felting

Felting (rolling) is a method of textile production in which fibres of animal hair are bonded together through the action of pressure, heat, and moisture. The fibres have small scales on their surface which, when exposed to moisture and heat, open up and interlock with each other during movement. Felting is considered the oldest textile technique used to produce fabrics directly, without the need for subsequent sewing or shaping. It processes animal hair, most commonly sheep’s wool, whose fibres—unlike in knitting, weaving, or twisting—are not spun into yarn. Felted textile (felt) has good thermal insulation properties against cold. In Slovakia, felting was used in the production of hats and footwear (such as valenki-style boots and felt shoes).