Felt - antiquity and modernity

The art of making textiles is one of the most ancient skills of mankind. The raw material for it among agricultural peoples was vegetable fibers, and among pastoralists - wool, mainly sheep. The first woolen materials were non-woven, they were obtained by dumping fibers into a homogeneous mass. This was facilitated by the structure of the sheep fleece, the hairs of which have scales on the surface and are coated with lanolin. Various types of felt were produced in Iran, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and other regions, and the methods of their production have survived to this day. At the same time, new types of this material have been invented relatively recently. Synthetic felt created from polymer fibers is used both for technical purposes and for artistic creation.

The oldest method of obtaining this non-woven textile is that the wool is laid out in a thin layer, exposed to hot water or steam, and then compacted in one way or another.

At present, felt fabric is produced using the following sequence of operations:

• loosening of raw materials on plucking and scutching equipment;
• oiling and mixing;
• combing with a carding machine;
• base compaction;
• impregnation with an acid solution;
• felting on felting devices;
• drying.

A special kind of felt is felt, which is obtained by rolling from wool with the addition of fluff. Made from natural raw materials, thick or thin felt has the following properties:

• resistant to tearing and abrasion;
• warms, while passing air;
• protects from high temperature, splashes of molten metal, from electric shock;
• absorbs sound waves;
• well absorbs moisture and other liquid and gaseous substances;
• plastic;
• can drape;
• relatively inexpensive.

The positive qualities of this felted material also have their downside. First of all, wool fibers are usually coated with lanolin, which causes allergic reactions in some people and gives the material a specific smell. The presence of lanolin attracts moths that irreparably damage natural felt. However, high-quality woolen materials do not smell and are supplied with a special impregnation that repels pests. You should also remember the high hygroscopicity, due to which the wet felt dries for a long time and can be deformed.

Modern varieties of felt are divided into technical, household, fine-wool. A separate group is felt, which is obtained by thermal pressing. Technical material is most often made from coarse dark wool up to 25 mm thick and is used for:

• various insulating, insulating and vibration-damping gaskets, filters, substrates, seals, etc.;
• overalls, footwear, protective devices;
• electrical insulation (thin up to 6 mm);
• horse harness and when transporting expensive products (saddle harness).

Shoe felt, thin fabric for bathing accessories, traditional woolen fabrics of various thicknesses for yurts, carpets, national clothes are produced for household needs. In the manufacture of modern wardrobe items, warm and home shoes, hats, as well as a variety of accessories, they often use, including synthetic.

Areas of use

Among the ancient cattle breeders, felted woolen material was universal: it was used to make the walls of temporary dwellings, it protected in battle, warmed in winter, was used for decorative purposes, and our ancestors could not imagine themselves without comfortable and warm felt boots and hats. Since the middle of the last century, felt, felt and other traditional materials began to be gradually forced out of everyday life, but they were still widely used in production, agriculture and even in various sports.

However, in recent decades there has been a real boom in all kinds of felt products. Instead of reliable, but clumsy boots, beautiful and waterproof shoes are produced, which quickly became fashionable for all ages. Consumers also appreciated the comfort and healing effect of felted slippers, the convenience and reliability of bath accessories, the stylish look and warming properties of clothing for the cold season. And finally, felt has become a popular material for making bags, decorative covers, various art products, toys.

Features of care

All these accessories require constant care and protection from moths. In addition, the absorbent properties of felt contribute to its rapid contamination, and it needs regular drying and cleaning from dust and fluff settling on the surface with a brush or vacuum cleaner. Light dirt is removed with a soapy solution. If necessary, felt products can be washed. This is done manually, using a slightly warm aqueous solution of detergents for wool (containing lanolin). Things do not rub or twist, if necessary, you can use a brush. After washing, the moisture is slightly squeezed out, then the flat product is laid out horizontally on an absorbent litter, and the bulk product is stuffed with wads of paper, changing them as they get wet. Drying is carried out away from the sun and heat sources.

It seems difficult to expand the range of already existing materials. However, manufacturers do it. New fabrics are constantly being created, the properties of which are regulated by a combination of natural and synthetic fibers. But these innovations do not at all force us to abandon the old materials known for many centuries. On the contrary, the popularity of natural canvases is growing again, and many of them are finding new applications in completely unexpected areas. This is, for example, felt. Now not only clothing items are made from it, but also shoes and bags. It is also very popular with craft lovers.

Composition and types

The history of felt began after people managed to tame wild sheep. True, initially their wool was not suitable for making material: the structure of the hairs was distinguished by the absence of scales, thanks to which the hairs would be fastened together under the influence of high temperatures and moisture. But the fur of domestic sheep just has such a feature. So as a result of the felting procedure, a dense material is obtained.

Nowadays, the raw material for felt is also mainly sheep wool. But there are also exceptions. If they use the wool of rabbits and goats, which is much thinner, then a kind of felt is obtained -. Hats, bags, elements of outerwear are usually made from it.

There are also other types of felt. Most of them are suitable for creating only certain things.

• Technical. This felt is the thickest - up to twelve millimeters. It is used for soundproofing, as a substrate for linoleum, and filters are made from it.
• Furniture. Softer variety.
• Shoe. It is used both for the manufacture of the shoes themselves, and for the insoles.
• Yurt - used by nomadic peoples to build yurts.

Positive properties

Felt fabric has a number of positive qualities.

• Environmental friendliness. It is made from pure animal hair without any synthetic impurities. At the same time, it is not without reason used as a substrate and insulating material. The fact is that felt is able to absorb harmful substances, such as formaldehyde.
• Also, felt absorbs moisture well and does not let the cold through. Therefore, the material is so popular in construction - a room insulated with this canvas is protected from dampness and drafts. For the same reason, felt is so popular in the manufacture of shoes. Perhaps the models made from it will seem to someone not too beautiful in appearance. But such boots and boots will save you in severe frosts.
• Antibacterial properties. Another important quality for both indoors and footwear. Microbes do not start in felt and mold does not spread. In boots made of this material, you can not be afraid of the appearance of fungus.
• The felt is very light. Despite the density of the felt, these canvases weigh very little.
• Long service life. Felt is not rubbed and does not stretch, it is extremely difficult to damage it even by physical impact.

Flaws

The list of advantages of the material is very impressive. But he also has some shortcomings.

• Possible shrinkage of things. However, the threat of such a problem arises only with improper care. It is important to follow all the rules to the smallest detail.
• The ability to absorb moisture has been cited above as one of the positive properties that make felt so good as an insulating material and a base in footwear production. But this can also be attributed to the disadvantages, since the liquid accumulates in the material, and it dries slowly.
• Although the canvases are protected from mold, for moths they are a tasty morsel.

Special means will help protect against moths. As a rule, they are sold in the form of plates and packets of fragrances, which must be placed in a closet, next to things that are in danger.

Where is felt used?

Felt is used in many areas.

• Due to its naturalness, it remains popular among nomadic peoples. They make dwellings from it - yurts. Most of their unpretentious interior items are also made from these woolen fabrics. There is no doubt about the question of what their folk clothes, shoes and hats are made of. The use of felt by these peoples is explained not only by the traditions and conditions of their residence. Since ancient times, respect for this material was also based on the belief in its magical and healing properties. It was believed that the specific smell of wool, which does not disappear completely during processing, protects against perfume. In addition, it helps fight diseases.

But if you do not believe in such miracles, then the beauty of felt products of nomadic peoples will still not leave you indifferent. To decorate things, they use different techniques - creating patterns by combining multi-colored wool and embroidery.

• But urban residents are not averse to trying on things made of felt - hats, bags, shoes, clothes.
• Needlewomen create realistic toys, panels, paintings and slippers with original drawings from felt.

Care

The rules for caring for felt differ depending on the purpose of things. Remember that due to violation of the rules, the material may lose its shape.

How to clean felt shoes?

• At the first stage, it is better to limit yourself to dry cleaning. To do this, you can use both a vacuum cleaner and a special brush or rag.
• If this was not enough, then you can proceed to washing. This can only be done manually.
• Before washing, it is better to soak the product in water. Its temperature should not exceed forty degrees. In case of heavy soiling, you can immediately add a cleaning agent to the water during the soaking. Soak the thing for two hours.
• Use only special gels or powders for wool.
• After that, you need to rinse the felt at least twice in clean warm water, trying not to deform the thing.
• Then let the water drain. If it was not possible to get rid of all the liquid, wrap the product in a towel and, gently pressing, wring it out.
• So that the shoes do not lose their shape, put them on the last.

Cleaning toys is a process that requires accuracy.

• In this case, dry cleaning is also preferable;
• In extreme cases, it is possible to use cleaning products, but you will have to wipe the toys with a cloth. It is important to be careful not to damage parts.

Conclusion

Felt is a very ancient material. And over the centuries of existence, its composition has not changed. It is also all made from sheep's wool, but there are also varieties (for example, felt), in the manufacture of which the use of other raw materials is allowed.

Due to its properties, felt is most suitable for warming the home and making shoes. And nomadic peoples even use it to build their yurts. True, it is not without material and shortcomings. But they are not so significant.

In care, it is better to use dry cleaning. If you decide to wash the felt product, then it is important to be careful not to deform it.

The material is felted by hand, it is a piece of felted material, not rolls, as in standard machine-made fabrics. The technology for making felt does not differ from felt, however, in its manufacture, thin fluff of goats and rabbits is used.

The main material for making felt or felt is the wool of animals, mainly sheep. The upper layers of hairs have a scaly layer, which, under the influence of steam or hot water, adhere to each other. However, the wool of wild sheep does not have such a texture, therefore it is generally accepted that for the first time felt was made no earlier than the 5th-6th centuries BC, and the original material was still the hair of dogs and horses that were domesticated at that time.

Horses, dogs and sheep were first domesticated by nomadic peoples. The horse helped carry the heavy load, the dogs guarded the flock of sheep. The most ancient felt products were found on the territory of modern Bashkiria and Altai. Gradually, the technique of making this material passed to other nomadic pastoralists of Central Asia and the Caucasus.

With the increase in skill, the Bashkirs acquired the opportunity not only to make products for themselves, but also to sell them to other peoples, for example, a non-woven felt carpet. The Bashkirs generally widely introduced felt products into their everyday life. They were also used as insulation in yurts, as a shelter from rain and sun. Bags and prayer rugs were made from felt. Felt products were always included in the dowry of the bride. Until now, there is a custom to lay a small rug of white felt under the feet of the bride at the time of her arrival at the groom's house. The groom's mother offered the bride to enter and sit on the felt bunks. It was believed that this would help the future family to have many children.

Medicinal properties were also attributed to felt. Felt belts were used to treat people from radiculitis and arthrosis. Strips of felt fabric were used for massage, which, according to the ancient nomads, has a beneficial effect on blood circulation, and also helps to get rid of back pain. This was especially true for nomads - people who are constantly in the wind.

Manufacturing technology

Felt manufacturing technology is one of the most ancient. It involves exclusively manual labor and appeared long before the advent of looms and even knitting tools. It is surprising that this technique has come down to our times, and has not sunk into oblivion, like many others. Moreover, products made of felt and felt are very popular not only in Russia, but also in Europe. In its manufacture, wool is used, and sheep wool is best.

So, the sheep's wool is laid in thin layers on the fabric. Rub the soap on a grater. Pour soap with hot water and shake until completely dissolved. The resulting hot soapy mass is applied to the wool. Clapping your palm, the hairs gradually fall off. To increase the density of the fabric, you can apply one or more layers of wool and repeat the felting procedure. When laying wool, it is advisable to ensure that the wool does not fit in parallel, it should be applied in different directions. This will give strength to the resulting material. It is necessary to dry the resulting material for about a day.

When felting wool, it is also worth mentioning a special direction in felting technology is felting. It is often called dry felting. When felting, a special felting needle is used as a working tool, on which notches and notches are applied at different angles. These notches help to snatch individual hairs from the general woolen mass and slowly tangle them, forming a felt material. Often, the felting method is not used to make material in its usual sense, but small items - toys, decorative crafts, small parts for women's and men's accessories. This method is ideal for the manufacture and formation of bulky products, while you can help yourself with your hands, pulling out any element if necessary.

The felting method is also often used if it is necessary to create a pattern on an already finished felted material. To do this, a felted fabric is laid on a dense object. A drawing is carefully laid out on it. Often this pattern is fixed, for example, with a thin packaging film, although experienced craftswomen may well do without it. Then, with accurate and quick movements of the felting needle, the pattern is, as it were, driven in, imprinted into the felt.

Felt manufacturing technology is practically no different from felt, with the only difference being that finer types of wool are used in the manufacture of felt. Synthetic fabrics are often added to felt. The outer finish determines the type of felt - pile or smooth. Pile, in turn, is divided into "suede", short pile, "" and long pile. Felt is often used in garments that are in direct contact with the body, such as a hat or scarf, because the texture of the felt is pleasant to the body and does not create a slight tingling effect, as sometimes happens with coarser felt.

Felt and felt in the modern world

Felt and felt, as a kind of felt, are extremely plastic and versatile materials. Despite their ancient history, they attract more and more fans, because felt and felt are environmentally friendly, and modern society prefers natural objects and fabrics. Products made of felt can look quite appropriate in the image of a modern girl and even give some zest. Felt products are often chosen by people who prefer folk or eco-style in the interior.

And it is simply impossible to describe the entire list of manufactured products. These are shawls, and scarves, and tops, and jackets. Felt slippers are very popular. These materials are often used as decor for women's accessories - hairpins, brooches. The popularity of felt is only reviving, and this "handmade" material has a great future.

Finally, a selection of photos of celebrities in felt hats.

Felt refers to non-woven materials, the manufacturing tradition of which dates back more than five millennia. If a fabric made from plant fibers is associated with farmers, then the nomads and pastoralists of Eurasia, whose main source of livelihood was sheep herds, learned how to felt sheep's wool. Until now, in Mongolia, Afghanistan, Iran, Buryatia and other places, wool felt is made in the same way as thousands of years ago. This dense and warm fabric does not lose its popularity, as evidenced by the real “felt boom” of recent years.

What is felt for?

Felt still occupies a very important place in the everyday life of many Asian peoples. Temporary housing (yurt) and almost its entire interior are created from it, protective armor and household items were made from it, thin felt was and is used for shoes, hats, as the main fabric of winter clothing.

They say that the smell of sheep's wool drives away karakurts. Therefore, natural felt was considered a magical and healing agent (however, modern medicine does not refute the latter), it was carefully trimmed and decorated. Until now, three main ways of decorating felt products have been preserved:

1. The felting of the ornament, in which colored wool is laid out on the base in accordance with the pattern, after which they begin to felt (Turkmen felts).
2. An application that is widely used today.
3. Embroidery (Buryat and Mongolian felt).

Russia and other Slavic peoples adopted this woolen non-woven textile from the Asian peoples, as evidenced by the Turkic origin of its name (ajlyk - coverlet). Felt has become a material for widespread, indispensable boots in frosty and snowy winters..

This fabric also spread to Europe, primarily in the form of thin felt, which is made by rolling a mixture of wool and down between rollers.

At present, not only woolen, but also especially durable artificial felt from synthetic fibers is being produced, which is used mainly for technical needs.

For technical applications, such types of felt are produced as:

• coarse wool (6-12 mm), which is used for thermal and sound insulation, underlayment for linoleum, various gaskets, seals, filters, etc.;
• thin technical (2.4-6 mm), which is used in electrical engineering;
• furniture, which is relatively soft and is used in the manufacture of upholstered furniture and mattresses.

The comfort and orthopedic properties of a mattress are largely determined by its filler. The most common materials for hard mattresses include felt and coconut coir, which are noticeably superior in their consumer properties to synthetics, straw and wood shavings, while being significantly cheaper than pressed horsehair and exotic filler from processed seaweed on the Russian market. Strictly speaking, felt and coconut coir have much more in common than differences, and in many models both of these fillers are used simultaneously.

Coconut is the most rigid filler used today, so the thicker its layer, the higher the rigidity of the mattress itself. Due to its cheapness and wide distribution, the use of felt is more universal, but the highest quality and most expensive varieties are successfully used as a flooring material. Separately, it is worth noting thin mattresses with a monoblock made of coconut coir - a real bestseller for newborns!

coconut fiber filling

Coconut coir is made from natural raw materials, soft short tangled fibers of coconut palm nuts, which have undergone special processing. It is necessary to separate latex and pressed coir as materials that have some differences between themselves. As the name implies, during the production of latex coir, it is impregnated with natural latex, usually in a ratio of 50/50 or 70/30 (for stiffer models). This gives the material elasticity, resistance to deformation and breathability. A clear sign of the use of latex coir is the characteristic smell of rubber.

Pressed coir is much cheaper and is used for the production of hard mattresses of the middle price category. This material is stiffer and less durable than latex impregnated coir. The manufacturing process also includes punching the resulting material with special needles, which increases the life of the mattress.

Benefits of coconut coir:

• 100% natural material;
• pronounced orthopedic properties;
• hypoallergenicity;
• does not absorb water and unpleasant odors;
• does not rot and does not create an environment for the reproduction of bacteria and saprophytes;
• excellent heat transfer and internal ventilation;
• does not lose useful properties for a long time.

Disadvantages of coconut coir:

• rather high price compared to synthetics;
• the risk of violation of production technology and / or counterfeiting;
• dependence of properties on the quality of the feedstock.

In other words, recycled coir fibers are an excellent filler, but some manufacturers use immature coir in an attempt to save money, reduce the thickness of the layer below the optimal level. A quality mattress should have at least 3 cm of coconut as the only filling and at least 1 cm if a latex carpet is used in combination with other materials. Another guarantee of quality will be the characteristic rich brown color of this material and the uniformity of the structure, which can be checked with a viewing zipper or by removing the cover from the product.

Felt - a material with a thousand-year history

Felt is a dense non-woven material made of felted wool. Nomads in Central Asia were the first to use such materials to protect their homes from cold steppe winds, and even the word itself came into the Russian language from the Turkic, where it means “veil”. In the production of mattresses, various types of felt can be used, including those using linen and cotton fibers, and in orthopedic mattresses, a special latex-impregnated felt is often used.

In the manufacture of mattresses, felt can be used to solve several problems at once: reinforcing the entire mattress structure to increase strength and elasticity, isolating the soft layer from the spring block, and also using flooring material for hard models.

Felt advantages:

• natural material, no chemical binders;
• high strength and durability;
• improvement of the orthopedic properties of the mattress;
• thermoregulation and removal of moisture from the body during sleep;
• affordable price.

Felt Disadvantages:

• the possibility of shrinkage (deformation) of the material;
• ability to absorb moisture and odors;
• easily accumulates dust and becomes a breeding ground for saprophytes.

An orthopedic mattress filled with felt is often the ideal solution in terms of price-quality ratio. However, its consumer properties largely depend on the quality of the material, because today there are many types of felt on the market and even synthetic material that does not have even half of the useful properties of natural felted wool.

Why are firm mattresses so good?

In general, it is believed that the younger the person, the greater the rigidity of the mattress is recommended for him to maintain the health of the organs of the musculoskeletal system. But in some cases, models with above-average rigidity are often the only possible choice when arranging a bed. It is reasonable to purchase such products for:

• people with back problems, because it is hard mattresses with good orthopedic properties that can bring relief during periods of exacerbation of diseases of the upper part of the spine (more on choosing a mattress for a bad back);
• manual workers and professional athletes;
• overweight people;
• newborns and children.

An interesting solution is also to buy a mattress with different hardness of the sides, for example, during exacerbations of osteochondrosis, you can sleep on a harder surface, and the rest of the time - on a softer one. Bilateral mattresses also sometimes have "winter" and "summer" sides: warm felt or wool are indispensable in the cold season, and well-breathable coconut coir will provide the desired coolness even on the hottest days.