Oh Mighty Felt, How I Adore You....

I love felting for so many reasons. The repetition in the felting process is so wonderfully calming and the results are beautiful.
<- Natty had a little lamb.. :)

Felting is the oldest form of fabric known to humankind. Felt textile artifacts have been discovered dating all the way back to 6,500 BC, around the same time that pottery emerged. I guess Stone Age cavepeople needed a creative outlet as well.

Felt is made my sheering animal fibers like alpaca and lambswool. The fibers are brushed free of vegetable matter (bits of food the animals ate and lived in) and washed thoroughly until it's squeaky clean, soft, and gorgeous.
Roving after it has been brushed, cleaned, and hand dyed. ->

Thin layers of this fiber are sandwiched together little by little, until the desired thickness is achieved. Then, hot soapy water and friction is used until the fibers are twisted and entangled and form a thick mat and, eventually, a sturdy fabric. When I felt things I always rub vitamin E and lavender oil in the friction process so the fiber comes out soft and smelling fantastic.
<- Layers of roving arranged in thin strips for felting.

You can add little details by needle felting. Animal fibers are applied to the surface in thin layers and poked repeatedly from all angles with barbed needles to fuse the fibers together.
Needle felted rainbow colors on a pair of spats I made. :) ->


Felting has re-emerged on the scene in the last couple of years and for good reason. It's an eco-friendly art form, super sturdy, naturally stain-resistant, and useful to make so many things. The only downside is that if you accidentally through it in the washer and dryer, you'll shrink it. Special things require a little special care. :)
<- A felted yurt in Edinburg.