FElt is a free system for introductory level finite element analysis. It is primarily intended as a teaching tool for introductory type courses in finite elements - probably in the mechanical/structural/civil fields. In a command line environment, FElt uses an intuitive, straightforward input syntax to describe problems. It also includes a graphical user interface for workstations that allows the user to set-up, solve and post-process the problem in a single CAD-like environment. From the end-user point of view, FElt consists of six programs: felt, burlap, velvet, corduroy, patchwork, and yardstick. felt is the basic command-line application; burlap is an interactive Matlab-like environment for scripting your own elements and analyses; velvet is the primary GUI interface into the bulk of the functionality in FElt; corduroy is command-line program for automatic element generation; patchwork is a command-line application for file format conversion to and from the FElt syntax; and yardstick is a simple program for problem scaling and unit conversion.