Tightening Works (weaving without tissue-felt)

Tightening Works (weaving without tissue-felt)

Felt is a tissue obtained by joining animal fibers, especially wool, under heat, dampness and pressure with the help of soap, oils and acid. (Kaya, 1978)

Kicked felt-making, which is one of the oldest of Turkish handicrafts, was brought to Anatolia in the 11th century by Turks migrating from Central Asia, and still survives today. The word “felt” has an important place in Turkish daily life, and is today to be encountered in various forms, such as “kidhiz/ kidiz/ kiz/ kliz/ kiyiz.” The first examples of the technique used today were seen in the Uygar period.

Felt is produced by the kicking method or in factories. Besides lambs wool, rabbit, camel, mohair and goat bristles are all used.

Natural colors (black, white, brown) are usually used for the surface, and designs are applied with felts colored with synthetic dyes. Most of the designs have geometric shapes, but figures from nature can also be seen.

Socks, pillows, carpets, coverings, tents and boots are made in various workshops with regional designs and colors. Although the raw material is plentiful, felt has begun to lose popularity because it is very time and labor intensive, generates little income, and is less and less used in society. Yet the craft still continues in few provinces, such as Afyon, Şanliurfa, Konya, Balıkesir, Izmir, Kars and especially in Erzurum.