How Is Felt Manufactured?

Although the exact date of its first use is unknown, felt is believed to have been used for the first time in the world by Turks. Felt, which began to be used in Anatolia in the 11th century, continues to be widely used in many fields today. In modern times, felt manufacturing is carried out using state-of-the-art machinery. While these technologies make production faster and more economical, the fundamental principles of the manufacturing process remain similar to traditional methods.

In this article, we examine the traditional felt-making process in detail. Additionally, for those curious about how felt is manufactured today, we have recorded a part of the Keçe Dünyası production facility for you.

Before diving into felt manufacturing, if you are not familiar with what felt is, we recommend reading our related article first.

What Types of Wool Are Used in Felt Manufacturing?

One of the most critical factors in felt production—regardless of whether it is traditional or industrial—is the felting ability of the fibers used. For this reason, felt is commonly produced using sheep wool, as well as rabbit fur, goat hair, camel hair, and mohair.

Stages of Felt Manufacturing

Simply put, wool obtained from animals such as sheep, goats, or camels is subjected to intense heat and pressure, along with additives such as soap or oils. These additions help the fibers interlock more effectively, and through various processes, felt is produced. Although there are many different techniques and details involved in felt manufacturing, understanding traditional felt production helps clarify the core logic of the process—even though modern machinery now allows for easier and more efficient production.

In traditional felt production, the type of wool to be used is first selected, followed by these steps:G

Blending and Preparing the Wool

To ensure higher quality, wool obtained from sheep sheared during May and June is preferred. First, impurities and debris on the wool are removed. The wool is then softened through a manual process known as “ditme.” Using bows, mallets, or carding machines, the fibers are separated and prepared for felt production.

Spreading the Wool on a Reed Mat

A reed mat with a specific shape is placed on a flat surface, and the prepared wool is evenly spread over it. If the felt is to include motifs or patterns, they are added at this stage. Traditional felt production often features Turkish motifs, traditional figures, and geometric decorations.

Wetting Stage

The wool laid out on the mat is gently moistened with lukewarm water. The mat and wool are then rolled together into a cylindrical shape.

Fulling (Beating) Stage

The rolled and wetted wool undergoes a fulling process for approximately one hour. During this stage, pressure causes the fibers to interlock, transforming the wool into felt. Today, this process is performed more quickly and effectively using advanced machinery in factories.

Cooking Stage

After the fulling process, the semi-finished felt—referred to as raw felt—is removed from the mat and moved to the cooking stage. Here, the felt is subjected to pressure using hands or elbows in a warm and humid environment, further strengthening fiber bonding.

Drying Stage

Finally, the felt is unrolled, thoroughly washed, rolled again, and left to dry. At this point, the felt is ready for use.

As one of Turkey’s leading felt manufacturers, the Keçe Dünyası team has aimed to answer the question “How is felt manufactured?” in full detail through this article. For more information about felt and felt types, or to learn about felt pricing, feel free to contact us.