Matting

Felting is the natural tendency of wool and hair to interlock when exposed to temperature, moisture, and friction.
The ability to felt is due to their scaly structure.

Fine hairs (cashmere, camel hair, yak, and alpaca) have scale edge heights only half that of wool.

In the production of loden, wool blankets, natural hair blankets, as well as wool articles and wool fabrics, this felting property of wool and hair is utilized during fulling. This gives the product greater durability in use and further processing. The product shrinks in length and width, its strength is increased, and the fabric appearance becomes more compact. The longer and more intensively the washing process, the greater the achieved effect.

With proper use of wool blankets, for example as a duvet, further felting is barely noticeable.