Felt Making - The Next Level
Felt Making – The Next Level
The lines between traditional felt making and other textiles arts are beginning to fade as we see more and more felt being incorporated into art pieces. Felt is being sculptured into three-dimensional forms that incorporate multiple layers of individual felts, felt is pleated and resist dyed like fine silks using shibori techniques, industrial felt is being used to make structural furniture and gossamer felts becomes lighter and lighter. The boundaries of felt are being continuously challenged.
This one-day or two-day workshop will further explore the art of making felt. Looking at not so much how we make felt but way we make felt. What is the end platform for your work or your reason for being a felter? There are probably as many answers as there are method of felting to the simple question – why do we felt? Is the resulting piece of felt that we create the ultimate reason, or is it just the base for further mixed media work? Is colour blending or dying the end result or just one of the paths along the way? Is the final platform actually going to be cut and formed into a chair or will it be a delicate shawl? Will it be flat or three dimensional? Will it be displayed on the head, body or on a wall? The questions and answers could continue for almost an eternity and just when you think they are all answered someone will do something totally unexpected and create a whole new felt path.
You will work on creating texture and colour on the surface of felt as will learn how to incorporate other textile structures such as weaving, knitting or crochet into your felt making. Some of the pieces you make will be dyed during the workshop.
Each day, students will complete two or more small projects that will both demonstrate a new technique but can also either stand alone as a finished project or incorporated into a future art piece.
Suitability: Previous felt making experience will enhance the student’s enjoyment of this workshop. Class Size 12-15 students
The lines between traditional felt making and other textiles arts are beginning to fade as we see more and more felt being incorporated into art pieces. Felt is being sculptured into three-dimensional forms that incorporate multiple layers of individual felts, felt is pleated and resist dyed like fine silks using shibori techniques, industrial felt is being used to make structural furniture and gossamer felts becomes lighter and lighter. The boundaries of felt are being continuously challenged.
This one-day or two-day workshop will further explore the art of making felt. Looking at not so much how we make felt but way we make felt. What is the end platform for your work or your reason for being a felter? There are probably as many answers as there are method of felting to the simple question – why do we felt? Is the resulting piece of felt that we create the ultimate reason, or is it just the base for further mixed media work? Is colour blending or dying the end result or just one of the paths along the way? Is the final platform actually going to be cut and formed into a chair or will it be a delicate shawl? Will it be flat or three dimensional? Will it be displayed on the head, body or on a wall? The questions and answers could continue for almost an eternity and just when you think they are all answered someone will do something totally unexpected and create a whole new felt path.
You will work on creating texture and colour on the surface of felt as will learn how to incorporate other textile structures such as weaving, knitting or crochet into your felt making. Some of the pieces you make will be dyed during the workshop.
Each day, students will complete two or more small projects that will both demonstrate a new technique but can also either stand alone as a finished project or incorporated into a future art piece.
Suitability: Previous felt making experience will enhance the student’s enjoyment of this workshop. Class Size 12-15 students
