1. Ancient Origins of Felting (Wet Felting)
- Felting is one of humanity’s oldest textiles, practiced since the Neolithic or early Bronze Age (circa 4000–5000 BC) Felter’s FlockRustic Fiber Academyneedle-felting.netlify.appSweet Pea Dolls.
- Central Asia is widely recognized as the birthplace of felting. Nomadic peoples in regions like Turkey, Mongolia, and Siberia used wet felting to create garments, rugs, and yurts—valued for insulation and waterproofing EBSCOSweet Pea DollsSpelling Bee HinterWikipediatextile-en.techinfus.com.
- Archaeological finds, notably from Pazyryk burials in the Altai Mountains (Siberia), include intricately designed felt clothing and saddle covers dating back to as early as the 4th century BC textile-en.techinfus.comSweet Pea Dolls.
- The process involved wet-felting—combining wool with water, heat, soap, and agitation (e.g., trampling, rolling) to bind fibers into solid, durable material EBSCOThe Silk Purse GuildWikipedia.
2. Transition to Industrial Felting (Needle or Dry Felting)
- By the 19th century, felting became mechanized. Industrial machines used arrays of barbed needles (needle-punching) to entangle fibers into a non-woven fabric without water Sweet Pea Dollstextile-en.techinfus.comSpelling Bee HinterWikipedia.
- These industrial needles were designed to efficiently create insulative and structural felt for commercial use—like insulation, automotive parts, and textiles.
3. Birth of Artistic Needle Felting (1980s)
- Needle felting as a craft—the dry, sculptural technique familiar to artists and hobbyists—only emerged in the mid-to-late 20th century.
- In the 1980s, American fiber artists David and Eleanor Stanwood were pivotal in adapting industrial felting needles for handmade, sculptural purposes—essentially creating needle felting as an art form Felter’s FlockArt Works! StudioEBSCOSweet Pea Dollsyarningwools.com.
- Simultaneously, the technique spread in Europe and Japan. Artists began crafting detailed figurines—especially in kawaii style—that fueled broader popularity Spelling Bee Hinterotternest.co.ukneedle-felting.netlify.appSweet Pea Dolls.
- In 2000s Japan, figures like Sachiko Susa elevated needle felting with highly refined, character-based creations that garnered global attention Spelling Bee Hinter.
4. Growth and Global Popularity
- The 1990s onward saw needle felting flourish with the help of publications, craft organizations, and later, the internet. Communities, patterns, and resources proliferated among hobbyists and professionals alike EBSCORustic Fiber AcademySpelling Bee HinterArt Works! Studioyarningwools.com.
- Its rise was aided by the craft’s accessibility (few materials needed), versatility (2D and 3D works), and the therapeutic, meditative nature of needling Art Works! Studioyarningwools.comSpelling Bee Hinter.
- Today, needle felting is widespread in workshops, online tutorials, craft fairs, and even therapeutic and educational settings.
Felt a Fanny 