What Is Felt? All The Uses, Properties & Types - Treasurie Blog

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Felt is a type of fabric that is produced by rolling and pressing different types of fibers together. It is done by using techniques that involve moisture, pressure, and heat. Layers of fibers are joined together and matted, resulting in a new type of fabric called "felt." This tutorial will discuss what is felt, its types, and what it can be used for.

What is Felt?

Felt is a fabric used mainly for crafts and sewing. It is made by matting, pressing, and needling fibers together. Felt fabric is usually made of wool or acrylic materials, which produce high-quality fabrics. Wool can be matted easily, resulting in an ideal fuzzy fabric, whereas adding synthetic fibers can increase the durability.

Felt is known as one of the oldest textiles found. While not totally clear, it is said to originate in Siberia and Northern Mongolia. Items made of felt were discovered in Siberian tombs, including clothing, wall hanging, jewelry, and horse blankets.

7 Main Types of Felt

Most types are categorized by what they are made from and how they are created.

1. Wool

This type of felt is made by layering the natural fibers of wool. Soap, heat, and friction are needed for the scales of fibers to interlock and be entangled.

The result of this process is a soft and desirable fabric. It can be shaped, and because of the layered fibers, it is thicker than many other types.

Wool felt does not pill, unlike other types. It is usually made with lanolin, which makes it a water-resistant fabric.

On the other hand, this type is more expensive than others and unsuitable for all applications because of its thickness. Wool can be mixed with polyester to decrease the cost. Wool is preferred for making softies and decorations and can be sewn with a sharp hand needle.

2. Acrylic

Acrylic felt is very cheap and easily available and is often sold in pre-cut squares. One of its benefits is that it does not shrink after you wash it. However, the downside of acrylic is that it is not as supple and durable as wool.

This fabric is not environmentally friendly because it is made of plastics. Acrylic is not as long-lasting as other forms, but despite its downside, it is extremely popular due to its considerably lower price.

3. Fur Felt

Fur is an impressive type due to its malleability and durability. It can be made into hats and other accessories. Unfortunately, it uses animal fur, which involves animal killing, so it is not the best choice for most people.

4. Rayon

Rayon or viscose felt is usually used in industrial and medical applications. It has many of the same properties as wool. One of the good properties of this type is that it can be shaped into various insulative products, but just like all synthetic fibers, it is a non-biodegradable pollutant. Rayon may often be combined with wool to produce a softer option for crafts.

5. Pressed

Pressed felt is the oldest type according to human history. It predates weaving and knitting techniques and is the most common type using pure wool or a blend of synthetic and wool fibers.

6. Needled

Needled felt can be produced by combining synthetic and wool fibers or just purely wool fibers. This type uses machines that have thousands of needles to produce less dense type and softer fabric.

It is usually used for crafts and cushioning. Needling can also be done by hand using a needle with a barb on the end, and it is an art form in itself. Crafters use hand needling to produce felt toys and decorations.

7. Woven

Woven felt can be made of wool or a wool blend that is woven into a cloth. This weaving process usually makes the fibers naturally entangled or interlocked. This fabric is ideal for door seals and musical instruments. Unlike needled and pressed versions, it is able to be produced in thinner sheets.

What is Felt Used for?

Here are just some of the applications that felt can be used for:

Toys for children - It can also be used for toys. Wool or wool blend felt is especially desirable because it is soft and safe to use.

Accessories for women - It can be used to make various accessories, including hair accessories, handbags and purses, and even shoes. Wool felt is desirable for bags due to its water-resistant properties.

Mobile phone covers - Using a mobile cover made of wool felt can help protect your phone. It is also a good way of protecting the environment because it is eco-friendly, rather than using mobile phone covers made of plastics which has harmful effects on the environment.

Wall panels - The purpose of wall panels made of felt is to create a soundproof room. They will not only insulate the room from sound but also contribute to its decorative design.

Decorations - Felt is a good option for making decorations. It is soft and available in infinite colors, perfect for holidays or special occasions. For example, you can create ornaments during the Christmas season and heart-shaped felt decorations on Valentine's Day.

What are the Advantages

Does not fray - The edges of wool and acrylic felt will not fray. This makes it a great practice material for kids who want to learn sewing. Also, it is an ideal material for making decorations and softie toys with hand-stitched edges.

Inexpensive - Although some are more expensive than others, it is generally well-priced and accessible for crafting and sewing.

Easy to access - Nearly every craft and fabric store will have felt fabric or squares available. Supermarkets that have basic craft supplies also will usually have sheets. Don't forget to check Amazon and eBay for bundles of squares.

Versatility - There are endless ways of creating things made of felt. It can be used as accessories, decorations, personalized bunting, and designs for pillows. It can also be used as designs for many kinds of bags and purses. Thicker types are water-resistant, which makes them a good choice for slippers and shoes.

Warmth - It is warm when used for garments.

Disadvantages

While felt is generally amazing to use, it does have some disadvantages and instances where it should not be used.

Elasticity is minimal - Felt fabrics have minimal elasticity because of their thickness. If you manage to stretch the fabric out, you will probably not be able to return it to its original size.

The texture is coarse - Many felts are coarse in texture. It also doesn't have any sheen or luster, unlike silk or satin. This is because of the type of fibers necessary to make it. Rough fibers are easier to mat rather than soft or shiny fibers.

Prone to shrinking - One of the most common disadvantages is that it is prone to shrinking when it is washed improperly, especially those made of natural wool. Shrinking can be avoided by hand washing in cold water. Also, avoid using a tumble dryer.

Environmental Concerns

Wool felt fabric is one of the most biodegradable substances in our world. The main environmental consideration is land use and the proper way of treating animals.

Both rayon and acrylic felt production involve chemicals in the process of making these fabrics. It may also harm the workers who are processing the rayon and acrylic fabric due to the chemicals' harmful effects. Another problem is the disposal of the chemical solutions used to create these products. If it is improperly disposed of, it can harm the environment. 

Felt Projects

Read the full article on sewing felt. Here are some ideas for crafts from the Treasurie blog. Felt is fun and easy to sew for all levels of sewers. You can use your sewing machine or use hand stitches like a running stitch or backstitch. Why not try some fun patterns!

• Felt Bow Template
• Free Pincushion Pattern
• Felt Gift Bag Pattern

What is Felt FAQs

Is felt natural or manmade

Felt is a manmade fabric that can be made from either natural or synthetic fibers. Common fibers include wool, rayon and acrylic as well as combinations of these.

Is felt polyester or cotton?

Felt material is usually made from polyester or wool, but rarely cotton. It is a non woven fabric resulting from matting fibers together.

What is 100% felt made of

Felt refers to the fabric type and manufacturing process of matting rather than the fiber content. It can be made from acrylic, rayon, wool, or a combination of fibers. If you see a felt fabric with this label, you will need to ask the store for the fiber content.

In Conclusion

What is felt material? In conclusion, felt is non-woven fabric with practical and creative applications, such as clothing and decorations. This type of fabric is soft and durable, depending on its type and how it is produced.

The advantages of felt are that it is durable, doesn't fray, is easy to cut, and is generally inexpensive. Its disadvantages are that it is not particularly supple, has the potential to shrink, and has minimal elasticity.

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