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Felt |
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The Humble Textile |
Doll Loft Dolls:
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Felt!
Have you ever worked with felt? Doll Loft Dolls are made of the finest 100% wool felt. Felt is an ancient textile, in continuous use in many parts of the world for thousands of years. Felt predates the spinning of yarn and the weaving of fabric. Some of the earliest examples of felt were found on the Central Asian Steppes and date back 6,000 years. It is known as the nomad’s fabric and has been used in ways that surprise us in the west. Felt is used for walls in nomadic homes called gurts that can be collapsed and moved from place to place. It has been used for centuries to make rugs and carpets, saddles, cushions, boots, clothing, decorative arts and toys. In Southern Africa, felt has long been the textile of choice for warm blankets. Felt can be made from an array of animal fibers including sheep, camel, ox, goats, horse or any other protein based fiber.
How Felt is Made
Felt is created through a process that allows the fibers to mat together. It usually involves mixing the fibers in a solution of soap and water (or other bonding agent) and the application of pressure to make a uniform piece of fabric. There are many types of felt including acrylic/polyester felt, mixtures of polyester and wool, or wool and rayon. All Doll Loft semi-finished and doll making kits include exclusively fine, 100% wool felt.
Why I Love to Work With Felt
Felt unleashes my creativity. For construction, it is just about as flexible as woven fabric. Felt is enormously forgiving, does not ravel, and plumps beautifully when stuffed.. Felt takes paint and ink very well. Perhaps, the most unique feature of felt for doll making is how much it gives the impression of real skin. There is something about its texture, depth and warmth that just works. When I first touched wool felt, I bought every shade of brown, tan, beige, cream peach, pink and gold that I could get my hands on! I couldn’t wait to begin sewing! I found that when I added blush to the faces, they just came alive – I knew I had found my medium. I know you will enjoy using it!!
Caring for Felt
Felt is very sturdy and durable and will last for many generations with proper care. Dolls should not be left in direct sunlight for long periods of time (months). As with any textile, eventually the sunlight will begin to bleach the felt and the skin tone and paint or embroidery will fade and the felt will begin to breakdown. Do not wash doll felt – this will change the surface texture and make the fabric more fragile. If you have a spill on the doll, first blot the area with a damp cloth, next blot (do not rub) the area with a mild soap solution until the stain lifts out, and finally, ‘rinse’ the area with a wet cloth and allow to air dry. Do not put doll felt in the dryer.