Experiments | Felting¶

Goal: Explore and compare wet and needle felting processes across different technology levels, from low-tech manual tools to high-tech automated systems, using rustic wools.
Expected Output: A comparative set of felt samples produced with different tools, alongside process notes and practical tips to support replication and informed tool selection.

Tech definitions

High-tech: machines that automate most movements, allowing dense felting with minimal manual effort. Focus is on mechanization and efficiency.
Medium-tech: tools that assist or amplify manual actions. They reduce effort and standardize some movements but still require hands-on interaction.
Low-tech: simple, accessible and primarily manual, relying on human effort and sustainable, easy-to-access materials.

Level	Tools
High	FeltLoom, robotic arm, laser cutting + rolling machine
Medium	Felting gun, rolling machine, sanding machine
Low	Kitchen tools, bamboo mats, wooden support

Tests conducted¶

FeltLoom (needle felting)¶

The FeltLOOM is a needle-felting textile machine that compacts wool fibers through a dry mechanical process. Material is placed on the feed side and drawn forward by rollers toward rows of barbed needles.

As the wool passes through, the needles repeatedly puncture and interlock the fibers, causing them to migrate and entangle. The number of passes and fiber layers determines how dense the textile becomes.

Learn how to use it¶

With FR Woolshed and Le Textile lab, I joined a workshop on 01/15 at Villa Chateaufavier and tested the machine.

Machine details

Machine buttons

Dual motors: one for roller feed, one for needle movement, allowing independent control of feed speed and needle frequency.
Forward and reverse controls, to run the fiber back and forth for increased density.
Emergency stop button to immediately stop the machine.

Practical tips

Always keep fingers away from the felting area.
Keep fibers clean to minimize broken needles; unwashed wool is forbidden in Lainamac school and generally not recommended.

Samples

Key observations

I created a felting piece by combining two layers of different wools (Thônes et Marthod, Noir de Velay and mélange fibers) and running them through the felting machine four times.

The process proved immediate and easy to control, with the machine producing visible and consistent results after only a few passes.

The speed of the dry felting action allows for rapid iteration, making it possible to test multiple panels, fiber combinations, and densities within a short time frame.

Felting gun (needle felting)¶

The Felting Gun is a handheld needle-felting tool that entangles wool fibers using rapid up-and-down movements of barbed needles. Wool is placed on a mat, and the needles repeatedly penetrate the fibers, interlocking them to create a dense felted structure.

The gun speeds up the process compared to manual needle felting, making it suitable for building base layers or covering larger areas. Fine details can still be refined with hand needles.

Learn how to use¶

During the first week of experimentation, I tested the felting gun available in the lab.

A first test was conducted with carded wool placed on a felting mat and felted as a layered square. The tool was used on the first side and then the process repeated on the other side.
As a second test, I added unwashed wool on top of the carded layer but the wool was not easy to interlock.
As a final test, I tried to shape the carded wool into a small simple 3D form (I am not an expert here) to test the tool in multiple directions.

Key observations

The felting gun performs best on carded wool.
Unwashed wool did not interlock, likely due to its grease (lanolin), and may require additional preparation to entangle effectively.
The gun is relatively slow and low-powered, making the process still dependent on hand shaping.

Tests planned¶

Sanding machine (wet felting)¶

Originally designed to smooth or roughen surfaces in woodworking or textile finishing, the sanding machine is repurposed here for wet felting, using movement and pressure to help wool fibers interlock and compact. Fabricademy alumna Javin Gohel explored this approach in her final project.

The test to study the effect on fiber bonding is planned by Feb 3.

Robotic arm (needle felting)¶

The TinkerKit Braccio is an Arduino-controlled robotic arm equipped with six servo motors, allowing a wide range of precise movements. It can rotate, lift, and manipulate objects, making it suitable for experimentation with automated tasks such as needle felting.

The tool was already tested during OS Hardware Week.

On Feb 13, it will be further explored with FR Woolshed and Le Textile Lab members to become more familiar with the arm and refine the coding for improved precision in felting tasks.

Rolling machine (wet felting)¶

The rolling machine is designed specifically for wet wool felting, using continuous rolling motion and pressure to help water-activated wool fibers interlock and compact into felt. By moving layers of wool back and forth under controlled pressure, the machine accelerates fiber migration and bonding more consistently than manual rolling.

Purchased by Le Textile Lab, the machine is expected to be delivered by the end of January. Once available, tests will focus on how different rolling speeds, pressures and layering techniques influence felt density.

Rolling machine + Laser cutting machine¶

The idea is to combine wet-felted wool from the rolling machine with laser cutting, exploring simple seamless patterns or modular shapes.

This activity will be planned in calendar only once the rolling machine will be available in the lab.

Considerations:

Use dark colors for the wool, as the laser will create a slightly burned effect along the edges.
The process may generate a strong wool smell, so plan for adequate ventilation..

Everyday objects¶

Simple and everyday objects (wooden boards, bamboo mats, kitchen tools) can be used to guide and shape the wool while rolling.

This approach allows hands-on experimentation, testing different pressures and patterns without specialized equipment for wet felting.

A session to explore the materials is planned for Feb 4.

Phase 2 (February)¶

After the mentoring session on January 27, I defined the scope as follows:

Run a form of scientific investigation by monitoring the same variables (such as time) and comparing samples.
Example: using the same amount of wool and the same amount of time, observing and documenting the results. Using 1 kg of wool for 10 minutes with standard needles, the FeltLoom machine produces X pieces.
At the end, a set of comparison samples will be produced. These can become the basis for a future scientific paper or be developed into artistic samples, such as a paravan (consider how these samples will be presented).

Key process concepts¶

Research Aim
To compare how wool preparation and technology level influence felting efficiency, structural stability, and water usage when working with rustic wool.

Standards for comparison

Parameter	Value
Wool type	Washed carded Thônes et Marthod, unwashed when applicable
Observation time	10 minutes
Sample weight	50 g
Initial shape	Square
Sample size	25x25 cm
Layer structure	4 layers cross-laid

Output Evaluation Table

Bucket: F = needle felting, W = wet felting

Bucket	Tech tool	Final Dimensions	Thickness	Operator Effort	Flexibility	Surface Texture	Additional Notes
F	zero: standard needles	26x27 cm	11 cm	High	Medium	Flat	Strong fiber interlock structure
F	zero: standard needles	27 x 27 cm	14 cm	High	Low	High	Very curvy
F	Felting gun	27x27 cm	13 cm	Low	Medium	High	Machine is low-powered
W	zero (water, soap and bubble wrap)	25 x 28 cm	4 cm	High	Medium	Quite flat	10mins is quite challenging for this technique
W	Rolling pin	33 x 32 cm	3 cm	Medium	High	Quite flat	Dimension is bigger than the beginning
W	Sanding machine	32 x 30 cm	5 cm	Medium	High	plan	The machine helped with agitation
W	Sanding machine	28 x 30 cm	3.50 cm	Medium	High	Quite curved	Wool washed through fermentation (not carded, just combed)

Processes details

Wet Felting

MATERIAL:

Washed and carded wool
Marseille soap
Hot water
Plastic/bubble wrap
Towel or cardboard tube to roll with

STEPS:

Prepare 4 layers of carded wool, alternating fiber directions each time.
Moisten the wool with warm water and Marseille soap (the soap helps open the wool scales).
Cover the layers with bubble wrap (bubbles facing the wool) and roll them around a cardboard tube, applying pressure.
Roll the wrap several times and then unwrap it. At this stage, a significant portion of the previously added water is expelled from the fibers.
Massage the wool using warm water and Marseille soap, working the fibers in multiple directions.
Repeat the wrapping, rolling, and massaging phases several times. The more repetitions, the better the final result.
Rinse the wool thoroughly with clean water and strike it repeatedly against a flat surface (the impact further compacts the fibers).

Needle Felting

MATERIAL:

Washed and carded wool
Felting needle tool
Felting mat

STEPS:

Prepare 4 layers of carded wool, alternating fiber directions for each layer to improve structural stability. (For my test, I placed two layers, started the process and then added two more layers)
Place the layered wool on the felting mat, keeping the edges aligned.
Hold the felting needle perpendicular to the wool surface and begin puncturing the fibers with repeated up-and-down movements, causing them to migrate and interlock.
Work across the entire surface, avoiding concentrating the needle in one area for too long, which may create holes or weak spots.
Once the first side begins to stabilize, carefully flip the sample and repeat the needling process on the opposite side.
Continue alternating sides, gradually increasing the density of the felt by repeating the needling motion across the surface and along the edges.
Repeat the process until the desired surface uniformity is achieved.

Reference¶

Images: Martina Muroni unless otherwise stated.