What is Felt, One of the Most Popular Textiles for Over 5000 Years?

What is Felt?

Felt is a man-made fabric, created from natural fibers. Man-made fabrics are generally woven; however, felt differs in this sense. So, what is felt exactly? A Felted fabrics is created from fibers being compressed and matted. Together heat, moisture and a lot of pressure is what presses and creates the fabric. It can take a lot of work, but the result is a very dense fabric consisting of permanently interlocked fibers.

What is Felt Made From?

Felt is typically composed of wool or other natural raw materials, which generally produces the highest quality yet softest fabric. Wool also matts very easily, making it ideal for this fuzzy fabric. However, adding synthetic fibers into the mix (such as polyester or acrylic) can improve the product depending on its intended use. Adding a percentage of synthetic fibers can increase felts durability for certain crafts or industrial use, and can also increase pliability. A common fiber sometimes added to wool is rayon, which when added removes the prickly feeling that pure wool can often have against the skin. Meaning that a synthetic mix is the best of both worlds!

How is Felt Made?

As mentioned, the process of creating felt can be pretty labor intensive, involving various steps of blending the fibers, matting the material, shrinking and steam-pressing. However, the most straightforward method is simply to apply heat and moisture which causes the mix of fibers to merge and blend together. You can even do this yourself at home to any wool or knitted products – pop it in the washing machine for a process known as ‘felting’ or ‘fulling’ –  the same thing that happens when you accidentally shrink that woollen jumper!

Felt Origins

Wool felt is one of the oldest textiles. The location of its origin is debated, with many cultures having their own origin legends for the process. However, it is thought to have been created over 5000 years ago in Asia. The method is still practiced by Nomadic peoples in Asia to make tents, rugs and clothing. This includes traditional yurts and more tourist oriented items such as decorative slippers. One commonly told origin story is that during the Middle Ages, men lined their sandals with wool for comfort. Over time, the fibers in the wool interlocked and felted as a result of the moisture, warmth and recurring pressure from being walked on.

Types of Felt

There are a few types of felt readily available to work with, alongside needlefelt which you can create yourself.

Pressed felt

This is the oldest form of felt (or fabric at all) known to man, it even predates knitting and weaving techniques. It’s the most common type, which uses wool fibers or a blend of wool and synthetic fibers compressed using heat and moisture, causing the fabrics to interlock. It can be cheap to make, and also made in a range of thicknesses which achieve a high density.

Needled Felt

In the case of needed felt, a blend of wool,synthetic fibers or 100% wool are again interlocked but this time by a machine rather than naturally. Machines that contain thousands of needles interlock the fibers to produce this softer, less dense type of felt fabric which is often used for crafts or cushioning.

Woven Felt

Wool or a wool blend are directly woven and blended into cloth to make woven felt. Then, moisture and pressure are applied. This makes the fibers naturally interlock, as with pressed felt. This incredibly durable fabric is ideal for musical instruments and door seals, and has a much lower maximum thickness than needled or pressed felt.

What is Felt Used For?

So, what is felt used for? Felt has a huge range of uses, depending on the type you’re using and the quality of the wool. Wool has different textures ranging from silky to coarse, which ultimately effects the felt you create with it. Felt has an incredibly unique texture and qualities, and can be made from a wide range of materials which is quite unusual in a fabric. Needled felt is very soft making it perfect for crafts, whereas wool blends are light and breathable but still keep you toasty during the Winter months; making them perfect for knitwear. Pure wool felt is a natural insulator and very resilient to wear and tear, as well as being strong and able to absorb moisture. This means it is great for home furnishings as well as decorative items.

Felt has an incredibly unique texture and qualities, and can be made from a wide range of materials which is quite unusual in a fabric. Needled felt is very soft making it perfect for crafts, whereas wool blends are light and breathable but still keep you toasty during the Winter months; making them perfect for knitwear. Pure wool felt is a natural insulator and very resilient to wear and tear, as well as being strong and able to absorb moisture. This means it is great for home furnishings as well as decorative items.

Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages

• Durable
• Warm but lightweight
• Doesn’t fray
• Easy to cut and work with
• Available in wide range of colors and thicknesses
• Generally inexpensive
• Versatile

Disadvantages

• Not particularly supple
• Minimal elasticity
• Coarse texture
• Potential to shrink
• Can pill or fuzz over time

After exploring the question of ‘what is felt?’ why not trying our swatch pack and feel and discover felt and other fabrics?