Description
Come and enjoy a day of wet felting and leave with either a soft, warm neck-warmer or some wrist-warmers in fine, super soft merino wool. This workshop is perfect for those new to wet felting or for those who have tried wet felting before but wish to know how to make accessories to fit. You will learn not only how to lay out very fine merino wool and use traditional wet felting techniques, but also how to wet felt using a resist, and how to calculate the correct shape and size of accessory for you. You will: • Learn the basics of wet felting. • Experiment with a wide variety of materials to design your own unique piece. • Learn how to wet felt around a resist and calculate and shape an item to fit. N.B Please note, no experience is necessary for this workshop, but laying out fine wool does require finger dexterity. It is not therefore suitable for people with arthritic hands.
What's included in the price?
All materials are provided but please bring a plastic bag to take your damp neck-warmer/wrist-warmers home in. Please also bring a packed lunch.
Duration
6 hours
Cancellation policy
Medium - Cancellation and a full refund can be obtained up to 4 weeks before the course starts
Maker
Karen is a feltmaker and textile artist. She has been designing and creating with textiles since she was a child, but in 2015 she was introduced to the ancient art of wet felting and instantly fell in love with the incredible versatility of it. Since then, she has concentrated primarily on her felt making, taking numerous courses from UK and international felt makers, to develop and refine her skills. She is also a member of the International Felt makers’ Association. Karen has a particular interest in 3D or seamless felting which is felting around a waterproof resist to create an item without stitching. Using this method she makes bags, vessels, neckwarmers and collars. Karen loves to create texture in her work by adding a variety of other natural fibres, yarns, wool locks and silk fabrics. She also has a love of colour and it is her use of colour that most people notice when they see her work. She says: “ Colour can influence my mood. It can lift me, energise me, excite me, or even comfort me. It makes me feel happier and more alive! My colour combinations are inspired by nature’s seasons, the changing light and the mood created by those seasons.”
FAQs
I supply all the materials for felt making. All you need to supply are 2 hand towels to work on and your packed lunch (if coming all day) plus a plastic bag to take your wet felt creation home.. A waterproof apron is useful but not essential.
YES! I have masks if the wool makes you asthmatic or causes you to sneeze (similar to hayfever) and I also have latex gloves for handling the wool.
NO, not at all! The technique is very easy to learn, but the rubbing and rolling can be a little strenuous when making bags and bowls, so if you have any problems with your wrists, shoulders or neck, please contact me before booking. I can help you during the day, but please let me know first.
NO. Needle felting is 'dry felting'. It uses a barbed needle to encourage the wool fibres to matt together, whereas wet felting uses soap and water.
Wet felting involves laying out wisps of wool in different directions, sprinkling them with warm soapy water and then gently rubbing and rolling them until all the fibres have completely bonded together. During the process, other fibres and materials can be incorporated, such as silk threads and fabrics to decorate the surface of the felt. Pictures and scarves are made in one flat piece, but neck warmers, vessels, hats and bags are made by felting around a resist (or waterproof template) that is then removed part way through the felting process, and gently moulded by hand into the shape you want. This is often called seamless felting or 3D.
