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A History Of Felting
Felting is the earliest known form of textile fabric and played an important part in the life of early man. Some of the oldest felts have been found in Central Asia where nomads make their tents, clothes and floor coverings , all out of the wool material and it became a significant part in religious rituals. It is known that brides were seated on white felt during marriage ceremonies and animals were also sacrificed on it - ulgh!
Felt was also believed to have magical qualities, Mongolian horseman would hang up figures inside their tents to bring good luck ward off evil spirits. It was thought a felt mattress would protect the sleeper from dangerous snakes and scorpions. Felt making was also illustrated in Roman times - depicted in their famous mural paintings.
Legends of felt have been handed down through the centuries, but quite a funny story is one of two Saints - St Christopher and St Clement, the 'Patron Saint of Hatters.' As they were being pursued by their enemies, their feet became hot and painful. They gave their enemies the slip and stopped to gather some sheep's wool and wrap the wool around their feet. When they arrived at their destination, safe and sound, they took off their shoes and found the wool had matted up into felt.
Archaeologists have found felt fragments dating back to the Bronze Age. Earlier this century stone burial chambers in the Altai mountains in Siberia were opened. They belonged to the chieftains of ancient nomadic tribes who populated Siberia between the seventh to the second centuries BC. Due to the way the work was structured on the tombs and the severe climate, caused a layer of frozen ground to form under the Cairns, which covered the graves - preserving all below. This preserved the organic materials and amongst the finds were items of fur and leather, felt and textile, as well as woodcarvings, which had all retained their original form and colour. So it seems felt has been around as long as sheep!
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