What Is Felt: A Guide On Felt Fabrics, Types & Uses
What is felt fabric?
Felt is a non woven cloth, made by matting fibres together. This matting process is done through a variety of techniques including needling, compressing, rubbing, rolling and beating. The aim is to entangle the fibres so they form a solid piece of cloth.
Felt making is very old and was practiced in Asia and Europe. Felt was essential to the nomadic populations throughout Asia. It was used for clothing, warmth, housing, etc. Back then, the wool from sheep was spread out on a rug until the desired thickness was obtained and then beaten. Then, using their feet, the wool was rolled backwards and forwards on the rug until the matting process was complete.
Today felt is made by machines which complete the matting process and it is made from a variety of materials including wool and man made fibres like polyester and acrylic threads.
Most of the felt used in the craft industry today is made by needling fibres together through heat and agitation. This process is called needle punching. The felt needles have barbs on them which push into the fabric and entangle the fibres. This action, when combined with rolling and heat, quickly creates felt. The felt is then dyed to the desired colour.
Let's take a look at the different types of felt.
What are the different types of felt?
100% Wool Felt
This felt is very soft and durable and is ideal for making soft toys for children. The felt should be hand washed in luke warm water and is subject to shrinking. Here are some more features of 100% wool felt:
- The felt will not pill or ball.
- It is thicker, more securely felted and has stronger fibres so it holds up better to wear. This means seams are less likely to rip when stuffing toys!
- It has slight elasticity so it can be manipulated and shaped.
- 100% natural wool is both stain and water resistant.
- Wool is naturally fire resistant.
- Wool has anti-bacterial properties that keep it from mildewing.
- As it is a natural and sustainable resource, it is the eco friendy choice.
The main disadvantage of this felt is that it is more expensive than the alternatives and it comes in a limited range of colours.
View our range of 100% wool felt here.
Acrylic Felt
Acrylic felt is ideal for making decorations, pendants, scrapbooking and small projects which will not be repeatedly handled. As the name suggests, acrylic felt is made from acrylic threads.
The attributes of acrylic felt are:
- It is cheaper than wool felt.
- The colours are bright and brilliant
- It is easily cut and sewn and glued.
- It is stain resistant and colourfast.
The down side of acrylic felt is that it is not as soft as wool felt, it can ball/pill and it will melt when exposed to heat, it is thin and does not cut as cleanly as wool felt.
View our range of acrylic felt here.
Polyester Felt
Felt made from polyester is suitable for printing on using the sublimation printing process. This is where heat is used to transfer the dye onto the felt. Acrylic felt is not suitable for this application.
View our range of polyester felt here.
Wool Blend Felt
Wool blend felt is made from 35% wool and 65% viscose. Viscose is a man made fibre which is very soft. The combination of wool and viscose results in a tight cloth with a soft handle that is cheaper than 100% wool felt. It is a very versatile fabric and ideal for both craft and dress projects.
Wool blend felt comes in a wide range of colours.
Top Tips for Working With Felt
Felt can be cut into any shape with sharp scissors. It is very versatile it can be sewn, stuck, cupped, embroidered and embellished with wool. It is also a good stiffener in garment making - you can add fabric stiffener to some water and wash the felt using this solution for a stiffer felt.
Sewing Felt Using a Sewing Machine
Often when sewing felt with a sewing machine, the material moves around and bunches up. The bobbin can get clogged up and the material can jam up. To avoid these issues, check the tension on the machine and the needle size. A size 10 or 11 needle is usually sufficient and ensure you use a good quality thread. you could also try placing a layer of paper over the felt and another layer under the felt. This will help stop the felt from slipping.
How Can You Join Pieces of Felt Together?
The main types of hand stitches used to join felt are the overcast stitch (this is a strong, flat stitch), running stitch (used to connect pieces which need to remain firm and rigid which can easily be removed) and the blanket stitch (use this stitch when you want a decorative edge).
View our range of felting needles here.
Gluing Felt
When gluing felt, use a PVA glue which dries clear. The felt will absorb some of the glue so be generous. For a temporary hold, a glue stick is fine.
View our range of craft glues here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Felt
Where is the Arbee felt made and what is it made of?
We import felt from Italy, France and China in a wide range of materials (wool, polyester and waste fibres) for different purposes which come in various thicknesses, patterns and colours. We are the largest importer of felt in Australia.
What is the best needle to use for sewing felt?
Chenille needles work best as they have a large eye and a sharp point.
How do I wash felt?
Felt should be dry cleaned. Hand washing without excessive rubbing may work but the fibres can be easily stretched and will "matt". If the item is a soft toy we suggest lightly sponging with cool water and natural laundry soap.
What is Wonder Felt?
Wonder Felt is an economical and multipurpose fabric suitable for many projects. Some common uses are sound proofing, wadding underlay, protecting furniture when moving, backing for fabric art wall hangings, home decorating, wadding in quilts, backing in chair pads and it also makes a perfect storage box liner to protect delicate items.
Take a look at our huge range of felt here.
Happy Crafting,
Arbee