25 Good Wools for Felt Making – Introduction
Felt making (or felting) is an age-old craft that continues to captivate artists and hobbyists alike. The quality of wool used in felt making significantly impacts the final result, making it crucial to choose the right kind of wool for your projects. In this article, we will share our picks for 25 good wools for felt making, drawing from our experience and authority in the world of fiber arts. From fine Merino to rugged Jacob, we have explored a wide array of wool types, and we are excited to share our insights with you. So, without further ado, let’s dive into our handpicked selection of the finest wools for felting!
25 Good Wools for Felt Making Our Favorite Picks
1. Merino Wool: Softness Personified
Merino wool stands out as one of the most popular choices for felting and for good reason. Its fine fibers make it incredibly soft, and it felts beautifully with a smooth finish. The versatility of merino wool allows it to be used for both wet and needle felting projects. Additionally, its wide range of vibrant colors enables artists to unleash their creativity and bring their felting visions to life.
2. Corriedale Wool: The Ideal Blend
Corriedale wool is a favorite among many felters due to its unique combination of qualities. It strikes a balance between the softness of merino and the sturdiness of coarser wools. This makes Corriedale an excellent choice for beginners and experienced felters alike. Its medium staple length and crimp give projects a lovely texture and result in a sturdy finished product.
3. Jacob Wool: Rustic Elegance
For those seeking a more rustic and natural appeal in their felted creations, Jacob wool is a fantastic option. With its striking black and white fleece, Jacob wool lends a distinctive character to any project. While it may not be as soft as merino, its coarser texture adds depth and charm to felting designs.
4. Bluefaced Leicester (BFL) Wool: Lustrous Beauty
Bluefaced Leicester wool is renowned for its elegant luster and long staple length. This wool felts smoothly and is a joy to work with, especially for intricate detailing in needle felting projects. The sheen of BFL wool gives a polished look to finished pieces, making it an excellent choice for felting artworks with a touch of sophistication.
5. Shetland Wool: A Kaleidoscope of Colors
Shetland wool offers a rich tapestry of colors that excites felting enthusiasts worldwide. The variety of hues available in Shetland wool allows artists to explore endless possibilities in their designs. The wool’s medium-fine texture felts beautifully and adds character to felting projects.
6. Gotland Wool: Texture Enthusiast’s Dream
If you crave texture in your felting projects, Gotland wool should be at the top of your list. Its long, curly locks create captivating textures that add depth and interest to felted items. Gotland wool is perfect for sculptural felting and 3D projects that require unique surface characteristics.
7. Wensleydale Wool: Shimmering Elegance
Wensleydale wool is known for its long, curly, and shiny locks, making it a fabulous choice for creating luxurious and eye-catching felted pieces. This breed’s wool drapes beautifully, making it suitable for felting wearables like scarves and shawls. The luster of Wensleydale wool adds a touch of elegance to any felting creation.
8. Romney Wool: A Staple for All Seasons
Romney wool’s durability and versatility make it a staple in the world of felting. Its long and strong fibers provide felting projects with structural integrity and excellent needle felting properties. Whether you’re crafting functional items or artistic sculptures, Romney wool is a reliable choice that delivers consistent results.
9. CVM/Romeldale Wool: Rare and Remarkable
CVM/Romeldale sheep produce rare and unique wool that is cherished by felting connoisseurs. Its fine and crimpy texture felts beautifully, and the wool’s natural colors showcase a subtle, earthy palette. Supporting the preservation of this heritage breed through your felting endeavors adds a special significance to your artistic journey.
10. Icelandic Wool: Warmth and Tradition
Icelandic wool comes from a breed of sheep that have thrived in Iceland’s harsh climate for centuries. This wool’s insulating properties make it ideal for creating cozy and warm felted items, such as blankets and slippers. Its dual coat, consisting of soft inner fibers and weather-resistant outer fibers, adds durability to your projects.
11. Falkland Wool: Sustainable Softness
Falkland wool is cherished not only for its softness but also for its eco-friendly and sustainable production. Sourced from the Falkland Islands, where sheep are raised with a focus on welfare and environmental responsibility, this wool is perfect for felting projects that prioritize ethical practices.
12. Southdown Wool: A Delightful All-Rounder
Southdown wool is a favorite among felters who seek fine and soft fiber with excellent felting properties. Its short staple length ensures quick felting, making it ideal for beginners or those working on time-sensitive projects. Southdown wool’s natural crimp lends a lovely texture to the finished pieces.
13. Masham Wool: Strong and Dependable
Masham wool, a blend of Teeswater and Swaledale wool, boasts strength and dependability, making it a popular choice for functional felted items like bags and footwear. The wool’s long fibers contribute to its durability, and its coarse texture adds a rugged charm to felted creations.
14. Texel Wool: Resilient and Versatile
Texel wool is prized for its resilience and versatility, making it suitable for a wide range of felting projects. Whether you’re crafting figurines or home decor, Texel wool’s sturdy yet soft texture ensures your creations withstand the test of time.
15. Mohair Wool: Luxurious Fuzziness
Mohair, made from the fleece of Angora goats, provides a distinctively fuzzy and luxurious texture to felted items. Its fine fibers create a halo effect around the finished piece, adding an element of charm and softness. Mohair blends beautifully with other wools, opening up a world of creative possibilities.
16. Cotswold Wool: Gleaming Locks
Cotswold wool is characterized by its long, lustrous locks that lend a captivating sheen to felted projects. The wool’s crimp and length make it a delightful choice for adding texture and drama to felting designs.
17. Cheviot Wool: Springy Resilience
Cheviot wool’s springy and bouncy nature makes it an appealing option for needle felting enthusiasts. Its distinct crimp and medium-fine texture ensures a smooth felting experience, while its natural white color provides a blank canvas for dyeing and coloring experiments.
18. Leicester Longwool: For Artistic Expression
Leicester Longwool is perfect for felters who wish to indulge in intricate and expressive designs. Its long, wavy fibers create eye-catching textures that elevate felted artworks to new heights.
19. Teeswater Wool: Shimmer and Grace
Teeswater wool’s long, lustrous locks shimmer and flow beautifully in felted creations. Its elegance makes it an attractive choice for felting wearables and artistic sculptures alike.
20. Hampshire Wool: Durability and Strength
Hampshire wool is cherished for its durability and resistance to wear and tear, making it suitable for functional and utilitarian felted items.
21. Lincoln Wool: Majestic Felted Creations
Lincoln wool’s long, heavy, and lustrous fibers make it a captivating choice for felting large and majestic pieces that demand attention.
22. Rambouillet Wool: Fine Texture, Fine Art
Rambouillet wool boasts a fine texture that artists can mold into exquisite and detailed felted artworks.
23. Clun Forest Wool: Soft and Bouncy
Clun Forest wool’s softness and bounce add a playful touch to felted items and sculptures.
24. Leicester Wensleydale Wool: Elegance in Length
Leicester Wensleydale wool’s long, curly fibers bring elegance and drama to felting projects.
25. Polwarth Wool: A Blend of Softness and Durability
Polwarth wool combines the softness of merino with the durability of longwool, making it a versatile and popular choice for felting.
25 Good Wools for Felt Making FAQs
- Q: Can I mix different types of wool in my felting projects?
A: Absolutely! Mixing different types of wool allows you to explore unique textures and create one-of-a-kind pieces. - Q: How do I choose the right wool for needle felting?
A: Consider the project’s intricacy, desired texture, and the wool’s felting properties when selecting wool for needle felting. - Q: What is the best wool for wet felting beginners?
A: Merino wool is an excellent choice for wet felting beginners due to its ease of felting and softness. - Q: Where can I buy high-quality felting wool?
A: Many online stores and specialty craft shops offer a wide range of high-quality felting wool. Look for trusted suppliers with positive reviews. - Q: Can I dye wool for felting at home?
A: Yes, dyeing wool at home is possible using acid dyes or natural dyeing techniques. Just ensure to follow safety guidelines. - Q: How do I care for felted items made from different types of wool?
A: Handwash gently in lukewarm water with mild soap, then reshape and air dry to ensure your felted items last a long time.
25 Good Wools for Felt Making Wrap Up
Selecting the right wool for felting is an essential step toward creating captivating and enduring artwork. With our favorite picks for wool, we hope you find inspiration and guidance to embark on your felting journey. From the softness of merino to the elegance of Leicester Wensleydale, each type of wool offers unique characteristics that elevate your creations. Remember to experiment, mix different wools, and embrace the artistic possibilities that felting provides. So, gather your materials, let your creativity flow, and indulge in the wonderful world of felting!