From the felt, the steppe nomads made pillows, mattresses, various covers, carpets, burkas, hats and many other products. Let us briefly recall the history of felting wool.
The first mention of felting in Noah's Ark
Felting Merino Sheep
Felting is considered the most ancient needlework technique. This is an old way of creating products from non-spun wool fibers.
The appearance of the first products of this type, according to archaeologists, dates back to 8000 years of age.
According to one of the old legends, the very first felted carpet appeared on Noah's Ark. Sheep transported on it was kept in extremely limited spaces.
Animals constantly rubbed against each other, shreds of wool fell on the floor, became wet and gradually compacted under the hooves.
Subsequently, when the sheep were taken out of the ark, in the place where they were kept, a dense canvas remained on the floor.
Felting wool in different countries
Traditional felting is one of the varieties of folk craft of many nomadic peoples of Mongolia and Tibet, Central Asia, India and Turkey. Since ancient times, this material is highly regarded by many nationalities as a matter of first vital necessity. Currently, felt has become widespread in Europe.
Modern felt products
Many modern needlewomen create fashionable clothes, shoes, bags, toys, paintings and various ornaments from it.
Felt traditions
Felting from wool, like any other art, has certain traditions formed under the influence of the identity of each people. Some traditions for various reasons have been lost, but many have survived until our time.
Felting: Mountain Altai
Iranian technology
A characteristic feature of this tradition is ornament. In accordance with Iranian technology, the selected motif is first laid out with wool on a mat, which is then twisted. After this, the process of felting begins.
Wet Felting Iranian Technique
Pazyryk
The most ancient products from felt, archaeologists found in the burials of the Altai Mountains, dating back to the IV-V centuries BC. e. In this place, the Pazyryk culture, belonging to the "Scythian circle", was discovered. In the burials, well-preserved elements of horse decoration, a variety of soft utensils and clothes were found.
Pazyryk Valeniya technique
Currently preserved felts belonging to this culture can be seen in the Hermitage.
Reference! The most famous product made in this technique is considered to be an impressive curtain (approximately 30 m²).
Pazyryk felt products are distinguished by skillful jewelry applications of surprisingly bright colors.
Sunsky
The first samples of products belonging to this tradition were discovered in Inner Mongolia. Such products were mostly monochrome.
Felting wool in Buryatia
Decorated similar products with a small stitch of tendon filaments. Currently, this tradition exists in Buryatia. Traditional mystical stitch patterns are widely popular there.
Wet felting Suna technique in Mongolia
Slavic
The Slavs were not characterized by the manufacture of felts, as such, but they perfectly mastered the craftsmanship of making the so-called half-felts - woven and aerated after materials, a classic example of which is felt (it was made from wool of natural colors).
European
In Europe, it was customary to dump felt by rolling it between the rollers. In addition, another method was also used. The wool was densified in large, funnel-like containers under the influence of a swirling water flow.
Needle-punched industrial felt manufacturing method
Over time, the production of thin felt (felt) has gained industrial scale. In the XX century, the needle-punched method of industrial production of felt appeared, which provided the opportunity to dump even fiber of artificial origin.
Two types of felting
Dry way
There are two main methods of felting - dry and wet. The dry method was invented relatively recently. Such felting is carried out using special needles equipped with inclined notches.
Felting needles - felting
These needles pierce the wool many times. In this case, the notches catch the hairs, twisting and compacting them together.
Wet felting is performed using a soap solution, due to which friction between the hairs is reduced. First, the wool product is laid out in the required manner, then it must be moistened with the prepared solution and the process of felting can begin by friction and crushing of the material.
Reference! Hot water helps the fibers to lengthen and speeds up the process of connecting them together.
Wet felting
After completing the procedure, the resulting product must be rinsed in clean water and dried well. This method is mainly used for the manufacture of flat products, for example, clothes, paintings and panels.
Modern traditions of using felt
In the modern world, felting has long ceased to be a simple craft and has turned into art. Recently, there has been a sharp increase in interest in felt.
