Getting Know About Flannel

..Or about felt.

Felt is a non-woven cloth that is produced by matting, condensing, and pressing woolen fibers with a mixture of glue, steam and pressure that mats fibers together. While some types of felt are very soft, some are tough enough to form construction materials. Felt can be of any color, and made into any shape or size.

Felt is one of the oldest types of fabric in the world. Archaeologists have found several artifacts preserved in land in Siberia dated to around 600 AD. It is believed that nomadic horsemen made clothing, saddles, and shelters from felt because it was strong and helped resist wet and snowy weather.

Many cultures have legends as to the origins of feltmaking. Sumerian legend claims that the secret of feltmaking was discovered by Urnamman of Lagash. The story of Saint Clement and Saint Christopher relates that while fleeing from persecution, the men packed their sandals with wool to prevent blisters. At the end of their journey, the movement and sweat had turned the wool into felt socks (cool!).

Feltmaking is still practised by nomadic people in Central Asia and northern parts of East Asia, where rugs, tents and clothing are regularly made. Some of these are traditional items, such as the classic yurt, while others are designed for the tourist market, such as decorated slippers. In the Western world, felt is widely used as a medium for expression in textile art as well as design, where it has significance as an ecological textile.

Felt has many uses. It can be found everywhere from the automotive industry to craft projects to musical instruments and even in home construction. In the automotive industry, for example, it quiets the vibrations between interior panels and also prevents dirt from entering into small areas. Felt can be cut into any shape and sewn together to create stuffed animals and other objects. Punch holes in the felt, and children can learn to sew the pieces together with a large craft needle. Felt can be found on professional or tournament billiards tables to cover the slate surface. Felt is also used to make hats, like the popular fedoras. Many musical instruments use felt, such as drum cymbal stands, bass drum and timpani mallets and piano hammers. Felt is used extensively in pianos; for example, piano hammers are made of wool felt around a wooden core. The density and springiness of the felt is a major part of what creates a piano's tone. In Ireland, the use of the term felt very commonly refers to a material that does not have a rubberised/synthetic feel.

FELT IS AWESOME~! :D

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felt and http://www.ehow.com/about_5069990_felt-fabric.html