felt

Felt is a nonwoven textile formed by matting, condensing, and pressing fibers. Unlike woven or knitted fabrics, felt arises from the interlocking of fibers, often aided by moisture, heat, and agitation or by mechanical entanglement through needle felting. Wool is the traditional material, because its scales and crimp promote felting, but felting can also be made from other animal fibers and, in modern practice, from synthetic fibers.

In wet felting, fibers are layered, wetted with soap and water, and worked to cause the fibers to tangle and fuse. Needle felting uses barbed needles to interlock fiber ends and create dense fabrics or sculpted shapes. Some felts combine natural and synthetic fibers, and improvised felting with plant fibers is possible but less common.

Historically, felting is one of the oldest textile techniques and has been practiced in various regions of Europe and Asia. It has been used to make hats, blankets, padding, and decorative items. In industrial contexts, felts are employed as filters, padding, insulation, and in various crafts and art applications.

Key properties of felt include its dense, nonwoven structure, good insulation, and moisture absorption. It tends to shrink and distort when exposed to heat or vigorous washing and generally lacks the elasticity of woven fabrics. Care guidelines typically emphasize gentle cleaning and air drying, with avoidance of high heat.