How to Choose the Best Felt for Sewing Projects

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There is a huge choice of felt available on the market and it can be very overwhelming to know which one to choose for which project. So, let's look a bit deeper into the different types of felt and their uses.

What is Felt?

Felt is made by compressing and matting fibres together using heat, moisture and pressure. During the processes, the fibres are permanently locked together and form a very strong felt fabric. 

Felt is a wonderful fabric that is strong, hard wearing and does not fray. In ancient times felt was used to make rugs, clothing, shoes and many other items. In modern times it continues to be used universally across many industries such as manufacturing and clothing and it is a perfect material to make soft toys.

What is Felt Made From?

Felt can be made from man-made and/or natural fibres and each has slightly different qualities. The natural fibres used are wool or animal fur. Examples of man-made fibres are petroleum based acrylic or wood pulp based rayon. It is very common for felt to be made from a combination of several different fibres which can be both man-made and natural.

How do I choose which felt to use?

There will be several factors which will help you to decide what type of felt to use. These include your budget and what the end purpose of your sewing project is.

Craft Felt

If you are on a tight budget, the cheapest type of felt to buy is craft felt which is widely available in craft stores and is very cheap. It is 100% synthetic and is made from acrylic, polyester, rayon or viscose.

Benefits of Craft Felt

The upside to this felt is it's wide availability, its price and its availability in a huge array of colours and prints. It is often sold in thin squares, sometimes it is available with an adhesive backing which makes it great for craft projects where pieces need to be cut out and glued together.

Negatives of Craft Felt

The downside of this felt is that it is not the best quality, it can be quite stiff and it pills quite easily. This kind of felt is recommended for any projects that are quick and easy and potentially will not be used for long periods i.e holiday crafts, kids projects or school projects.

Wool Blend Felt

Felt that is made out of man made fibers and blended with wool is called wool blend felt. The 2 common types of wool blend felt are: 20% wool/80% rayon and 35% wool/65%rayon.

Benefits of Wool Blend Felt

The wool content gives the felt a softer, more luxurious feel and it has a smooth handle. Wool blend felt is available in a full range of colours. When the wool is added, it allows the different fibres to be mixed in which can create heather, marl-effect colours. These colours give a softer, old-fashioned, antique appearance and lend more of a traditional feel to the finished project.

For more information, please visit industrial polyester felt supplier.

A Sewing Life Uses Wool Blend Felt

Most of the stuffed animals in A Sewing Life are made using a marl wool blend felt which give them their traditional, whimsical look. If you would like to see some of the felt toys made using this felt, click here. The sewing kits all contain wool blend felt, mostly in marl colours. Take a look at the kits here.

100% Wool Felt

Felt that is made from 100% wool tends to be thicker than other felt and it can have a rougher texture where you can sometimes see the natural fibres more. It is suitable for projects that require a thicker, more sturdy fabric such as bags, baskets and home accessories. This tends to be the most expensive of the different types of felt.

How Thick Should Felt be?

Another difference in the felt is the thickness. Generally, if you are using a standard craft felt it will be approximately 1-2mm thick and this is acceptable to use for most craft projects. You can also purchase felt which is slightly thicker, up to 5mm and that would be used in a project where you need something a bit stiffer that holds it shape more.

How can I judge the Quality Before I Buy?

It is very difficult to tell what a felt will feel like when you buy on-line so it is always advisable to buy the smallest piece possible to see what it is like and then order more when you are sure of it's quality. Alternatively, visit a craft store or a haberdashery where you will be able to handle the felt and ask for advice.

What Next?

If you enjoyed this blog post, please share it with your friends on social media. Now that you have a better understanding of which felt to use, take a look through some of our sewing patterns, made using wool blend felt and pick your favourite to start your next sewing project.

Felt is a pretty general term and it easy for a new crafter to be confused! I will introduce three types of nonwoven felt and and explain their uses and where it can be purchased. Let me know if you have any other questions! 

Wool Felt: Often referred to 100% wool felt so not to get confused with its blended counterparts; only Merino wool fibers are felted together making the felt evenly dense, pliable and so very smooth. The colors are soft and beautiful. Certainly a premium felt -you'll want to use this for you most special of projects. Look for Benzie's Bellwether -you'll never go back! 

Craft Felt: On the other end of the spectrum is craft felt, readily available in any big box craft store for very low prices. This felt is usually made from recycled materials such as water bottles or synthetic materials such as acrylic. It can be unusually thin or extra lofty and colors are limited. The above photo shows craft store felt -you can see how thin it is compared to the wool felt that is placed on top. Fibers are usually sparse and is prone to stretching and pilling. Warning, do not iron this felt, it will melt! Best left for kiddie crafts. 

Wool Blend Felt: Most often referred to wool felt (but not to be confused with 100% wool felt), this felt is made up of wool and rayon fibers. Our favorite is Benzie's wool blend felt and it is made up of 20-35% merino wool with the remainder rayon (or viscose). Rayon and wool are both renewable sources! These two fibers work well together making a strong durable felt that is available in all colors of the rainbow. 

I consider wool blend felt to be the best of both worlds - it's durable and strong like pure wool felt but it's affordably priced too! You can share all you want with your kids while using the same felt for heirlooms for your grandchildren. Available at www.benziedesign.com.

I would love to hear if you utilize the different kinds of felt and what projects you use them for! Read more on different types of wool crafts here!  Happy Crafting! 

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