A Fabric Guide: Felt Fabric
Why in the world would you need a guide on felt fabric? Well, chances are, you’ve had your hands on felt before—remember the magic of Fuzzy Felt? Those were the days, right? Creating scenes with Fuzzy Felt was practically a childhood rite of passage.
Felt isn’t just any fabric; it’s the cool kid on the block, coming in a mishmash of shapes, sizes, and qualities. So, let’s break it down: how to pick the right felt for your project and dish out 11 game-changing sewing tips for felt fabrics.
Felt is that laid-back friend who doesn’t need to be woven or knitted to hang together. It’s made from fibers chilling out together, getting tangled when needled, or just lounging in some heat.
True felt is like a cosmopolitan at a party, made from anything—wool, fur, mohair, cotton, rayon/viscose, or other synthetic fibers. Making felt is like crafting a fine cocktail: pound those fibers, compress them, shrink them, then add a splash of moisture, a dash of temperature change, pressure, and finally, rough them up a bit. Talk about a process!
Felt Fabric Guide Sample Project: What’s Felt Good For?
Depending on the felt, it can either be your go-to for crafty shenanigans or the MVP for sturdier projects.
Retail stores usually flaunt two types: acrylic (the life of the party for crafts, Christmas ornaments, appliqués) and wool felt (the durable one, perfect for soft toys that’ll see a lot of action, not to mention chic bags, hats, and sneaky garment details).
Fun Felt Facts (That Are Actually Fun)
- Felt is the Houdini of fabrics—it doesn’t unravel.
- Sewing with felt is as stable as your bestie.
- Don’t you dare dry clean felt; it’s more sensitive than your ex.
- Felt can get a bit clingy, bobbling and pilling with too much attention.
- Stretched felt is like a bad haircut; there’s no coming back.
- Steam? Felt can’t even.
Top Tips for Sewing with Felt (Because We’re All About That Life)
- Let felt do its thing in the sewing machine and feed naturally through; don’t be pushy.
- Dry cleaning felt is a no-go zone.
- Be cool when pressing & use little or no moisture when pressing. If you must, use a pressing cloth.
- Hand wash felt like it’s a delicate treasure in cold water & a mild soap, then let it air dry.
- DO NOT wring or twist felt as it will misshapen.
- Cut with precision—rotary cutters for the win, and keep your fabric scissors safe.
- Thread choice? Polyester or cotton will have your back.
- Needle and stitch length? Start with an 80/12 and aim for 2.5mm – 3.0mm.
- Presser foot: Use a standard presser foot
- Press those seams open, no need to finish—felt doesn’t play by those rules.
- Always sew a test seam.
Real Talk on Felted Fabrics
Felted fabrics like boiled wool and melton? They’re the posers of the felt world. True felt is all about those raw fibers, while felted fabrics are just playing dress-up after a shrink and full session.
DIY: Be the Maker of Your Own Wool Felt Destiny
Can’t find 100% wool felt? Make your own. Raid your closet for old wool blankets or jumpers, then give them a spa day in hot water and a tumble dryer. Check out this tutorial for the nitty-gritty and then brag about it on social media.
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