Feltformer

Feltformer is a term used in textile arts to describe a mold or shaping device employed in felting to produce three-dimensional forms from wool or other fibers. The feltformer acts as a core or external form around which fibers are laid and felted, either by needle working or wet felting, to create consistent shapes such as heads, animals, vessels, or sculpture. The concept emphasizes shaping and form, rather than plain flat felt.

Most feltformers are hollow or have an internal support and are made of materials such as silicone, plastic, wood, or lightweight metal. They come in sizes from a few centimeters to life-size. Some designs are rigid molds; others are adjustable or inflatable to facilitate creating hollow objects or voids inside the final piece. Makers often coat the surface with a release agent to prevent sticking or use a textured surface to influence fiber grip.

In use, fibers are laid over the form and compressed with felting needles or by wet felting methods. The form can be removed after partial felting, or left in place to provide final structure. Variants include solid forms for solid sculptures and shell forms for hollow pieces; modular feltformers allow combining multiple segments.

History and reception: The term surfaced in contemporary fiber art circles in the late 20th or early 21st century and is associated with increased experimentation in three-dimensional felting. While widely used among sculptural felters, it remains less common in traditional rug or garment felting.

See also: felting, needle felting, wet felting, fiber sculpture, molding.