Felt Craft Honor

Arts & Crafts

Requirements

  1. From what fiber is felt made? What gives it its elastic strength?

    Answer: Traditional felt is made from sheep's wool. Wool fibers have microscopic scales (cuticle) that interlock when exposed to heat, moisture, and friction (a process called felting). — Each wool fiber has 100-200 scales per centimeter. When agitated with soap and hot water, the scales interlock irreversibly. Other fibers (acrylic, polyester) become 'synthetic felt' through mechanical needling, without natural felting. 100% wool is more expensive but lasts decades.

  2. Mention 7 uses of felt.

    Answer: 1) Hats and caps (traditional felt). 2) Acoustic and thermal insulation (walls, floors, ceilings). 3) Footwear (insoles, boots, slippers). 4) Crafts (decoration, toys, ornaments, appliqués). 5) Industry (mechanical gaskets, seals, filters). 6) Cloth for pool/billiard tables. 7) Bags, cases, covers, and protective linings. — Felt is versatile — used as far back as 5,000 years ago (found in Egyptian tombs). The automotive industry uses felt in linings to reduce vibration. Painters use brushes with felt. A tennis ball has an outer covering of felt. It can be thin (paper-like) or thick (several cm in thickness).

  3. Present 3 reasons why felt is a good material for craftwork.

    Answer: 1) It does not fray at the edges, eliminating the need for finishing and sewing at the ends. 2) It is easy to cut, glue, and sew, ideal for beginners and children. 3) It is available in a wide variety of colors and thicknesses, at low cost and with good durability. — Edges that do not fray save hours of finishing. Thicknesses range from 1mm to 5mm. Vibrant colors do not fade easily. It accepts paint, glitter, beads, embroidery. Children work well with felt because ordinary scissors cut it easily. It stays firm even in three-dimensional pieces.

  4. Mention the essential steps in the manufacture of felt.

    Answer: 1) Shearing the sheep's wool. 2) Washing to remove grease and dirt. 3) Carding (separating and aligning the fibers). 4) Forming a batt with layers of crossed fibers. 5) Moistening with hot water and soap (opens the scales of the fibers). 6) The felting itself: applying heat, moisture, and friction/pressure (rubbing, rolling, beating) until the fibers interlock. 7) Hardening/fulling to compact it. 8) Rinsing, shaping into the desired form, and drying. — Annual shearing removes 3-5kg of wool per sheep. Carding aligns the fibers. The batt has several perpendicular layers for strength. Alkaline soap opens the scales. Friction can be manual or mechanical. Fulling can shrink the piece by 30%. Dyeing can be before or after. The industrial process is on a large scale.

  5. Make 2 of the following items, using at least 3 different colors of felt:
    • Figure for Sabbath School
    • Bookmark
    • Pin cushions
    • Pennant
    • Refrigerator magnet

    Answer: Choose 2 items from the list and make each one with 3+ colors of felt. Use a hot glue gun, needle, and thread. A bookmark is simpler (cut out the shape + ribbon). A magnet uses a magnet glued to the back. — Felt cuts with ordinary scissors without fraying. Hot glue is fast; sewing is more durable. Combine complementary colors (blue/orange, red/green) or analogous ones (blue/turquoise/navy blue). Average time: 30 min per small piece. Presenting with a label makes evaluation easier.

  6. Make 2 of the following items:
    • Small wall mural
    • Themed decoration for a special date
    • Puppet
    • Kitchen pot holders and trivets

    Answer: Choose 2 items. Wall hanging: large felt with glued appliqués. Themed decoration (Christmas, Easter): representative figures. Puppet: felt sewn into an animal/character shape with a hole for the hand. — A wall hanging can be 50x70cm with a scene and characters. Children's puppets teach through play. Pot holders need a thermal batting between the layers — felt alone does not insulate against extreme heat. Themed decorations sell well at craft fairs. Time: 1-3h per piece.

  7. Sew the following pieces in felt:
    • Stuffed animal
    • Stuffed doll or other stuffed toy
    • Bag

    Answer: Sew the 3 pieces: 1) Animal (bear, dog) with 2 sides sewn together and a stuffing of siliconized fiber. 2) Doll (girl doll, soldier) with the same method. 3) Bag with 2 sides + a felt strap. — Siliconized fiber stuffing (sold in haberdashery shops) is hypoallergenic. A blanket stitch leaves a decorative edge. A bag needs a reinforced strap (fold the felt 3 times). The animal and doll become gifts or decorative pieces. Time: 2-3h per piece with hand sewing.