Everlasting Patterns on Felt

Shahnoza Jumayeva, teacher at the Seyitnazar Seydi Turkmen State Pedagogical Institute and active member of the first women’s organization, explains: felt, one of the finest forms of national craftsmanship, appeared in ancient times. People actively used felt and felt products in daily life. Even the Greek historian Herodotus in the 5th century BC mentioned this.

The history of felt-making is ancient, and the process itself is unique and impressive. Each felt item is distinguished by its shape, size, quality, and patterns. Felt is made exclusively from sheep’s wool. In spring, the wool is long and soft.

Our ancestors carefully cleaned the wool before felting and dyed it using natural colors. Spring wool absorbs color well and is mainly used for decorative purposes. Common patterns on felt, especially along the Amu Darya (Jeýhun) region, include: «tärimgözenek», «tazyguýruk», «çarhypelek», «buruk», «sekizkeşde».

Soap is applied during felting to lighten the color. This makes the felt strong and beautiful. The surface for felting must be flat. Thin fibers are first laid on the reed, then filled with thicker fibers. After finishing, the edges are leveled, and no air should enter the felt. The finished felt is soaked and stretched for 1–2 hours. When the reed softens, the felt is ready. Throughout the process, water is applied and the felt is pressed by hand. Felting in hot weather produces high-quality results. Wool is also beneficial for health.