Wool Felt Vs Polyester Felt: Which Is Better?
Quick Answer: Wool Felt Vs Polyester Felt
- Wool Felt:
- Natural, softer, more expensive and lasts longer.
- Good for durable crafts like heirloom toys and decorations.
- Biodegradable and eco-friendly.
- Polyester Felt:
- Synthetic, cheaper, and easier to wash.
- Better for simple, beginner projects.
- Not biodegradable but can be made from recycled materials.
Wool felt vs polyester felt: are you wondering which is best for your felt projects? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
There are several types of felt to choose from, and polyester and wool felt fabric are some of the more common picks.
Deciding which one is perfect for you depends on the texture and features you’re looking for. If budget is important to you, then read on to find our which option to avoid.
If you can’t decide between polyester and wool felt cloth, I’m here to help!
My lifelong love for sewing goes all the way back to middle school and through the years, I’ve picked up lots of useful tips on sewing felt.
Affiliate Link Disclosure: The links on this page may be affiliate links, from which I earn a small commission if you click on them, at no extra cost to you. Hope you find the information here useful. Thanks!
Table of Contents
Wool Felt Vs Polyester Felt: What’s The Difference?
- Wool felt: All-natural felt made 100% from wool.
- Polyester felt: Craft felt made from synthetic polyester fiber.
Let’s take a look at the differences between these felt types.
Texture Of The Felt
Wool felt sheets for crafts tend to be thicker and denser compared to polyester felt. Because of this, using wool felt for sewing is a great idea as it tends to hold stitches well.
On the flip side, polyester felt tends to be thinner and not as dense as wool felt, which means it doesn’t hold its shape well when stretched. Its thinner texture is also a lot more prone to fuzzing and tearing.
Wool felt texture tends to be noticeably softer compared to polyester felt. Synthetic felt like polyester can feel scratchier.
In terms of how long it lasts, wool felt has an advantage and is the best choice if you want to make a family heirloom that will last for generations to come.
Appearance
Wool felt sheets appear smooth and matte. Polyester felt appears slightly fuzzy and has a bit of a sheen to it.
Polyester felt usually has a “right” and a “wrong” side. How do you tell the difference? One side is significantly scratchier than the other: that’s the “wrong” side.
The “right” and “wrong” sides of wool felt don’t have as much of a difference.
Washability
Both types of felt are washable.
Wool felt is trickier to wash, as it’s prone to shrinking. If you have to wash it, it’s best to pre-shrink wool felt squares before crafting.
If you need to wash your finished product made with wool felt, always go with a cool hand wash. Avoid washing with hot water or using a clothes dryer, as that can lead to shrinking.
Washing polyester felt tends to be simpler as there isn’t much risk of shrinkage. However, it’s still best to hand wash craft felts in general as they’re thin and can tear if washed too rigorously.
Fire Safety
Wool felt is naturally flame resistant. Additionally, it doesn’t melt or stick to the skin when burned.
While polyester felt is flame resistant to a certain extent, it tends to melt when burned, which could cause severe burns.
Sustainability
Wool felt is an all-natural, sustainable product. Made with 100% wool, it comes from a renewable resource that also naturally biodegrades.
Polyester felt is not always a sustainable choice. It’s made from synthetic fibers and isn’t biodegradable like natural fibers.
A more sustainable option would be to opt for polyester felt made from recycled materials.
Cost
As wool felt is usually higher quality, it tends to be a lot pricier compared to polyester felt. If you see wool felt fabric for sale at a discount, snap it up!
Polyester felt is generally the more popular pick for beginners and for simple crafts, as it’s very budget-friendly.
To illustrate all these comparison points better, here’s a visual guide on wool felt vs polyester felt:
Best Uses Of Wool Felt
Wool felt manufacturers service different industries and create all sorts of different products, such as wool felt insulation, wool felt underlay, dryer seals and even boot liners and wool felt shoes.
If you’re wondering what else you can use wool felt for, you can use it to make home decor items like wool felt curtains, wool felt baskets, wool felt rug underlay, and wool felt ball rugs and coasters.
Companies also use it to make accessories like wool felt crusher hats, wool felt berets, wool felt fedoras, wool felt fascinator bases, and wool felt purses.
PS. If you want to buy any of these wool felt hats wholesale products to sell to your customers, make sure you know about the proper wool felt hat care so you can share this important information with them.
Wool felt for crafts is a popular choice. Given how long it lasts, it’s a great choice if you want to make plushies and kids’ toys that you can hand down through the generations.
Wool felt is also excellent for making holiday decorations that you can reuse every year. You can make wool felt wreaths and wool felt trees. You can also save your wool felt scraps and wool felt strips to make cute ornaments!
You might be wondering if you can find clothing items like wool felt skirts. Wool felt isn’t commonly used to make garments as it’s stiff and doesn’t drape well. It’s also not very breathable.
Best Uses Of Polyester Felt
Polyester felt has various industrial applications as well. Companies use it for filtration purposes, window lining, and floor protection.
What can you use polyester felt for at home? In terms of crafting, it tends to be the go-to for beginners because of its budget-friendly price tag and wide range of colors.
Polyester felt has a nice sheen to it, and works especially well for decorative items like coasters, door stoppers, bookmarks, and fridge magnets.
Keep in mind that it does feel a little scratchy so it’s not a good pick for crafts that come in contact with the skin.
Pros And Cons Of Felt
Pros And Cons Of Wool Felt
Wool Felt Pros
- All-natural material made 100% from wool
- Biodegradable
- Soft texture compared to synthetic felt
- Heirloom quality
- Holds stitches well, making wool felt for applique a good choice
- The fabric retains wool felt shapes well
- Flame-resistant and melt-proof
- Provides warmth (think insulation, boot liners, and even shoes and slippers)
- Water-resistant
- Has natural anti-microbial properties
Wool Felt Cons
- More expensive compared to synthetic felt (avoid it if you’re on a budget)
- Prone to shrinking
- Rigid and doesn’t drape well – not suitable for making clothes
Pros And Cons Of Polyester Felt
Polyester Felt Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Easy-to-use and beginner friendly
- Great for making ornaments and other crafts that need to keep their shape
- An incredible range of colors to choose from
- Kids love it
- Water-resistant
- Suitable for vegans
- Compatible with bleach, so you can find crisp colors like brilliant white
Polyester Felt Cons
- May not be sustainable
- Melts when burned
- Rigid and doesn’t drape well – not suitable for making clothes
What Is Felt Made From?
Felt can be of natural or synthetic origin. Naturally-derived felt fabrics are typically made from wool.
Craft felt can also be made from synthetic fibers like polyester, acrylic, and rayon.
You can also find a combination of the two when you use wool blend felt, a fabric made from a mix of wool and synthetic fibers.
read my in-depth post on exactly what felt is, if you want all the details.
Types Of Felt
Besides 100% wool felt and polyester felt, here are other types of felt you may want to know about:
Fur Felt
What is fur felt? It’s another naturally-derived type of felt, made from animal fur. The difference between wool felt vs fur felt, is that fur felt’s regarded to be even more durable than wool felt.
Fur felt is usually lightweight and waterproof, so it’s hatmakers and milliners use it to make fur felt hats like rabbit fur felt fedoras.
Wool Blend Felt
Wool blend felt is often referred to as just “wool felt”. However it’s really only made with 25-40% of this type of felt, while synthetic felt, (acrylic or rayon) make up the rest.
Wool blend felt combines the benefits of 100% wool felt and craft felt. It holds stitches relatively well and has a nice sheen to it. Wool blend felt is also softer compared to craft felts but still holds its shape relatively well.
Rayon Felt
Rayon felt is usually called a semi-synthetic craft felt, as it comes from natural materials like wood pulp but undergoes heavy chemical processing that effectively turns it into a synthetic fabric.
Rayon felt tends to be the softest option when it comes to craft felts. It’s usually blended with wool or bamboo.
Acrylic Felt Vs Polyester Felt
Acrylic felt, another type of synthetic craft felt, is made from acrylic thread. Acrylic felt and polyester felt are different materials but similar in texture and appearance.
The main difference is that polyester has a bit of an edge when it comes to sustainability, as you can easily find polyester felt made from recycled materials.
Differences between wool felt vs acrylic felt are similar to wool felt vs polyester felt.
Wool Felt Vs Felted Wool Vs Wool Quilting
In your research on wool felt sewing, you may have come across mentions of felted wool. Felted wool is not the same as wool felt.
While wool felt and felted wool come from the same material (raw yarn), the methods of producing them are different, resulting in different types of material.
Wool felt is non-woven while felted wool is woven.
Felted wool is also known as boiled wool, as it’s literally boiled with water after it’s been combed. The resulting fabric is often soft and puffy, and it doesn’t fray.
You can actually make your own felted wool by “felting” your wool sweaters (which basically means shrinking your wool sweaters in hot water on purpose). It’s a great way to upcycle your old sweaters to be turned into crafts.
Wool quilting is another popular art form but is completely separate from the wool felt we’ve been discussing in this article.
Wool quilting is very similar to normal quilting but instead of using cotton fabric, you use woolen fabric.
Usually, wool quilting uses wool from old woolen garments or blankets that are no longer usable. It’s a great way to use up scraps from your woolen products and save them from the landfill AND get a nice warm, unique quilt.
You can use appliqué and embroidery to create unique designs on the woolen quilts.
Wool Felt Vs Polyester Felt FAQ
What Is The Difference Between Wool Felt And Polyester Felt?
The difference between wool felt and polyester felt is that wool felt is a natural material made purely from wool while polyester felt is a synthetic material made from polyester.
WIth regards to looks, wool felt tends to appear smooth and matte, while polyester tends to appear slightly fuzzy with a sheen to it.
Is Wool Felt Better Than Polyester?
Wool felt is better than polyester in several ways: it’s more durable, holds its shape well, holds stitches well, lasts longer, and is softer to the touch.
If these are the features you’re looking for when considering wool vs felt polyester then the wool felt wins hands down.
What Is Wool Felt Good For?
Wool felt is good for various industrial applications including thermal insulation, acoustical insulation, gasket materials, and even saddle pads.
On a smaller scale, wool felt is good for crafts that are meant to last like heirloom toys and reusable festive decorations.
What Is Polyester Felt Good For?
Polyester felt is good for various industrial applications including filtration applications, gaskets, wipers, and padding.
For crafts at home, polyester is a good pick for beginners and can be used to make coasters, door stoppers, bookmarks, fridge magnets, and more.
Is Wool Felt 100% Wool?
Wool felt is 100% wool, but check the label just in case! Sometimes wool blend felt is referred to as wool felt but it’s not to be confused with 100% wool felt. Wool blend felt is a blend of wool and synthetic fibers.
Can You Wash Polyester Felt?
Polyester felt typically can be washed without too many problems. It’s not prone to shrinking like wool felt. Polyester felt is pretty delicate so it’s a good idea to hand wash in cool water.
Wool Felt Vs Polyester Felt: Wrap Up
When deciding whether wool felt or polyester felt is better for your project, think about the texture and features you’re looking for and how much you have to spend.
Pure wool felt is a great choice if you’re interested in a natural and biodegradable fabric.
It has a really nice soft texture, but keep in mind that even though it will last a lot longer than a polyester felt project, it comes with a higher price tag.
Polyester felt is a more budget-friendly option for crafts. This man-made fabric can be great when you’re first getting started, teaching kids to sew or want to use really bright colours.
However, if you need to create something that’s made to last, stick with wool felt.