Roving, tops, sliver—what’s the difference, and what should you buy?

One of the most common questions I’m asked by people wanting to start felting is: “What kind of wool do I need, and what do I even search for?”

If you’ve ever felt confused by terms like wool roving, wool tops, or wool sliver, you’re not alone!

 The world of wool processing has its own language, and sometimes, those words are used interchangeably.

Let’s clear up the confusion so you know exactly what to look for when sourcing wool for your next felting project.

Processed Wool Fibre Ready for Felting

Before wool can be felted, it needs to be washed, carded, and combed into a long, loose rope of fibres. This fibre is what you’ll use for both wet felting and needle felting.

Depending on where you’re buying it from, you might see it called:

• Wool roving
• Wool tops
• Wool sliver

While there are slight technical differences in how each is processed, for felting purposes, all of these terms refer to combed/card fibres that are:

• Cleaned (no lanolin or vegetable matter)
• Aligned in a continuous strip or “rope”
• Perfect for pulling out and layering to create felt

What’s the Actual Difference?

If you’re curious about the processing differences:

• Wool Sliver: Carded fibres that are cleaned and loosely aligned but not as tightly combed. Softer and fluffier.
• Wool Roving: A general term (sometimes used interchangeably with sliver). Slightly more processed, with fibres running mostly in one direction.
• Wool Tops: Combed fibres where the shorter fibres have been removed, leaving a smooth, long staple. Great for finer felting and spinning.

Any of these will work for felting, What to Search for When Buying

If you’re shopping online, look for:

• Merino wool tops for felting
• Wool roving for wet felting
• Wool sliver for needle felting
• Felting wool supplies

Read Our Next Stories on Merino and Corriedale wool and choosing the right micron count for your felting project.

Happy felting!
Jacqueline Damon
Tweed Valley Textile Company