FELTING

Felting is the oldest technique for making a fabric, in which wool is not spun or woven but bonded into a dense material by moisture, heat and friction. The scales of the wool fibre interlock and 'felt' into a strong material with no thread at all. Felting is older than weaving: felt was used for cloaks, hats, footwear and blankets among many peoples of the world. There is dry (needle) felting and wet felting. This technique yields seamless, three-dimensional, warm pieces and allows one to 'sculpt' a form directly from wool. In contemporary fashion felting is prized for its ecology, tactility and the sculptural possibilities of author pieces.