Our Woolfelt is made of the wool of Merino sheep. With natural soap and hot water the fibers of the wool are rubbed together and become Woolfelt. This is possible because of the scales on the wool that open up when heated.

FROM FIBER TO FELT: A JOURNEY THROUGH OUR PRODUCTION FACILITY

When our Merino wool arrives at our felting factory it has already made a long journey: The wool, which is originally from South America and the South of Europe, is washed in a scourcing plant before it arrives at our felting factory, where the wool transforms into woolfelt.

  1. The wool fibres are mixed to obtain the right colour or quality
  2. The fibers are loosened up 
  3. On big rolls with small needles the fibers are loosened even further and carded in one direction
  4. The carded fibers are laid down perpendicular on top of each other
  5. The carded fibers are gently pre-felted into a carded fleece
  6. By pushing or pulling the carded fleece the right thickness is acquired
  7. With steam, natural soap and friction the carded fleece is felted into a concentrated mass
  8. The felt is washed to rinse out the soap of the felting process
  9. The woolfelt is dyed into the right colour and rinsed afterwards to clean dye remains
  10. The felt is stretched to the desirable length and width and dried to fixate the size.
  11. Spiral shaped knives shave the ends of the wool fibers for a smooth surface.
  12. Final inspection: While moving through the machine at a slow speed, the felt is being inspected for quality, stains and holes by the staff.

The machines are connected to each other to make a continuous process. The machinery is almost 100 meters long.

 

viltproces hollandfelt lowres

image: Deutsches Museum