The production of felt used to occupy a significant place in home industry. In the 19th century, it remained an indispensable material in Kyrgyz life, serving to protect homes from cold, rain, wind, sunlight, moisture, and dampness. Felt was widely used for making clothing items, pack transport, and so on. Now, felt is used in the form of covers for yurts, carpets, and men's headwear.
Sheep wool, mainly from the autumn shearing, is used for making felt.
In the processing of felt, as a result of centuries of practice, the Kyrgyz have achieved great perfection. In the past, Kyrgyz felt, known for its high durability, was in high demand in markets.
The Kyrgyz and Kazakhs have many completely identical techniques for producing felt products. Among the southern Kyrgyz, compared to the northern ones, there are some peculiarities in the production and use of felt.
The process of making felt has been observed repeatedly among the southern Kyrgyz during the summer and autumn, when this production receives the most attention. According to elderly women, ancient techniques are still preserved.
The processing of felt is exclusively associated with a manual, quite intense, and labor-intensive process. The production of one medium-sized felt piece (120X240 cm) usually involves about 3-4 people working for 6-7 hours. It is often difficult for members of one family to cope with such a workload, especially if several pieces of felt are planned to be made. Therefore, the Kyrgyz still resort to traditional collective help in work, calling it kiyiz ashar in such cases. The preparation of felt remains an event in the village that attracts both idle spectators and helpers. The work is often accompanied by loud conversations, jokes, and witty banter characteristic of the Kyrgyz people.
In Kyrgyz life, two types of felt products are distinguished: solid color unornamented (ere kiyiz) and ornamented (tur kiyiz). The former includes felt pieces used for covering yurts, as bedding on the ground or floor. Simple felt is used to make vests, household items, as well as clothing. Unornamented felt comes in white, gray, and brown colors, corresponding to the natural color of sheep wool.
