Felt: Depth of Surface/Depth of Field

Explore thickness of layout and densities of partially felted sheets of wool for patterning effects, texture resists and edging techniques when fusing wool through fabrics. Incorporate surprising substrates and a handful to be used to trap found objects under and in fabric pockets to add strategic weight, defined shape, dimension and color. Free-motion embroidery will be applied to offer finer detailing and to compress remaining airspace in the felt creating an embossed effect. These studies/samples of intensive techniques are suggested as a focal point in a larger field of felt, for example: a jacket cuff, a shirt collar, a bag flap, an aspect of a wall hanging and/or a jewelry component.

Not for novice felters. Intermediate & Advance participants having experience with laying out thin and evenly and looking to develop new aesthetics through structural play of felt, fabric and stitch. **Felting is a physically demanding process. Participants should be comfortable standing; have shoulder, arm and hand strength/mobility; be comfortable with having their hands in wet/soapy conditions for hours and exposed to hot and cold water. **

Promotional images are examples of techniques to be explored during the workshop and do not represent works to be replicated.

Materials Fee: $15-20 for selection of fabrics for course studies paid directly to the instructor.

Additional Items For sale: small hand carders/blenders for mixing colors $18 small wire brush $5 agitation mat $12 19 micron Merino Top .15cents/g + STRONGFELT works for sale at 15% discount for participants

Instructor Brings for use during course: agitation mats, grip mats, wetting cloths/bags, razors, soap, 3 scales at .00 accuracy + samples for study + detailed syllabi

Special Tools or Equipment brought by students:

• 4oz-8oz (113g-226g) Merino top in a variety of your chosen colors including black and white
• a small collection of 3-5 different fabrics from your collection, thrifted/second hand clothing or store bought to explore as a group 10 participants x 3 fabrics = 30 additional texture investigations! (Instructor will provide core fabrics for studies)
• pieces need not be larger than 15”x 15” (40 cm x 40 cm)
• thin/transparent to semi-transparent and/or that have an open weave/structure
• bonus for interesting surface designs or variation in fabrics constructed density
• a small collection of 5-10 objects (same or different) for inclusion in fabric encasements (objects no larger than 1” (2.5 cm) in more than one direction suggested and made from materials that won’t break down when wet, soapy and agitated, i.e.: rocks, fired clay, pieces of glass w/o sharp edges, non-ferrous metals, plastic, bone, horn etc.)
• 2 pieces of small bubbled bubble wrap measuring 24” x 45” (61 x 115 cm) with bubbles on one side and flat on the other and no pool covering
• 24” (63 cm) of a 2” diameter foam pool noodle
• a pair of knee high nylons
• small sharp scissors
• rotary cutter 18-28 mm and cutting/self-heal mat
• a note pad/writing utensil
• a calculator/camera/phone
• a flexible measuring tape
• a cookie sheet or similarly low lipped tray (no deeper than 1”) to contain water
• a sewing machine only if it has feed dogs that can drop below the face or needle plate and you have the correct foot referred to as a free-motion embroidery foot or darning foot
• **if you have a machine that has a knee lift bring it-allows sewing on thicker felts**
• a few extra 70/10 sewing needles (fine pointed microtex needles can help keep from snagging woven fibers when sewing though felt with fabric)
• extra bobbins for your particular machine
• a handful of colors of sewing thread with black and white a must to add contrast (50 weight cotton thread is my preference)

**if you don’t have a machine, don’t expect to sew, but there will still be plenty to explore*

Not mandatory to bring, but helpful: any item offered for sale that you have, a digital scale measuring to .00 grams accuracy, preferred soap

Workshop Policies: Please be sure to read our policies before you register for a workshop which can be found here Workshop Policies