felted

Felted is an adjective describing fabric or items that have undergone felting, a process that mats, interlocks, and compresses fibers, typically wool, into a dense, durable sheet. Felting creates a non-woven textile that may vary in thickness, texture, and color.

Felting can be achieved through several methods. Wet felting uses soap, water, and mechanical agitation to encourage natural wool scales to interlock. Needle felting uses barbed needles to tangle loose fibers into shapes, often used for sculpture and decorative pieces. Nuno felting combines wool fibers with a thin fabric base such as silk to produce lightweight, textured fabrics.

Common fibers include wool from sheep (merino, Corriedale), alpaca, and other animal fibers, as well as blends. While wool is most typical, synthetic fibers can be felted but yield different results. Felted fabrics are typically dense and heat-resistant, but they can shrink or deform with heat and moisture.

Felting has a long history across Eurasia and other regions, produced by nomadic and settled communities for practical clothing, hats, and blankets. The technique includes both artisanal crafts and industrial processes, though modern examples are often machine-assisted or handworked.

Today felted items range from hats, bags, and slippers to art pieces, wall hangings, and sculpture. The process allows shaping and sculpting fibers into three-dimensional forms.

Care: felted items can shrink or warp when exposed to hot water or agitation. Washing by hand in cool water, using mild detergent, and laying flat to dry helps preserve shape. Some items can be cleaned with gentle spot cleaning.