{"id":106,"date":"2019-05-22T14:59:40","date_gmt":"2019-05-22T14:59:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/au.contrado.com\/blog\/?p=106"},"modified":"2020-08-21T10:30:17","modified_gmt":"2020-08-21T10:30:17","slug":"what-is-felt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/au.contrado.com\/blog\/what-is-felt\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Felt? The Secret to 5000 Years of Popularity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is Felt?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Felt is a man-made fabric, created\nfrom natural fibres. Most man-made fabrics are generally woven; however, felt\ndiffers in this sense. So, what is felt exactly? A Felted fabric is created\nfrom fibres being compressed and matted, often pressed together using heat,\nmoisture and a lot<\/em> of pressure. It can take a large amount of\nwork, but the result is a very dense fabric consisting of permanently\ninterlocked fibres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Felt Made From?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"roll<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Felt is typically composed of wool or other natural raw materials, which generally produces the highest quality and softest fabric. Wool also matts very easily, making it ideal for this fuzzy fabric. However, adding synthetic fibres into the mix (such as polyester or acrylic) can improve the product depending on its intended use. Adding a percentage of synthetic fibres can increase felts durability for certain crafts or industrial use, and can also increase pliability. A common fibre 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!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How is Felt Made?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"felt<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned, the process of\ncreating felt can be pretty labour intensive, involving various steps of\nblending the fibres, matting the material, shrinking and steam-pressing.\nHowever, the most straightforward method is simply to apply heat and moisture\nwhich causes the mix of fibres to merge and blend together. You can even do\nthis yourself at home to any wool or knitted products \u2013 pop it in the washing\nmachine for a process known as \u2018felting\u2019 or \u2018fulling\u2019 \u2013  the same thing\nthat happens when you accidentally shrink that woollen jumper!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Felt Origins<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Wool felt is one of the oldest known 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 practised by Nomadic peoples in Asia to make tents, rugs and clothing, including 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 fibres in the wool became interlocked and felted as a result of the moisture, warmth and recurring pressure from being walked on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"stone<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Types of Felt<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are a few types of felt\nreadily available to work with, alongside needlefelt which you can create\nyourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pressed felt<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is the oldest form of felt (or\nfabric at all) that is known to man, it even predates knitting and weaving\ntechniques. It\u2019s the most common type, which uses wool fibres or a blend of\nwool and synthetic fibres which are compressed using heat and moisture, causing\nthe fabrics to interlock. It can be cheap to make, and can also be made in a\nrange of thicknesses which achieve a high density.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Needled Felt<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the case of needed felt, a blend\nof wool and synthetic fibres, or 100% wool, are again interlocked but this time\nby a machine rather than naturally. Machines that contain thousands of needles\ninterlock the fibres to produce this softer, less dense type of felt fabric\nwhich is often used for crafts or cushioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Woven Felt<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To make woven felt, wool or a wool\nblend is directly woven into a cloth and then moisture and pressure are\napplied. This makes the fibres naturally interlock, as with pressed felt. This\nincredibly durable fabric is ideal for musical instruments and door seals, and\nhas a much lower maximum thickness than needled or pressed felt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Felt Used For?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"felt<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

So, what is felt used for? Felt has\na huge <\/em>range of uses, depending on the type you\u2019re using and\nthe quality of the wool. Wool has different textures ranging from silky to\ncoarse, which ultimately effects the felt you create with it. Felt has an\nincredibly unique texture and qualities, and can be made from a wide range of\nmaterials which is quite unusual in a fabric. Needled felt is very soft making\nit perfect for crafts, whereas wool blends are light and breathable but still\nkeep you toasty during the Winter months; making them perfect for knitwear.\nPure wool felt is a natural insulator and very resilient to wear and tear, as\nwell as being strong and able to absorb moisture. This means it can be used for\nhome furnishings as well as decorative items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advantages & Disadvantages<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Advantages<\/h3>\n\n\n\n