Felt
Felt
"Felts" redirects here. For more uses, see Felts (disambiguation)
Felt is a type of textile created by matting, condensing, and pressing fibers together. It can be produced using natural fibers like wool or animal fur, as well as synthetic fibers made from petroleum, such as acrylic or acrylonitrile, and wood pulp-based rayon. Blends of these fibers are also common. Natural fiber felt possesses unique properties that make it suitable for various applications. It is known for being fire-retardant, self-extinguishing, vibration-dampening, and sound-absorbing while holding considerable amounts of fluid without feeling wet.
History
Felt crafted from wool stands as one of the oldest textiles known to humanity. Many cultures have rich traditions surrounding the origins of felt-making. According to Sumerian legend, Urnamman of Lagash discovered the technique. Another tale involving Saints Clement and Christopher suggests that the saints used wool to pad their sandals, resulting in felt socks from movement and perspiration.
The origins of felt likely trace back to Central Asia, where archeological evidence shows felt-making in Siberia and Northern Mongolia, with artifacts dating back to the first century CE. Tombs from 7th to 2nd century BCE in Siberia indicate that felt was widely utilized for clothing, jewelry, wall hangings, and horse blankets, exhibiting intricate abstract designs and realistic scenes crafted with great skill.
Felt-making subsequently spread to the Turkic-Mongolian tribes, who relied on sheep and camels for their livelihoods. For these nomadic peoples, felt served numerous purposes such as providing shelter (yurts, tents), insulation, flooring, and various household necessities, including bedding and clothing.
Dyes enhanced the aesthetic appeal of felt, with colorful pre-felts and dyed threads combining to create stunning designs. Additionally, some felt items, like totems and amulets, held protective significance. In traditional societies, patterns in felt often carried deep religious and symbolic meanings.
Today, felting remains a living tradition among nomadic cultures in Central Asia, like the Mongols and Turkic peoples, where they craft items such as rugs, tents, and clothing. In the West, felt is embraced as a medium in textile art and contemporary design, celebrated for its ecological qualities.
Manufacturing Methods
Wet Felting
Wet felting involves adding hot water to layers of animal hair, and through repeated agitation and compression, the fibers interlock to form fabric. Using a sturdy textured material, like a bamboo mat, helps speed up the process. Only specific fibers, such as fleece from alpaca or Merino sheep, can successfully undergo this method. The scales on these fibers interact during the process involving heat, motion, and moisture, ultimately resulting in the creation of felt.
Development of Felting as a Profession
As the significance of felting grew within societies, specialized knowledge about techniques evolved alongside community-based practices. In many Central Asian communities, the production of felt became centralized around a leader, turning the creation of large felt pieces into a ceremonial event often involving prayers and communal celebration.
Needle Felting
Needle felting is an alternative method of creating felt without water, utilizing specially designed needles with notches along their shafts to tangle fibers together. This technique allows artists and craftsmen to create both two-dimensional and three-dimensional artwork, including sculptures and intricate designs.
Uses
Felt is widely utilized across different industries, from automotive and musical instruments to home decor. In the automotive sector, it serves as a sound-dampening material, while in musical instruments it provides necessary dampening for sound clarity.
Arts and Crafts
Felt has found its way into various art forms, providing a medium for crafting protective coverings for paintings and storytelling in theater. Notable contemporary artists have also incorporated felt into their creative expressions.
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