|
Because felt is not woven, it is considered a fabric, and not a textile. In essence, felt is a layer of wool fibers that have been moistened with water, sometimes with the addition of soap, and then compacted through repeated compression. Felt is commonly made by “rolling”—with the bare forearms or feet, with the aid of a rope, or by wrapping a bundle of the cloth around a pole and dragging it behind a horse, a method preferred in Mongolia, western China, and elsewhere. Heating aids the felting process.
|