The needle felting and fiber art world can sometimes feel like you need to learn a new language to get started. But don’t worry! I’ve created this list of common felting and fiber terms with definitions for each. They are in alphabetical order. If you can’t find a term you’re looking for here, please let me know and I’ll add it!
Armature – A frame or skeleton created to build a sculpture on. Armatures provide support and allow you to create structures that might otherwise not be possible. They are made with wire but other materials can also work.
Batt or Carded Wool – A thick, web-like sheet of fiber created by carding wool and other fibers. Batts are also split into smaller sections which may be twisted in a bun or knot shape.
Blending – Mixing at least two colors or fibers together to create new colors or textures.
Carding – A wool preparation that brushes fibers versus combing them. This brushing causes the fibers to loosely intertwine in multiple directions resulting in a web-like sheet known as a batt. Carding is done using a drum carder, hand carders, or commercial machines.
Core Wool – Wool used to create a foundation or base for a needle felted piece. It is usually lower quality, undyed, washed, carded wool that felts quickly and firmly. It can be purchased in batt or roving form and is meant to be covered up.
Drum Carder – A hand cranked or electric machine used to card fiber. It generally has two rollers or drums covered in carding cloth (which looks kind of like a slicker or wire dog brush).
Felt Sheet – A dense, strong fabric made of wool that’s been felted and fulled. It has a smooth finish and the texture of felt sheets sold in craft or material stores. It’s difficult to pull apart. You generally have to cut it leaving a hard edge.
Felting Brush – A flat back bristle brush (Clover is a popular brand). Fiber is placed on top of the bristles to be needle felted.
Felting Mat or Stabbing Surface – A surface that fiber is placed on to be felted. Used to receive the tip of the needle as the fiber is felted. It’s usually made of foam or wool. It can also be a fabric bag filled with rice or buckwheat.
Fiber – In needle felting terms, fiber is the material being felted. Most of the time it will be wool or wool blended with natural fibers such as alpaca, mohair, angora, yak, silk or bamboo. Synthetic fibers like Angelina are sometimes blended with wool to add sparkle.
Fleece – The fiber that has been sheared from an animal.
Fulling – This a process used on wool fabric that is felted or mostly felted. The fabric is placed in hot water and agitated (sometimes even slapped around) to encourage the fibers to shrink and tighten.
Gauge – This is the width of a felting needle or armature wire. The higher the number, the thinner the needle or wire.
Hand Blending or Restacking – Mixing at least two colors or fibers together by hand to create new colors or textures.
Hand Carders – Flat brushes covered in carding cloth (which looks like a slicker or wire dog brush) used to card wool. Wire dog brushes can be used and are less expensive.
Locks – A section of wool that has not been carded or combed. Locks may be curly, crimped, wavy or straight. Think of them as fiber in its natural form.
Micron – The width of a fiber. The lower the number, the thinner or finer the fiber. For example, Merino wool is often 15-20 microns which makes it a fine wool. Human hair is about 70 microns, very coarse in comparison to Merino.
Needle Felting Needle or Felting Needle – A needle originally created for commercial felting machines. It has downward angled notches at the end to push fiber in.
Prefelt – A flat sheet of fiber that has been partially or mostly felted. It is more felted than a batt but less felted than a felted sheet. You can pull pieces off and they will have a feathery edge. It also has a fuzzy appearance when compared to a felted sheet.
Raw Wool – Wool that has not been washed or processed. It’s basically wool in its natural state right off of a sheep. It contains dirt, VM (Vegetable Matter) and lanolin (the wax sheep produce to protect their skin and wool from the environment). I prefer to scour my wool prior to working with it. If you’d like to learn why, take a look at my Can you needle felt unwashed wool? post.
Reverse Needle Felting Needle – A needle felting needle that had upward facing notches at the end to pull fiber out.
Roving – A loosely carded fiber preparation usually appearing in a continuous long strip or rope. It is can be wrapped in a coil or ball shape.
Sliver – (pronounced sly-ver) A thin roving. It is sold in a continuous strand or rope. Like roving, it is often wrapped into a coil or ball shape.
Staple Length – The length of a strand of fiber.
Top or Combed Top – A combed fiber preparation which attempts to align the fibers in the same direction. It appears long, smooth and looks like hair that has been brushed. It can be gently pulled apart into shorter lengths.
Vegetable Matter or VM – Hay, grass, seeds, leaves, twigs, and other natural pieces of plant matter that get caught in a sheep’s fleece. It is expected when working with natural fibers.