Felt
Felt is a non-woven textile made by matting and compressing fibres, usually wool, with moisture, heat and friction.
Felt is not woven or knitted. Wool fibres have tiny scales that lock together when they are wetted, heated and rubbed, so a loose mass of fibre shrinks into a dense, strong sheet. It may be the oldest textile technique.
Why is felt important in dress?
It can be shaped while damp, so it is the material of many hats; milliners block felt over wooden forms. It also makes boots, coats and, in Central Asia, entire dwellings.
Sources
- Felt (AAT 300014107). Getty Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Felt (Q189964). Wikidata
See also
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