 - you can also make a 'Blank' face, looking sort of like an anime face, with nothing protruding as a muzzle. Then the entire muzzle and up into the eye/cheek/forehead areas can be blended into the muzzle fiber work, and be constructed completely of needled fiber.
If you're designing an open mouth, or a 'character-looking" faces (with much more expression with ridges & poofs like Tami's above) land lines, you'll have more freedom in creating these if you don't have to remember that stuffed mohair muzzle projecting out underneath your work area. The flattish-looking anime face then becomes a rounded, blank canvas to build on rather than just adding a half inch or an inch of fiber to across what we'd consider to be a normal mohair face.
My choice would be #2 option.
smoother textures by using the finer finishing needles( #40 or#42 I think) after firmly felting.
Exactly,(to minimize the holes.) it's a combination on the type of fiber, the needle sizes and the length of time spent needling - long!
And wool has the capability of relaxing if left to sit untouched. (It's recommended to never wear a wool suit 2 days in a row: hang it properly and allow the fibers to reshape themselves for at least 2 days before wearing again.)
I've seen 'holes' in even the finest fibers, but giving the whole surface the lightest of squeezing or 'nudging' all over with my thumb, or 'scraping ever-so-lightly with a broken needle drags the surface fibers around ever so slightly, covering them over, and lfinally etting it sit several days does minimize the holes' visibility.
Others wet their finger tips and slightly rub or press on the surface - for me that has always lifted the fibers and let then fuzz up, needing to be needled down again.
Wool is one of the most amazing fibers!
Bear Paws by RoxanneWOW! You all have such great tips and ideas!! Thanks.
I defiantly would like to check out Judi's class 
All the added pics are great too
I went to the local Hobby Lobby and found some fiber and needles. I had a little head I had started a while back and did not like the muzzle so I took it and began to add the needlefelting to it. So far so good! Until I broke one needle and it sacred the living tar out of me and with the second needle, well I got a little carried away and it sliced my finger like a paper cut... grrrr 
I hate when that happens!
Anyway, thanks again for all the info and I will ads this little fella's picture when it is complete.
Creative Design Studio (RKR4CDS)When you've poked yourself pretty severely - or are more conscientious of one's health than I am - dissolve some Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate if I'm remembering w/o looking it up) in a quart of hot water. When it's cooled down to warm, soak your hands for 5 or 10 minutes. It dries those pokes right up and they don't seal over and become infected.
It's a good preventative (CHEAP, DRUGSTORE) measure to do once every week or 2...and afterwards slather on the lotion of your choice! You'll notice with the change of seasons, that the smallest amount of chapping is SOOo frustrating to work with. The fibers are constantly catching on your roughened skin.
Bear Paws by RoxanneThank you so much Bobbie, I took your advise and went to the drugstore and bought some epsom salts. It really does relieve the soreness!
:hug: :hug: :hug:
Creative Design Studio (RKR4CDS)You're Welcome! I'm not a Dr, nor do "I play one on TV", so I don't want to give out medical advice but this is what works for us.
Our house has vertical cedar siding on it - I often get a tiny splinter of the rough surface embedded in my skin, which immediately seals over in an infection. A soak in this, dries it out and draws out the splinter.
LuxembearsAHHHH I love felting muzzles. You are so kind to mention me Kathy, Bobbie , and Tami 
Ladies, you have put things so well there's really not much to add.
All I'll add is how I felt my bears' muzzles. I have done it two ways. I cut the mohair down in the areas I want to felt. I like to leave some of the mohair as it is a fiber and adds to the total meshing of the wool to the bears head.
This bear I did in 2005. They have changed over the years.
A felted face I do by making the head smaller. The wool will fill in the and balance the proportions out.
You can do a partial felted muzzle and really blend it in nicely with the mohair head.
For felting a muzzle I make the mohair portion of the pattern smaller. If you don;t you'll end up with a muzzle that is too large...unless that it the look you are going for. The beauty of needle felting onto mohair is that it opens the door to any number of designs. You can really sculpt some shape and details. In my opinion it is better to have a very firmly finished piece. I wouldn't want someone to be able to squeeze the felted areas and therefore change the shape of what I had created. 
You can get a smooth finish by felting very firmly. If there are any fuzzies you can trim them.
These last pictures is the direction I am taking at the moment.....but who knows what tomorrow will bring.
I took Judi's class it it was alot of fun. 
I also did the class with Judi and after many years of picking up putting down needle felting I found out after doing the class just how exciting needle felting can be.
It was interesting to find amongst my collection a pattern that I had purchased at a German Bear Show that had been designed by Bobbie, not knowing that years later I would actually have contact with the designer. The kit , sad to say is still in its packet waiting for that day when I have time to do it.
I have also done some felting over muzzles and have been pleased with the end result. I had one or two bears made years ago that looked rather funny and I gave them a needle felted re vamp.
I keep saying it and will continue to do so as being a part of the TT community my knowledge not just with bear making ( Shelli with her photo shop challenges!!!!!!!!!!!) have taught me so much.
Lynette
Patsy Lake BearsI have to agree Lynette the free help and advise that we get on TT is incredible, and like you I have learnt so much.
Creative Design Studio (RKR4CDS)Do you mean that you & I actually 'met' in Germany and I didn't know it??
Ratzzzzzzzzzz...
Well, there was no TT back then, our common ground now.
B
Matilda Huggington-beareThe last two of the open mouth with teeth are superb Judi. :dance: :dance:
LuxembearsThanks Wendy :hug: :hug: :hug: Your felted bills on your platys are fantastic. Could you please post some piccies?
Gantaeno, I was very impressed with your BBA Bear. I would have given it a first place. My mom said the same thing when she saw him in TBCI
Patsy , your picture is really sweet. I love the colors you chose.
Gantaeno, I was very impressed with your BBA Bear. I would have given it a first place. My mom said the same thing when she saw him in TBCI
Wow thanks Judi, I feel very flattered: from the queen of felted muzzles herself!! 
I wanted to try something new with Marmite, but I think the main problem was his size: he really was too small to be doing an open mouth i think! The second I saw the Rabbit Maker had an entry (and saw the entry!) I knew I was done for though XD
LuxembearsChloe, you all did very well and should be proud. You are still pretty new with bear making and look how good you are already...so just think of what is down the road for you...you'll get even better and better and better.....
Creative Design Studio (RKR4CDS)Actually, making a small/tiny head is no more difficult than a larger one - in NFing. It all goes back to your fiber choice. If you choose one of the fine micron sizes - Targhee, Cormo, Finn, Polworth - it is the same, with perhaps only having a smaller area to do details like wrinkles...
This unfinished elf was intended for a set last Christmas but I didn't get it finished in time so it's for 08. The head is Cormo and just under 1" in height. I think that there's lots of implied expression already and I'm about half finished needling.
