Many archaeologists theorize that felt was one of the first textiles people made. This ancient textile is making a comeback in a very modern way.
Felting Basics
Loose wool can be formed into almost any shape by introducing the right combination of heat, agitation and moisture. In fact when working with wool it is hard to keep the fibers from felting! Felting is possible because wool has microscopic scales which cause the fibers to get caught when passing by each other. All types of hairs have scales, but only some kinds have enough scales to felt easily. Some types of camel, llama, goat, dog and rabbit hairs can also be felted easily. There are numerous felting techniques, but most fall within one of three categories.
Wet Felting
Wet felting is the oldest form of felting. Crisscrossing layers of wool are dampened with warm soapy water and agitated by rubbing, rolling, vibrating or a combination of the three. Mongolians have been rolling wool into large flat pieces of felt to cover their gers, round tentlike dwellings, for centuries. Smaller shaped items such as hats, bags and footwear can be made with the rubbing method by felting around a form or resist. Nuno felting or laminated felting are other wet felting techniques in which wool is felted to another fabric. These techniques can create amazing textures.
Felted Knits and Other Fulling
Felted knits are currently very popular. Many felters assert that this technique is more properly called fulling, which is also the term used for the final stage of any wet felted project. Items are knit large and loose then are shrunk using wet felting techniques. Fulling can also be used with weaving and crocheting. This technique takes less skill to control the item's shape than with traditional wet felting, but more time since the item must be both knit and felted.
Needle Felting
Needle felting uses triangular shaped barbed needles to poke wool repeatedly, which draws the fibers through the wool causing them to permanently intertwine. While this technique can be used to make any shape of felted object, it is most useful for making felt sculptures with fine details, such as dolls. Of all the techniques, needle felting gives the felter the most precise control over the shape the felt takes, however it is the most labor intensive. Needle felting can be combined with wet felting to achieve the benefits of both techniques.
If you would like to try felting here are a few resources:
- Galeskas, Beverly. Felted Knits, Interweave Press, Loveland Colorado, 2003.
- The Felting Forum, an online forum of felters from beginner to professional.
- White, Christine. Uniquely Felt, Story Publishing, North Adams, Massachusetts, 2007.
