Don’t know what felting mat to buy? Don’t want to waste time trying to figure out which one is the best for you? If you are a beginner felter or want to upgrade to something better, read this review and save yourself the time and effort of researching what the best felting mats are on the market. To help you with this decision, I have put together a review of the various friction mats types available. I weight the pros and cons of each so that you can make the right choice every time.
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Why buy a felting friction mat?
A felting mat (aka friction mat) is a textured mat used to provide friction that facilitates the felting and fulling of the wool. If you don’t have a felting mat, you need one. You will be amazed at how much faster you are able to finish a felting project. Various friction mat types offer different services, but a good one should offer some textured surface to enhance the felting process as you rub, roll and full to create a felt fabric. Personally, Over the past decade or so I’ve transitioned from felting on bamboo mats and fly screen to bubble wrap and now I’m completely taken with using a solar pool cover (which is like durable bubble wrap).
*All prices are an approximation based on the time of writing and are reported in Canadian dollars.
# 1. Solar pool cover
Description: A flexible and durable plastic cover with robust air bubbles used to heat an outdoor swimming pool.
Personal experience: This is the best wet felting surface I have used yet. The plastic is durable, won’t degrade in the sun or get mouldy and the bubbles don’t pop like bubble wrap. I bought a gigantic solar pool cover and cut it into various dimensions which I use for small to large projects.If you need a variety of sizes or offer workshops, this is a must have. Just buy a huge cover and cut into the sizes you need.
*Price: $20 to $100
Dimensions: Oval, rectangle or round. Any size dimension you want is available. The dimensions of the vinyl is also important (you don’t want it to be too ridged or you won’t be able to use it for rolling). This is called the thickness or gauge, 12mm (12 gauge) thickness is a good balance between vinyl durability and flexibility. Bubble should be no more 5mm in diameter.
What fiber artists are saying: Buy a clear one not a blue one so that you can lay a template underneath and still see it. 16mm (16 gauge) vinyl is too ridged for rolling with. Also, don’t confuse this with a regular pool cover which doesn’t have the bubbles.
Where to buy: Amazon solar pool cover, Walmart and Ebay. However, I found the quality of the Walmart solar pool cover to be more like bubble wrap.
Notable Because: It won’t degrade from UV rays, so you can hang your mats out to dry in the sun without a worry. Best price for size too. Amazon will ship a few of theirs for free so look out for that perk.
# 2. Flexible rubber friction mat
Description: This flexible, lightweight, mat can be used to felt on and also for rolling your felt in.
Personal experience: None, but I like that it is rubber and won’t go mouldy and that it is lightweight. I do wonder about whether it would break down over time in the sunlight if you hung it outside to dry. Also, if you are keen on making big felted pieces the sizes offered might be limiting.
Where to buy: Etsy.
*Price: $25 – $41
Dimensions: Large 50 x 80 cm (app. 20″ x 30″) and Small 30 x 40 cm (app. 11.8″ x 15.75″).
What fiber artists are saying: Great quality.
Shipped from: United States
Ready to ship in: 3 – 5 business days
Returns and Exchanges: Yes
Notable Because: If you by from this seller and join their email newsletter you will get an instant 10% off your order.
# 3. Bamboo blind
Description: Bamboo matchstick rollup blind. Untreated bamboo. Partial slits between bamboo matchsticks. Weight: 2 to 8lbs.
Personal experience: I’ve used bamboo blinds for wet felting for many years. They offer a great textured surface and lots of friction, and when you roll your felt in them you can felt your piece really quickly (sometimes they shrink too quickly!). They also come in any size you want, and are great for large felting projects. However, one problem I’ve had is that the bamboo can become mouldy and the cotton string binding it all together will deteriorate after a few years.
*Price: $35 to $90
Dimensions: Many sizes available, from 24 X 72 inches to 84 X 66 inches
What the fiber artists are saying: Remember to buy a natural one that isn’t stained or dyed.
Where to buy: Amazon bamboo blind or on Etsy.
or on Notable Because: If you are buying within Canada from amazon.ca they offer free shipping.
# 4. Bubble wrap
Description: Bubble wrap, the stuff that is used for packaging fragile objects. Lightweight and flexible.
Personal experience: Wears out quickly, once a few bubbles have popped I find it less effective and must keep moving it around it get my wool to felt evenly. However, bubble wrap is cheap and ubiquitous, so if you are a beginner felter this may be the option for you. It doesn’t offer as much friction as the other options but if your felting projects are small then they felt quickly anyway. Note that some bubble wrap is usually perforated every 12 inches for easy tearing, so avoid buying anything that is perforated if you want to felt bigger than those dimensions.
*Price: $2 per yard.
Dimensions: Usually sold by 1 yard wide and whatever length you wish.
Where to buy: Staples, Etsy, Amazon bubble wrap, Walmart (has recycled materials option but it is perforated every 12 inches).
Notable Because: It is cheap.
# 5. Sushi mat
Description: A bamboo matchstick sushi mat
Personal experience: Wet felting with a sushi mat offers the same experience as a larger bamboo blind. Great if you want to try wet felting for the first time or offer wet felting workshops with many people. You have to be diligent to dry them out thoroughly after each use as they tend to get moldy and the cotton string eventually disintegrates, so they fall apart.
*Price: $2 for one or up to $20 for a package of 5
Dimensions: 24 cm X 24 cm for the common sushi mat, but other options are available such as 45 cm X 30 cm
What the fiber artists are saying: Make sure it is the bamboo matchstick kind that has the round sticks and not the flat sticks. The flat sushi mats don’t provide as much texture and friction.
Where to buy: Amazon sushi mat is the cheapest options. However, if you are looking for something larger than 24 cm X 24 cm head to Etsy.
Notable Because: They are cheap but felting size limited.
# 6. The beginner Kit
If No. 4 and 5 appeal to you, you might be interested in buying a kit. Heidifeathers sell a wet felting kit that contains a sushi mat, bubble wrap and netting for cheaper than you could buy them separately, and the sushi mat is much larger than your standard size.
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