If you’re new to hand sewing, felt is wonderfully material to use. It doesn’t fray, it cuts cleanly, and it’s perfect for simple embroidery such as like the whip stitch, running stitch, and overstitch. I work exclusively with pure wool felt, as polyester blends irritate my skin. This is something worth keeping in mind if you’re sensitive to synthetic fibres. Wool felt is also a renewable, biodegradable material, making it an eco‑friendly choice for crafters who prefer natural materials.
Choosing the Right Wool Felt
Felt comes in many forms, but the type I use most often is 1mm thick, 100% wool felt. You can use 2mm felt for my designs, but I personally prefer the flexibility and neat finish of 1mm. Thicker felts are available too; they’re less suitable for small hand‑sewn pieces but excellent for sturdy makes such as mats, padding, and ironing pads.
Marking Your Felt Projects
For marking out shapes and pattern pieces, I highly recommend Heat Erasable Fabric Pens. The ink disappears with a quick blast from a warm hairdryer, making them perfect for felt craft projects where you want clean, mark‑free results.
What to Do With Felt Off‑Cuts
As you sew, you’ll naturally collect a bowl of colourful felt scraps. Don’t throw them away, larger off‑cuts are perfect for adding tiny details to future projects. Anything too small to reuse goes straight into my compost bin, where it breaks down naturally.
My Recommended Wool Felt Supplier
All the felt I use comes from a trusted UK‑based supplier, The Wool Felt Company (www.woolfeltcompany.co.uk). Their felt is dyed to OEKO‑TEX® Standard 100, so it’s safe to use in children’s products. The quality is excellent, the colours are beautiful, and I highly recommend them if you’re looking for reliable, high‑quality wool felt for your sewing projects.
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