Thanks for your replies.
Prism99 - thanks for your search! I'll talk to my mom to see what she says. So far she's enjoying doing the practice rug she'll give to me for my cutting donation, and she has old wool clothes she wants to braid, then we'll see if she wants to do more.
amma - no 800 number, there is a web site that just had a video to watch but said nothing about thickness of fabric.
BellaBoo - It's not felted and I feel the same way you do. I called the store I bought it at but they had no ideas, either.