Felting Wool
— Roving & Fiber for Wet Felting, Needle Felting & Nuno Felting
Felting wool is wool fiber, typically sold as roving or top, selected and prepared specifically for use in felting techniques. All wools in this collection are suitable for felting. Bulk roving orders are available for larger projects.
Why wool felts:
Wool fibers are covered in microscopic scales along their length. When agitated through moisture and friction or mechanical needling, these scales interlock and bind together permanently, creating a dense, durable fabric without weaving or knitting. This is the physical mechanism behind all felting techniques.
Felting techniques this wool is suited for:
- Wet felting — fibers are matted together using hot water, soap, and agitation to produce flat sheets, vessels, and sculptural forms
- Needle felting — barbed needles tangle fibers together through repeated stabbing, used for 3D sculpture, figures, and embellishment on existing fabric
- Nuno felting — wool is felted directly into an open-weave base fabric such as silk or gauze, producing a textured, lightweight textile for garments and scarves
Choosing a wool by breed:
| Breed | Origin | Softness | Best for | Notes |
| Merino | Spain | Very soft | Wet felting, weareables | Fine crimp, felts quickly and evenly |
| Corriedale | New Zealand | Medium soft | Wet & needle felting | Versatile all-rounder, widely recommended for beginners |
| Shetland | Scotland | Soft | Wet & needle felting | Longer staple adds durability: conservation breed |
| Romney | England | Medium | Wet & needle felting | Coarser grades felt more readily: conservation breed |
| Core Wool | Blended | Coarser | Needle felting | Economy blend ideal for 3D project cores covered with softer fiber for finished surface |
Conservation breeds are heritage sheep breeds maintained to preserve genetic diversity. Purchasing conservation breed fiber supports small-scale farming of these at-risk flocks.
If you don't find exactly what you want, or would like a felting wool recommendation, please call the shop directly at 800-441-9665 or contact us for assistance.
