A Bit About Felting
Sarah's felted balls
History of felting
The short story: felting has been around for a very long time – for thousands of years. Archaeological finds prove that it dates back at least to the Bronze Age. Felted fabric predates woven fabric. Felting has only become popular as a modern craft and fiber art form over the past few decades, helped along by the spread of information through the internet. See our links page for far better and more detailed explanations of the history of felting.
The short story: felting has been around for a very long time – for thousands of years. Archaeological finds prove that it dates back at least to the Bronze Age. Felted fabric predates woven fabric. Felting has only become popular as a modern craft and fiber art form over the past few decades, helped along by the spread of information through the internet. See our links page for far better and more detailed explanations of the history of felting.
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What is felting?
Felting involves taking loose, unspun wool and entangling the fibers until they turn into a mat – a form of fabric which we call felt. Felting is basically divided into two types – wet and dry. Wet felting is the more traditional method - it typically uses hot water, soap, and agitation to accomplish the felting. The agitation can be from rolling wool between your palms, in a plastic bag, on a felting matt, on a washboard or it can be from a washing machine. Many felted articles are made from wool which is first knitted or crocheted and then wet felted. In the early 1980′s David and Eleanor Stanwood developed needle felting, or dry felting, as a hand craft, and its popularity has rocketed ever since. Dry felting involves stabbing a felting needle repeatedly into a mass of dry wool fiber. Small harpoon-like barbs along each edge of the felting needle catch on the wool fibers and entangle them. The loose wool fibers lock into a felted mat as the raised scales on the surface of the fibers intertwine. Think of the process as being similar to teasing hair. Clothing, shoes, saddle blankets, handbags, hats, mittens, scarves and a multitude of other practical items all can be made from felt. These items are often as ornamental as they are functional. In addition, purely decorative items such as wall hangings, holiday decorations, hair ornaments, little creatures and jewelry can be created through either wet or dry felting. |
My own journey into felting
I started needle felting in the nineties after attending SAFF (Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair) with a friend who was a spinner, dyer, knitter, and weaver. I saw a kit for needle felting a decorative ball, casually bought it, and my wondrous journey into felting began! I have experimented with both wet and dry felting, but my passion is definitely needle felting. Over the years I have created a colorful abundance of decorative felt balls, felt bracelets and necklaces, and felt wall hangings. A felt jellyfish I fabricated clings to the wall of my bedroom. A fabulous felted dragonfly adorns a pillow I made for myself. The focus of my current felting work is primarily the Felt Fantasies we offer for sale, with an occasional recreational venture into three dimensional felt pieces. |
Check out our current inventory of Felt Fantasies available
for sale, as well as some previously sold pieces,
on the Galleries page.
To explore further the world of felting, take a look at our
felting resources page under Links.
for sale, as well as some previously sold pieces,
on the Galleries page.
To explore further the world of felting, take a look at our
felting resources page under Links.