felt:felt_making

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felt:felt_making [2026/03/11 12:11] – Dave Darbyfelt:felt_making [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Felt making+This topic is part of [[gt:crafts|Crafts & making]]. 
 +====== Felt making ======
  
  
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-## What is felt making?+===== What is felt making? =====
  
 Felt making is making fabric by locking together fibres (generally wool) using friction and moisture. This is the traditional 'wet' felting technique, although now there's also needle felting, which doesn't require moisture or friction. Felt is probably the world's oldest textile. Felt making is making fabric by locking together fibres (generally wool) using friction and moisture. This is the traditional 'wet' felting technique, although now there's also needle felting, which doesn't require moisture or friction. Felt is probably the world's oldest textile.
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-### Wet felting+==== Wet felting ====
  
 Hot, soapy water and friction are used to mat, compress and fuse wool or other animal fibres together to make felt. Hot, soapy water and friction are used to mat, compress and fuse wool or other animal fibres together to make felt.
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-### Needle felting+==== Needle felting ====
  
 Interestingly, needle felting as a craft developed from an industrial process, rather than the other way around. The technique developed within the last 100 years, with triangular-shaped needles with notches that push and intermingle the wool fibres to create felt - no water or friction is required. Non-woven fabrics from piano felt to tennis balls are made this way. Interestingly, needle felting as a craft developed from an industrial process, rather than the other way around. The technique developed within the last 100 years, with triangular-shaped needles with notches that push and intermingle the wool fibres to create felt - no water or friction is required. Non-woven fabrics from piano felt to tennis balls are made this way.
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-### History+==== History ====
  
 Legend has it that felting was discovered when travellers put wool in their sandals to prevent blisters, and the combination of sweat and the friction of walking created basic felt socks! Legend has it that felting was discovered when travellers put wool in their sandals to prevent blisters, and the combination of sweat and the friction of walking created basic felt socks!
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-## What are the benefits of felt making?+===== What are the benefits of felt making? =====
  
-### Self-provisioning / personal+==== Self-provisioning / personal ====
  
 Gaining any craft skills can help meet your and your family's needs, save you money and bring a lot of satisfaction and pleasure. Felting (and especially needle felting) can be very therapeutic, and the rubbing involved in wet felting can keep you fit. Gaining any craft skills can help meet your and your family's needs, save you money and bring a lot of satisfaction and pleasure. Felting (and especially needle felting) can be very therapeutic, and the rubbing involved in wet felting can keep you fit.
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 If you enjoy it and are good at it, you could potentially gain an income [or a job](/self/self-employment), by providing things for your community. If you enjoy it and are good at it, you could potentially gain an income [or a job](/self/self-employment), by providing things for your community.
  
-### Decentralising power away from corporations+==== Decentralising power away from corporations ====
  
 Providing things for ourselves in communities helps prevent extraction, decentralises power away from corporations (which makes it more difficult for them to corrupt democracy) and democratises work. Providing things for ourselves in communities helps prevent extraction, decentralises power away from corporations (which makes it more difficult for them to corrupt democracy) and democratises work.
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-### Building community and preparing for any potential collapse scenarios+==== Building community and preparing for any potential collapse scenarios ====
  
 In case of any kind of collapse scenario (broken supply chains, environmental destruction, financial crash, war, civil unrest etc.), we're going to have to look after ourselves in our communities, and so the more people with useful skills the better. In case of any kind of collapse scenario (broken supply chains, environmental destruction, financial crash, war, civil unrest etc.), we're going to have to look after ourselves in our communities, and so the more people with useful skills the better.
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 The UK has over 60 registered sheep breeds. Many smallholders use sheep for conservation grazing as well as for meat and wool. Sheep are integral to lots of smallholdings and mixed farms, which are vital for resilient communities. However, wool has fallen in value so much that it is often considered a waste product these days. Anything that can add value to local British wool has to be a good thing. The UK has over 60 registered sheep breeds. Many smallholders use sheep for conservation grazing as well as for meat and wool. Sheep are integral to lots of smallholdings and mixed farms, which are vital for resilient communities. However, wool has fallen in value so much that it is often considered a waste product these days. Anything that can add value to local British wool has to be a good thing.
  
-### Environmental+==== Environmental ====
  
 Felting can make use of a local resource, with short supply chains, where you can see the way it's produced. It's also renewable, biodegradable, repairable and recyclable if it all goes pear-shaped (a failed hat can become a tea cosy). Felting can make use of a local resource, with short supply chains, where you can see the way it's produced. It's also renewable, biodegradable, repairable and recyclable if it all goes pear-shaped (a failed hat can become a tea cosy).
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
 Felting can be used to make clothes, bags, hats, pictures, jewellery and 3-dimensional or stuffed objects like toys or waste baskets. You can also make felt rugs - the equivalent of sheepskin rugs, but without having to kill the sheep to get it. Wet felting is very easy, doesn't need specialist kit and can be done with kids. Needle felting, on the other hand, involves sharp things and so may not be so good to do with kids. There are no right and wrong methods - however, there's good and bad felting in terms of whether it's useful for the purpose for which it was intended. For example, if you're making a picture, it's fine if it's loosely felted, but if you're going to use the same piece for a handbag, it will probably fall apart if it's not tight felted or fulled (a cleansing and thickening process) enough. You can attend courses to learn general felting techniques or how to make specific items. You can find courses via the [International Feltmakers Association](http://www.feltmakers.com/). They run regional workshops and you can find out what's happening in your area. Felting can be used to make clothes, bags, hats, pictures, jewellery and 3-dimensional or stuffed objects like toys or waste baskets. You can also make felt rugs - the equivalent of sheepskin rugs, but without having to kill the sheep to get it. Wet felting is very easy, doesn't need specialist kit and can be done with kids. Needle felting, on the other hand, involves sharp things and so may not be so good to do with kids. There are no right and wrong methods - however, there's good and bad felting in terms of whether it's useful for the purpose for which it was intended. For example, if you're making a picture, it's fine if it's loosely felted, but if you're going to use the same piece for a handbag, it will probably fall apart if it's not tight felted or fulled (a cleansing and thickening process) enough. You can attend courses to learn general felting techniques or how to make specific items. You can find courses via the [International Feltmakers Association](http://www.feltmakers.com/). They run regional workshops and you can find out what's happening in your area.
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-## Further resources+===== Forum ===== 
 + 
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:crafts|Crafts & making]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/crafts). 
 + 
 +===== Further resources =====
  
 - [International Felt Makers Association](http://www.feltmakers.com/) - information, online courses, resources - [International Felt Makers Association](http://www.feltmakers.com/) - information, online courses, resources
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-## Related topics+===== Related topics =====
  
-- [Craft production](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/craf/craft) +- [Craft production](craf:craft) 
-- [Knitting & crochet](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/knit/knitting) +- [Knitting & crochet](knit:knitting) 
-- [Sheep](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/shep/sheep) +- [Sheep](shep:sheep) 
-- [Alpacas](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/alps/alpacas) +- [Alpacas](alps:alpacas) 
-- [Low-impact clothes](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/licl/clothes) +- [Low-impact clothes](licl:clothes) 
-- [Natural dyes](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/ntdy/natural_dyes) +- [Natural dyes](ntdy:natural_dyes) 
-- [Sewing](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/sewi/sewing) +- [Sewing](sewi:sewing) 
-- [Weaving](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/weav/weaving) +- [Weaving](weav:weaving) 
-- [Yurts/gers](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/yurt/yurts)+- [Yurts/gers](yurt:yurts)
  
-## Specialist curators of this topic+===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  • felt/felt_making.1773231080.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2026/03/11 12:11
  • by Dave Darby