Felted

Felted refers to the process of creating felt, a non-woven textile made by matting, condensing, and pressing fibers together. The fibers most commonly used are wool, but other animal fibers like alpaca, llama, and rabbit fur can also be used, as well as some synthetic fibers.

The felting process relies on the structure of certain fibers, primarily wool. Wool fibers possess microscopic scales that interlock when subjected to moisture, heat, and agitation. This interlocking creates a dense, matted structure that is resistant to unraveling.

There are several methods of felting, including:

• Wet Felting: This method involves wetting the fibers with hot, soapy water and then agitating them through rolling, rubbing, or other methods. The combination of heat, moisture, and agitation causes the fibers to interlock and shrink, forming a dense felted fabric.

• Needle Felting: This method uses specialized needles with barbs to repeatedly stab fibers together. The barbs catch the fibers and drag them into each other, creating a tangled and matted structure. This method is often used for creating three-dimensional objects or adding details to felted pieces.

• Fulling: This is an industrial process used to produce dense felted fabrics, often from woven or knitted wool. The fabric is subjected to moisture, heat, and mechanical action to shrink and condense the fibers.

Felted materials are used in a variety of applications, including clothing, crafts, industrial applications (such as insulation and soundproofing), and musical instruments. The properties of felted materials, such as their warmth, durability, and ability to absorb sound, make them suitable for a wide range of purposes. The level of felting, fiber type, and technique all affect the final properties of the felted item.