Roving (Wool tops), Carded Batting, and Carded Slivers: What’s the Difference in Needle Felting? 🤔

If you’re getting started with needle felting or looking to explore different wool types, you’ve likely come across terms like roving (wool tops), carded batting, and maybe even carded slivers. Each type of wool has its own characteristics, and understanding the differences can help you choose the best one for your felting projects.

At The Felt Box, we specialise in offering high-quality felting wool, including short-fibre carded batting (perfect for needle felting), over 160 shades of carded batts, a selection of natural wool tops for lifelike fur and hair, and beautifully dyed Merino wool tops. Let’s break down the differences between roving, carded batting, and carded slivers so you can select the perfect wool for your next creation!

What is Roving (Wool Tops)? 🐏

Roving (also known as wool tops in the UK) is wool that’s been combed so the fibres all run in the same direction. It comes in long, smooth strands, which makes it great for certain felting techniques.

Key Features of Roving (Wool Tops):

  • Smooth Texture: The aligned fibres give roving a sleek and uniform look.
  • Takes Longer to Felt: Because the fibres are arranged in parallel, they take a bit more work to tangle, meaning felting can take slightly longer compared to carded wool.

When to Use Roving (Wool Tops):

  • For Hair and Fur: If you’re adding hair or fur to your project, roving’s smooth strands give a natural, flowing appearance.
  • Fine Details: Roving is perfect for small, detailed elements like facial features, paws, or delicate accents that need a refined finish.
  • Fine wool tops like Merino 18 or 21 microns will be great for wet felting next to skin items.
At The Felt Box, we offer a selection of natural wool tops, perfect for realistic fur and hair, as well as beautiful dyed Merino wool tops in a range of vibrant colours.

What is Carded Batting? 🧸

Carded batting is wool that’s been processed in a carding machine, which tangles the fibres in various directions. This gives it a light, fluffy texture and makes it easier to felt.

Key Features of Carded Batting:

  • Fluffy and Airy: The fibres are jumbled, making batting soft and less dense than roving.
  • Faster Felting: Because the fibres are already mixed up, carded batting felts faster than roving. It’s great for building up a shape quickly.
  • Soft, Textured Finish: Batting gives a more textured, natural look, which works well for projects where you want a soft, organic feel.

When to Use Carded Batting:

  • Base Layers: Carded batting is excellent for creating the base or bulk of your project. It covers large areas easily and gives volume to your work.
  • Larger Projects: If you’re working on something bigger, carded batting is a great choice to save time and create a soft, even shape.
  • Textured Projects: Batting adds a lovely soft texture to felted animals or larger sculptures, perfect when you want a more natural, woolly look.

At The Felt Box, we specialise in short-fibre carded batting, which is ideal for needle felting because it’s easy to work with and felts quickly. Plus, we offer over 160 shades of carded batts, so there’s a colour for every project!

We offer 2 ranges: Carded NZ and Carded Maori  Very similar wool just processed in different factories.

What are Carded Slivers? 🐏

Carded slivers are similar to carded batting, but they’re presented in long, narrow strips rather than flat sheets. The fibres are still jumbled, but the wool is drawn into a more manageable shape for felting. Slivers give you the easy-to-felt texture of carded batting with the convenience of working in strips.

Key Features of Carded Slivers:

  • Easy to Handle: Because carded slivers come in strips, they’re simple to wrap around your project or use in smaller areas.
  • Quick Felting: Like carded batting, slivers felt quickly due to the crisscrossed fibres, making them great for base layers or adding bulk to projects.

When to Use Carded Slivers:

  • For Wrapping or Detailing: Carded slivers are perfect when you need to wrap wool around an armature or bulk up smaller areas in a project.
  • For Bulk Felting: Just like carded batting, slivers are great for building up shapes or adding volume to your work.
At The Felt Box, we offer a range of natural shades of slivers.

Roving (Wool Tops) vs. Carded Batting vs. Carded Slivers: Which Should You Choose?

Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide which wool to use:

  • For Detail and Hair: Choose roving (wool tops). Its smooth, aligned fibres are perfect for sculpting detailed elements and adding hair or fur.
  • For Fast Felting and Textured Projects: Carded batting is your go-to. It felts faster, creates soft textures, and is great for building large areas quickly.
  • For Easy Wrapping and Smaller Projects: Opt for carded slivers. They’re easy to handle and offer the benefits of carded wool in a more flexible form.

Explore Our Wool Selection at The Felt Box

At The Felt Box, we take pride in offering a wide variety of felting wool to suit every project:

Whether you’re working on fine details or building the base of a larger piece, we’ve got the wool you need. With our extensive selection of wool types and colours, your creative possibilities are endless!

Happy felting!