This design uses a form of thread jointing so that you can move the wings into different poses.
25g black merino roving
2 × size 40 triangular needles, for shaping
1–2 × size 42 triangular needles, for surface finishing
Small amounts of white, yellow and red merino roving
2 × 4mm black glass eyes or seed beads
Red embroidery floss
Long needle
5mm red bead, to match the red roving
Finished size: 10–11cm tall
1 Take a length of black roving measuring 30 × 4cm. Fold it in half, then take another length of black roving measuring 20 × 4cm, tease it into a ball and insert it inside the folded length. This is to become the lower part of the body. Using two size 40 needles, shape a tall, slightly curved cone with a flat base.
2 When it is fairly firm, add a tummy bib using a small amount of white wool. Needle it on to the body and shape the edge with the tip of your needle.
3 Layer the rest of the body with fine wisps of the black wool using one or two size 42 needles to smooth the surface and densify, or compress, the body. Where possible, make sure the covering fibres follow the same direction as the body fibres.
4 Add a long beak, using a scrap of yellow wool and one size 40 needle (see here). Then sew in the eyes using the sideways method.
5 To make the wings, take two equal lengths of black wool measuring 10 × 2cm. Fold each one in half and shape two thin, curved wings on your felting mat. To joint the wings, use a long double length of red embroidery floss and a long needle. Push the needle through the top of one of the arms, then push it through the body, just above the top of the bib, and then through the top of the other arm.
6 Pull the floss through the body, then snip the needle from the floss and tie a tight knot at each end of the floss to secure each wing to the body. Trim the ends of the floss so that only tufts are left. Now the penguin has moveable, marching wings.
7 Wrap a small amount of red roving around the top of the head and make a little bobble hat. Top it off with a bead.