Feltmaking Workshops for 2024
Wet Felted Flowers:
Learn how to make three dimensional felt flowers out of wool and soapy water. The leaves, petals, stamen, and pistil are constructed with dry wool and then transformed into a blooming flower using the wet felting technique. The finished flower can be worn as a brooch or used as a decoration for hats, handbags or gifts.
Learn how to make three dimensional felt flowers out of wool and soapy water. The leaves, petals, stamen, and pistil are constructed with dry wool and then transformed into a blooming flower using the wet felting technique. The finished flower can be worn as a brooch or used as a decoration for hats, handbags or gifts.
Monet Beret:
- Using the wet felting technique, learn how to make a stylish hat that is also a work of art. This technique uses soapy water and a little agitation to transform and shape fine layers of wool into the cultural and historical hat known as the beret. The supplies include dyed wool reminiscent of a color palette from Monet's paintings.
Nuno Felt Scarf
Learn how to make a featherweight scarf that has a totally unique surface design. It can be worn throughout the year. With wool felted onto a loosely woven fabric, such as silk, the scarf takes on an ‘elephant skin’ texture, and will be a colorful, contemporary addition to your outfit.
Learn how to make a featherweight scarf that has a totally unique surface design. It can be worn throughout the year. With wool felted onto a loosely woven fabric, such as silk, the scarf takes on an ‘elephant skin’ texture, and will be a colorful, contemporary addition to your outfit.
Nuno Felt Journal Cover:
- Using the Nuno felt technique, learn how to transform fine layers of wool and woven fabric into a unique journal cover with color, pattern, texture, and a rope enclosure. This technique uses soapy water and a little agitation to join the wool with the fabric. A 5.5 inch x 8.5 inch art journal is included in the supplies.
Classes
I offer feltmaking classes and demonstrations using wet felting and needle felting techniques. The history, culture, nature, and art of feltmaking,as well as the techniques for making traditional felt, nuno felt, watercolor felt, and needle felt are all provided for interested students. Complete workshop descriptions, materal lists, fees and requirements, are supplied upon request. Customized workshops for adults and children are available. For more information contact me at [email protected].
Traditional Felt
Felt, a non-woven material made from wool, is known to be the oldest textile form on earth. It is made using the wet felting technique that requires only hot, soapy water and a rubbing agent for compression of the woolen fiber. Felt has traditionally been used in the manufacture of clothing and home decor. Felt has been revived in recent years and is now used in a variety of projects, ranging from the practical to the whimsical. With a little creativity and imagination, it can be shaped into anything.
Nuno Felt
Nuno felt is lightweight, flexible, strong felt made by laminating fine layers of wool fleece to open weave cloths (e.g., silk chiffon, cotton gauze, etc.). The cloth can be left to show on one side of the felt and used as a lining or decoration. Alternatively, the cloth can be sandwiched between the layers of wool and completely hidden, or it can be allowed to show through in certain areas. An unusual elephant skin texture is achieved as the wool felts and draws up on the cloth in see through areas. Nuno felt produces a fabulous piece of cloth with a beautiful and unique surface design. Often used for scarves and shawls, it can also be sewn into dresses, jackets, vests, and skirts.
Watercolor Felt
Watercolor felt is an artistic medium that can be displayed as a wallhanging or wearable art. Using a palette of dyed wool instead of paint, the colors blend just as watercolors blend in painting. The background color(s) affect the foreground color(s). And the dense piece of wool holds more of its color than the lightweight piece. Using the traditional wet felting technique an impressionistic image can be produced. Dimension, shade, highlights, and texture can be added to the image by applying assorted fibers with a felting needle. The needle is used like a paint brush to position the fibers and add detail to the image.
Needle Felt
Needle felt sculptures are three-dimensional sculptures modeled using the felting needle like a chisel. The felting needle has rough, notched edges that force the fiber down, causing it to entangle with underlying fibers. Repeated stabs of the felting needle in one place will make a deep indent in the fibers, while random stabs all over will reduce and firm an area of fiber.
Eco Printing
Eco printing is a technique used to print on fabric and paper. This technique requires steaming leaves and/or flowers tightly wrapped in the fabric or paper. The package of fabric/paper and leaves can also be processed in a simmering dye bath.