Description
Join us at the home of the SimplyAlpaca herd of alpacas and llamas and learn the ancient art of creating textiles and their embellishment though wet and needle felting with alpaca fibre. This uniquely soft and warm fibre of the gods felts beautifully into delightful items to wear or for the home. Initially you will learn the basics of drafting the fibre to lay out and bond using soap, water and 'elbow grease' to produce a flat felt piece to master the core skills. Then you can choose to create an abstract design or picture in fibre by needle felting more intricate designs and details. Bring along pictures or photos to help inspire you. We will then go onto making a larger item such as a scarf, or try more challenging projects such as 3D felting, felting round a resist to make for example bags, bowls, tea cosies or mittens. For more advanced felters we could spend the whole day making hats or slippers. At the end of the day you will have learned the magic of this ancient craft and unleashed your creative side, leaving with at least two unique items created by you during the day. The workshop takes place in my on farm studio, there is a lip in the doorway but it is accessible for wheel chairs (you will need to be able to walk 3m to get to the toilet). Please let me know if there are any special dietary requirements for lunch and refreshments. Plenty of parking.
What's included in the price?
- All materials, refreshments, lunch (all diets catered for with notice). - Opportunity to meet the alpacas and llamas. - Opportunity to purchase raw and prepared alpaca fibre so hat you continue your fibre adventure at home.
Duration
6 hours
Cancellation policy
Medium - Cancellation and a full refund can be obtained up to 4 weeks before the course starts
Maker
We are a husband and wife team (wife in charge of course!) with a herd of alpacas and llamas. I was a Blue Peter child - loved making things but never that good at anything in particular - until I got alpacas and discovered the art of felting. It is such a peaceful but relatively instant craft and very forgiving, even without skill, you can produce truly beautiful things. Obviously I have gained a lot of experience over the 16 years of owning alpacas and would love to share this ancient art with you.
Suitable for
- Adults
- Seniors
- Teenagers
- Children
- Wheelchair users
- Hearing impaired
- Vision impaired
- Limited mobility
- Learning difficulties (SEN)
- Mother's Day
- Christmas
- Pet lovers
- Parking provided
- Easter
- UK Holiday
- Suitable for beginners
- Spooky
- Overseas Holiday
- Intermediate level
- Father's Day
- Fairs, festivals & exhibitions
- Romantic
FAQs
Yes I can create bespoke workshops to meet your requirements and availability on request.
The maximum is four in my studio workshop so that I can give everyone plenty of attention and help if they need.
Yes! Although it can require a little energetic activity in rubbing and rolling your piece, alpaca felts quickly so you will have at least two items to take home with you.
Absolutely! Alpaca fibre is a joy to handle and with the wide range of natural and dyed colours, you cannot help but create something beautiful. Wet felting is not a precise craft, during the making, the fibres move to find their own place in the piece, so you don't have to worry about being exact - it is very liberating!