Leaves are falling, days are growing shorter, and there’s a crispness to the air—time to cozy up with some indoor projects! Have you tried wool felting?
Felt, verb: to make a fabric with wool by connecting the fibers together with various methods such as barbed needles, moisture, and heat shrinking.
The History of Felting
Wool felt carries the distinction of being one of the oldest textiles. Its origins are likely Central Asia, where samples of wool felt have been found in Siberian tombs dated as early as 7th century BC. Felt played a major part in the nearby nomadic Mongolian culture, where it was used for shelter, insulation, flooring, bedding, and clothing. In Christian lore, it is said that as Saint Clement and Saint Christopher were fleeing persecution, they stuffed their sandals with wool to prevent blisters and had wool felt socks by the end of their journey.
We love being connected to this history through our love of wool. It was the perfect solution then, and despite hundreds of years of innovation and experimentation, wool is still the best fiber for so many modern uses.
The Felt Craft
In a world where crafting can involve a lot of one-use, disposable and plastic items, wool felting is remarkably versatile, practical, and sustainable. It’s simple enough for small children to try, and yet can be incredibly complex and richly artistic. Wool felt can be fashioned into all sorts of projects like hats, gloves, jewelry, wall hangings, pouches, baby moccasins, and home decor.
Shepherd’s Dream offers clean, undyed craft wool for all your projects in one, two, and five pound bags. These are tufts left over from our production process, and are perfect as filling for dolls and toys, or for—you guessed it—needle felting.
Wool felt artisans showcase their creations in our showroom in Ashland, Oregon, and especially this time of year, the offerings get super seasonal. Lori Meese graces us with her autumnal wool acorns, decorative pumpkins, and fall-colored leaves, as well as Halloween-themed fuzzy spiders, gauze-wrapped mummies, spooky ghosts, and smiley jack o’ lanterns.
The Everyday Practice of Felting
Felted wool’s practical side can elevate the everyday experience too. Monika MacDougal of Wool Bugs in Ashland keeps infant toes cozy with her felted wool moccasins and kids’ hands toasty with knitted gloves. These items fill the kids’ corner of our showroom, and they make perfect gifts for the little ones in your life.
Lori Meese also felts wool around an all-natural, locally-made mild soap, creating an automatic washcloth that gently exfoliates skin. Several scents are available, as well as unscented.
