Different Types of Felt and How They are Used
This Versatile Fabric is Perfect for Many Sewing and Craft Projects
Felt is a compact fabric which does not fray or unravel, making it great for novice sewers and youngsters as well as being perfect for a variety of other sewing projects.
Types of Felt
There are different types of felt available:
- Commercially Produced Felt: Commercially produced craft felt is often formed from acrylic fibers and is readily available in a wide range of colors at a reasonable price. This is typically sold in sheets of different sizes, although it is possible to buy felt that has been cut into shapes such as flowers and hearts. Wool felt is also available although this costs slightly more. The felt sheets that are commercially available are formed by tightly pressing fibers together and then agitating them until all the air is removed and a firm tight fabric has been produced.
- Handmade Felt: There are many fiber artists who produce handmade felt using a variety of techniques. These are beautiful textiles that work well for a variety of projects. The traditional way of making felt is known as wet felting. The woolen fibers are laid out on a board and then dampened with hot water and agitated. The combination of heat and movement causes the fibers to mat together and then shrink forming a firm fabric. Felt is also made by fulling (shrinking) knitted and woven fabrics. Anyone who has popped a wonderful new wool sweater into a washing machine only to retrieve an item that has shrunk to a fraction of the size will understand the process. The only difference is that producing felt from knitting is done on purpose! The felting of knitting and weaving pulls the fibers tight and, like other felt, the fabric will not unravel.
- Needlefelt: Needlefelt (also known as prefelt) is half way between commercially produced and hand made felt. Made from pure wool, it is a loose fabric formed from lightly felted fabrics. These can be worked with as normal, but will still shrink and felt further when finished, meaning that these are a good alternative for people looking to make creative surface designs or 3D projects.
Working with felt
Felt is fun and easy to work with regardless of how it is formed. Little in the way of special equipment is required; however, because of the dense nature of the fabric sharp scissors are necessary. Blunt scissors will draw on the fibers and give a ragged edge. Pinking shears or other decorative scissors will give an interesting edge.
Felt can be machine sewn, however one of the great features of it is that it is easy to hand sew. The firm nature of the fabric means that even quite large stitches will hold the pieces together making this a great option for young sewers.
Embroidery looks wonderful on felt, particularly when worked with thicker yarns or threads. Beads and sequins can be couched in to thick felts to create interesting surface texture.
Felt is an exciting, versatile fabric with many uses and can offer something to sewers of all experiences.
Baby shoes made from felt
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