They felt happy and made happy felt

It was one of the last summer days.And just when you thought you had found the perfect spot to rest your lazy feet and soak all of it up,the flute yawned and tested a soft note. The music carried vague memories of olive groves, summer wine.Happy thoughts swelled up .Happy feet tapped out.

And they danced.Glided on the soapy white woolen mat, tracing circles and squares and other shapes.And the feet, happy being let out of the shoes and soaked in warm water made happy felt.

Simply put, felt is matted wool. Wool becomes felt when it is subjected to moisture, heat, and pressure.Hot soapy water makes the wool slippery, and causes tiny scales on the fiber to open up. The scales prevent the fibers from backing up again after they slide across each other; with agitation, the fibers get hopelessly tangled together.When cooled, dried and compressed, the scales close and lock the wool into the tough, durable material we call felt - the strongest smoothest lightest and most water resistant natural fabric known to man.

A special event of outdoor dancing was arranged at the Thames festival 2008 along with workshops in spinning, knitting felting and weaving..A pile of dyed sheeps wool, some soap suds and hot water, a lively band and a whole bunch of dancing feet was all that was required to create a pretty carpet in felt.