There are many stories about the origins of felt, with evidence of early examples found in Turkey dating from as far back as 6500BC! One popular theory is that it was accidentally discovered by a shepherd who one day put wool around his feet to make his sandals more comfortable. To his surprise, after walking a few miles, he discovered that he no longer had loose wool fibres, but pieces of fabric wrapped around his feet!
No one can be sure if this is the true origin of felt … however, we do know that felt has been used for many different purposes over the centuries.
Felting as an art form is becoming more and more popular, with people enjoying this easy-to-learn craft. The unique texture of wool allows it to be used to create pictures and sculptures with intricate details. The two examples shown on this page use different techniques, wet felting and needle felting (also known as dry felting). Wet felting involves matting wool fibres together using soapy water and agitation to form a fabric, while needle felting uses a special barbed needle to stab the wool and bond it together to form sculptures or 2D artwork. The wool itself is such a versatile material, it is so tactile and satisfying to work with and, more importantly, it is an environmentally positive fibre; being 100% natural, renewable, biodegradable and recyclable.
At a time when many of us are sometimes overwhelmed with the 24/7 demands of the digital world, more of us are finding that crafting is therapeutic. Being creative is now considered an antidote to the pressures of modern living. Creative activities with repetitive actions and a skill level that can always be improved upon have been shown to be positive contributors to relaxation and stress relief, and give a sense of accomplishment. Connections to tradition have also been shown to increase happiness, reduce anxiety and enhance confidence, as well as improve cognitive abilities.
If you are interested in learning more about felting, or would like to join a fun and relaxing course to learn this skill, contact Harriet@creatingwoolart.co.uk or see the advert opposite this article