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Felt is a versatile fabric that is popular in various crafts and other applications. In this practical guide, we will explore the different types of felt fabric, how it is made, its uses, and where you can buy it. The felt fabric is generally made from natural fibers, synthetic fibers, or a combination of both. Natural fibers used in felt fabric include wool and, occasionally, fur from animals like rabbits or beavers. The synthetic fibers used in felt fabric include polyester, acrylic, or rayon. Felt fabric has many uses, from clothing and accessories to home décor and crafting. It is known for its durability, insulating properties, and versatility. Whether you are a crafting enthusiast or simply interested in learning more about this unique material, this article is for you.

My favorite felt is blended wool felt, which is made of a blend of synthetic and wool fibers and Korean soft and hard felt. For my felt crafts, they offer the best price-quality ratio. I use Korean hard felt for felt board patterns. I also have some leftover craft felt, which I use if I want to try something new or for felt projects that won't be touched, such as felt banners and pennants.

1. What Types of Felt Fabric Are There?

Wool Felt (100% Wool Felt)
Blended Wool Felt (Mix of Wool felt and synthetic felt or semi-synthetic felt)
Craft Felt (Synthetic Felt)
Korean Felt, also called Hard Felt or Stiff Felt (100% Polyester Felt)
Eco-fi Felt (synthetic felt made from recycled plastic bottles)
Xotic Felt (50% Bamboo, 50% Rayon Felt)
Needled Felt

When you buy felt fabric, it's going to be made either of natural fibers (wool, fur), synthetic fibers (polyester, rayon, acryl, viscose), or a combination of natural and synthetic fibers.

1. Wool Felt (100% Wool Felt)

100% Wool Felt is, as the name suggests, made from 100% wool. Wool felt is a natural material of high density and the best quality felt. This means that after the felt product has been used or become worn out, it can be safely disposed of as it is 100% biodegradable. The only potential environmental issues associated with these types of felt regard land use and proper animal stewardship. Wool felt has excellent wicking and durability abilities. When it comes to price, it is approximately two to three times more expensive than blended wool felt. In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, wool felt shares the beneficial attributes of its base fiber, including absorbency, fire resistance, natural elasticity, and impressive insulative properties.

In felt crafts, wool felt is excellent for sewing stuffed toys and is a popular choice for clothing and felt hats.

If you want to buy wool felt, visit Atelier Anemoontje (The Netherlands) and Tintangel (The Netherlands) on Etsy.

In the US, Benzie Design (US) offers Bellwether felt made of 100% pure merino wool which is made of exceptionally high quality fibers.

My Felt Lady (Australia) sells premium Australian wool felt in 130 vibrant colors.

2. Blended Wool Felt

Blended wool felt is a blend of nylon, polyester, polypropylene, or cotton material and wool. There are two common types of wool blends used in felt production, the 20% wool/ 80% rayon blend or 35 % wool/ 65 % rayon blend, in-home crafting. Rayon is a semi-synthetic fiber as it is produced from naturally occurring polymers. It is not, however, a natural fabric because cellulose requires extensive processing to become rayon.

Blended wool felt is produced to provide some of the look and feel of wool felt but at a lower price. When comparing acrylic craft felt to blended wool felt, the blended felt will have a nice, nubby texture. Blended felt is more expensive than craft felt (about twice as much) but still reasonably priced.

You can use blended wool felt for home crafts and decorations.

Benzie Design (US) sells highly recommended wool blend felt. They also offer a wide variety of felt color palettes.

You can buy blended wool felt on Etsy at Gingermelon (Canada), The Felt Fairy (UK), Over The River Felt (US). You can buy blended wool felt on Amazon as well.

3. Craft Felt (Synthetic Felt)

Craft felt is purely synthetic felt used widely in crafting. It might pill and fuzz easily. Therefore, it is not advised for sewing crafts where a long lifespan is needed or a lot of handling is involved. It is the cheapest type of felt, which might make it a good option for kids' crafts or if your budget is too tight. The price depends on the synthetic fiber used, polyester being the most common craft felt. It’s very typical to start your felt journey with craft felt and then move on to blended wool felt or wool felt. Synthetic felt offers some of the same benefits as conventional felt. However, unlike wool or fur, acrylic felt is highly flammable, and it is uncomfortable when worn against the skin.

Craft felt is not the most environmentally friendly option as the synthetics degrade very slowly and the manufacturing process creates chemical pollutants.

4. Korean Felt, also called Hard Felt or Stiff Felt (100% Polyester Felt)

Korean hard felt is a stiffened polyester felt (synthetic fiber felt) with a thickness of 0.05 inch (1 mm or 1,2 mm). It's produced by a Korean factory called Shinwon Felt. It's produced by the needle punching method, which leads to a clean cut that doesn't pill. As the name suggests, it's a felt that feels harder (stiffer) on touch, which makes it hold its shape better than craft felt. Due to its stiffness, you can cut the edge easily with die-cut machines, scissors, and even decorative scissors (pinking shears).

It is trendy to create and sew Quiet Books. This type of felt is also used for kids’ crafts, charms, brooches, pendants, etc. I use it for felt board shapes and pieces. I have to admit I wasn't a fan of this kind of felt at the beginning, but I slowly found my appreciation for it. It's so easy to cut and holds its shape.

For the same reasons as craft felt (synthetic fibers), it is not the most environmentally friendly option.

Hard felt is more difficult to find in a craft store. If you want to buy this felt, Etsy is the best place to do so. You can find this type of felt by name: Korean hard felt or Shinwon felt. You can visit Manverko Felt (the Czech Republic), Emilisa Kreativ (Germany), Blueberry Little Shop (UK), and Legacy Felt (US) on Etsy.

5. Eco-fi Felt

Eco-friendly felt, known as Eco-fi Felt, is a synthetic felt made from recycled plastic bottles (PET fiber). Its use can help to reduce plastic waste. It can be gently machine-washed (30) and ironed at low temperatures. Visit Kunin Care Guide for more information. This felt is perfect for children’s crafts and other projects that do not require high-quality wool felt. It’s not as soft to the touch and not as dense as wool-blend felt. It is a lovely alternative to craft felt for kids’ crafts. Kunin Felt produces Eco-fi felt in the US. You can buy Eco-fi felt on Amazon.

6. Xotic Felt (50% Bamboo, 50% Rayon Felt)

Bamboo felt, also known as Xotic felt, is a semi-synthetic felt made from 50% bamboo and 50% rayon fibers. One rayon is made from bamboo fibers, and one rayon is derived from other sources, most commonly wood pulp. These two rayons are then combined through commercial needle felting to create bamboo felt. This eco-friendly felt is incredibly soft, retains its shape through washing, and doesn't shrink. Xotic felt is a preferred option among vegans. You can buy Xotic felt from National Nonwovens on Amazon or on Etsy at TadaaStudioFelt (US) and Eco Friendly Crafts LLC (US).

7. Needled Felt

Needled felt is produced without the inclusion of moisture; instead, thousands of needles are used in the production. The felt fibers are intertwined with the needles, and this process is called needling.

There is also a creative craft called needle felting, whereby sculpting shapes and figures are made from wool. The artist uses special felting needles and wool, and with the up and down motion of the needles gives a form to wool. The created craft is used for decoration.

2. Where to Buy Felt Fabric?

Online retailers for felt fabric

Several online retailers offer a wide selection of felt fabrics. Websites such as Amazon, Etsy, and Fabric.com provide an extensive range of colors, types, and sizes of felt fabric to choose from. Shopping online allows you to compare prices and find the best deals easily. From my experience, there is a huge difference in quality between the types of felt fabrics. Therefore, I always order samples first.

Local craft stores

If you prefer shopping in person, local craft stores are a great place to find felt fabric. Stores like Michaels, Joann, and Hobby Lobby usually have a dedicated section for various types of felt, including different colors and sizes. Visiting a craft store also gives you the opportunity to see and feel the fabrics before making a purchase.

3. What Is Felt?

Felt is a non-woven fabric made by matting together fibers through heat, moisture, and pressure. It has a unique texture and structure that sets it apart from other materials. Felt can be made from either natural or synthetic fibers, and it is commonly used in a wide range of applications.

Nonwoven felts are considered to be the first textile fabric produced in ancient times.

How is felt made?

The process of making felt involves several steps. First, fibers, such as wool, acrylic, or polyester, are aligned and layered. Next, heat, moisture, and pressure are applied to the fibers, causing them to become entangled and interlocked, forming a cohesive fabric. The felting process can be done by hand or through machine manufacturing.

Felt comes in various thicknesses ranging from 0.04 inch to 1 inch (0,8 mm to 25 mm). The preferred thickness for crafting with felt is about 0.05 to 0.06 inches (1,2 mm to 1,4 mm).

For felt crafts where you want sturdiness, 1/8-inch felt (3 mm) can be used, for example, for Christmas stockings, coasters, placemats, bags, purses, and slipper soles.

Felt also comes in different densities, measured in g / m². Denser felt is easier to work with, while less dense felt may require interfacing to ensure the durability of felt craft projects.

Uses of felt

Felt is a versatile material used in various industries and crafts. Its soft and durable nature makes it suitable for an array of applications. Some common uses of felt include clothing, accessories, hats, footwear, home decor, and craft projects. Its ability to absorb sound and provide insulation also makes it ideal for interior design and acoustic purposes.

Properties of Wool Felt

durable and resistant to wear and tear
excellent insulator for sound
excellent insulator for temperature
highly flame retardant
highly absorbent
does not ravel or fray as woven fabrics
easy to work with, especially when hand-sewing
comes in many colors and thicknesses

4. Crafting with Felt

Felt is a type of fabric often used in craft projects.

Felt Craft Projects

The possibilities for crafting with felt are endless. From simple ornaments and keychains to intricate soft toys and home decor items, felt can be used to create various crafts. Some popular felt craft ideas include felt flowers, animal plushies, Christmas decorations, and personalized felt banners.

Felt Craft Supplies

To get started with felt crafting, you will need a few basic supplies. These include felt sheets in various colors, scissors, a hot glue gun or tacky glue, embroidery floss, needles, and any additional embellishments you want to add to your projects. Having a good assortment of felt colors and textures will allow you to bring your creative ideas to life.

Benefits of using felt in crafts

Felt offers several advantages when it comes to crafting. Its soft texture makes it easy to work with, as it can be easily cut, sewn, and glued. Felt's durability ensures that the finished crafts will have a long lifespan. Additionally, felt's versatility and availability in various colors make it a go-to material for crafters of all skill levels.

Having the right tools for felt will help you to enjoy the felt crafting hobby even more. You might be interested in reading the following sewing tips and tricks posts as well:

5. My Free Felt Patterns

Explore my 50 free patterns for felt for your next felt craft project:

6. Conclusions Types of Felt Fabric

In conclusion, you have learned about the different types of felt fabric. Felt is a type of fabric that is made from natural (wool, fur) or synthetic fibers. The most common type of felt is acrylic felt, also known as craft felt, which is often used in crafting projects. Wool felt, on the other hand, is made from pure wool and is known for its durability and insulation properties. Felt fabric is commonly used in a variety of applications, including clothing, hats, and as a material for arts and crafts. Whether it's for industrial or artistic purposes, there are many types of felt available that cater to different needs. Overall, felt is a versatile fabric that offers a wide range of uses and applications in various industries.

Happy felt crafting!

Be sure to visit more on this website for free embroidery and sewing tips & tricks to help you out as you stitch my patterns. For free felt patterns, visit my Freebies page.

Let's craft together!

XO, Anna

Types of Felt - Practical Guide to Felt Fabric