A history and handbook explaining this ancient craft, including step-by-step instructions for beginners.   This book offers a journey through the history of the ancient craft of felting from the earliest times, when people first discovered that animal fiber, moisture, and friction created a durable, warm fabric. Felt has been used for everything from apparel to housing; it has been used for practical, decorative, and even religious applications. This book looks at the rise and fall of felting through history and into the industrial era, including its importance to the hat-making industry.   The second part of the book brings us to the modern—and some might say, golden—era of artisanal felting with interviews from felters and textile artists generously sharing their creative process. Finally, if you are inspired to try this fascinating craft, there are step-by-step instructions for both wet and needle felting, and a useful list of resources to get you started on your own felt-making journey.