What is Felted Wool?

The fabric used in Felted Wool embroidery is 100% wool that has been washed in hot water and dried in a hot dryer. This step will make the fabric shrink and become thicker- this is the ‘felting’ process. We purchase 100% wool by the bolt, take it to the Laundromat to wash and dry it myself. As the fabric shrinks it becomes thicker and very soft. We use a little bit of Orvis quilt soap in the wash cycle. We never use fabric softener in the washer or the dryer. Fabric softeners coat the fibers of the wool and the fusible web won’t work. When appliqué pieces are cut from Felted wool there is no need to turn under the edges, as you do in needle-turn appliqué. Felted wool will not ravel----ever.

What is Hand-Dyed Felted Wool?

We purchase Hand-Dyed Felted Wool from a wonderful lady who dyes 100% wool yardage in a rainbow of colors. Hand-Dyed wool has been washed and dried in the coloring process so it becomes Felted Wool. The cool thing about Hand-Dyed Felted Wool is the subtle variations in color that you will get in one piece of fabric. Your 8" square of Hand-Dyed Felted Wool will have some areas darker that others. This subtle color difference offers you the opportunity to use the same 8" square for both the light and dark parts the design.

What Fusible Web Works Best With Felted Wool?

Because Felted Wool needs a Wool iron setting (hot) you need to use a product called Wonder Under Fusible Web. It is the only web We have found that can stand the Wool setting on an iron and still stick.

What fabric do you use for the background of Felted Wool projects?

What kind of notions do you use with Felted Wool embroidery?

We recommend John James embroidery needles because they have large eyes (easier to thread for older eyes!) and they are very sharp. To match the stitching to the wool color we use two strands of DMC embroidery floss. Instead of black embroidery floss. We prefer to use Aurifil Thread, size 12 (that means it is very thick). This thread comes on a spool and when you use 2 strands for embroidery it looks wonderful! We also like to run my thread over some Thread Heaven thread conditioner before we start stitching. This keeps the thread from knotting - and the little blue box is really cute.

Where do I start?

We suggest you purchase a kit for a small project first. (Check out the 'How To' page for a sample of the easy 'how to' instructions for felted wool projects!) The kit should include the background fabric, the felted wool and the pattern. Some kits will include the fusible web and embroidery floss, too. Get a great looking basket to hold the Felted Wool scraps. Save every little piece! They come in handy for a future project. We save the teeny, tiny pieces and use them to stuff cute little pin cushions!

What is the difference between Felted Wool and Wool Felt?

Good question! Felted Wool starts out as woven fabric that is washed and dryed. Anything that you make with Felted Wool can be laundered later. Wool Felt is much less expensive because it is wool fibers and man-made fibers that are heated and mashed flat. Think of what you get when you clean out the lint trap of your dryer. If you took that stuff and ironed it for a long time you would produce Felt. Wool Felt can’t be laundered.

Felted Wool Embroidery was first introduced to the quilting world at Fall Quilt Market in Houston, Texas. We are happy to offer a great selection of Felted Wool products to customers around the country on AlwaysYourDesign.com

Supplies offered on the site include Felted Wool by the 8" square and by the yard, both regular colors and Hand-Dyed Wool plus books, patterns, Aurifil thread, John James needles, Wonder Under Fusible Web and a great variety of Kits for every skill level.