Diving Deeper into Wet Felting Techniques and Design
2-day Workshop
suitable for beginner and more advanced felters
January 23 - 24 (10:00am - 4:00pm) *COURSE IS FULL*
January 28 - 29 (10:00am - 4:00pm) *COURSE IS FULL*
February 25 - 26 (10:00am - 4:00pm) *COURSE IS FULL*
March 8 - 9 (10:00am - 4:00pm) *COURSE IS FULL*
Instructor: Zoë Lianga
Project Options
Large tube cowl ($50 materials)
Circular scarf/Double-wrap cowl ($50 materials)
Custom fabric ($30-$60 materials)
Wall Hanging ($30 materials)
Mittens, with leather palms ($25 materials)
Slippers, with leather soles ($30 materials)
Description
Spend two days and dive deeper into wet felting by exploring more involved
and lengthy processes and various refining techniques. You will discover the unique
properties of wool fibres that allow them to interlock into felted fabric. Working
through one of the chosen projects will give you step-by-step practice and an
understanding of both the dry and wet processes involved in this wonderful, age-old
craft. Additionally, this two-day course will give you time to fully customize your
project and practice each step thoroughly, while learning a wide array of design and
finishing skills.
The process of wet felting is tactile, soapy, physical, and, yes, wet. Come with a
vision or an empty head. Class sizes are small, at 4 students. This allows for
intimate, hands-on instruction. Having different project options will also let students
get an insight into the processes involved in working through different projects.
Large Tube Cowl or Circular Scarf – You will choose from a mix of the following
fibres; merino of various colours, natural superfine alpaca, natural camel, natural
cashmere or natural qiviut (musk oxen). We will explore various types of felt fabric
construction and detail, including: layering and stacking designs/colours; working in
reverse to create hard lines; nuno felting (the incorporation of other natural woven
fabrics, like silk, into a felted fabric); and continued applications of details into the
wet felting stage of the process.
Custom Fabric or Wall Hanging – If you have a sewing project in mind and want to
make custom felt fabric, in the two days you would be able to complete enough
fabric for projects such as a simple vest, an above-the-knee skirt or pillow cases.
Likewise, if you have a vision, or are simply inspired to make a wall hanging, we
can dedicate the two days to focusing on the techniques required to execute a wall
hanging.
Mittens or Slippers – Learn how to work with a mould, or resist to form your felted
fabric into 3-dimensional and seamless mittens or slippers. Once your felted mittens
or slippers are finished, you will cut and stitch leather palms or soles in place.
*Please note that you will be on your feet for most of this course, bending over a table and physically working the fibres
(rubbing, squishing and throwing) to make your felted objects.
Timeline for Day One
10:00-10:30 Introductions & coffee/tea
10:30-1:00 Project design & laying out the fibres
1:00-1:30 Lunch
1:30-3:30 Exploring various design techniques & project-specific
customizations
Completion of the ‘dry’ steps
(for mittens and slippers, wet felting will begin)
3:30-4:00 Sharing and discussion
Timeline for Day Two
10:00-12:30 Coffee/tea
Wet felting begins for cowls, circular scarves, fabric and wall
hangings.
Continued applications of details (optional)
Wet felting of mittens and slippers continued and completed
12:30-1:00 Lunch
Mittens and slippers drying
1:00-3:30 Wet felting continued for cowls, circular scarves, fabric and
wall hangings.
Joining the ‘felted seam’ for cowls and circular scarves
Stitching leather onto mitten palms and slipper soles
3:30-4:00 Sharing and discussion
$250.00 + HST (price of materials not included. See project options)
Fresh, homemade lunches, snacks & coffee/tea included. All dietary needs accommodated.