Non-woven fabrics

Non-woven fabric is made by bonding or felting:

• Bonded-fibre fabrics are made from webs of synthetic [synthetic: man-made - usually from chemical sources ] fibres bonded together with heat or adhesives. They are cheap to produce, but not as strong as woven or knitted fabrics. Bonded-fibre fabrics are mainly used for interlining [interlining: layer of fabric sown into the neck or armholes of a garment to protect and strengthen it. Also called interfacing. ]. They are easy to sew, crease-resistant, do not fray and are stable to washing and dry-cleaning.
• Wool felt is a non-woven fabric made from animal hair or wool fibres matted together using moisture, heat and pressure. Felt has no strength, drape [drape: the supple and flexible characteristics of a fabric - how it hangs or behaves when pleated or folded ] or elasticity but is warm and does not fray. Wool felt is expensive. It is used for hats and slippers and in handcrafts.