felting techniques class
Sorry For the late post, I thought today was tomorrow.
Last weekend I had four ladies for a techniques class. This is not an advanced class, but it is also not a beginner class. People had to already know how to make felt.
First, we did inclusions. They used a piece of thicker prefelt and elastics to enclose some large glass beads (the kind they are used in the bottom of vases for decoration) and a felt ball. Then laying out a base and top they enclosed some glass beads, a felt ball, a circular resist with a hole and a squashed tasimo pod with a resist over it. Sorry, I forgot to grab the camera until they were at the rubbing stage. Part way through they cut some holes on top of the beads and pod.
When they were laying out I had them cover a pebble with 2 layers in different colours. I had them put a resist on top of the first layer and wrap it with the second colour. They popped them into a piece of nylon stocking to contain it all and make it easier to felt. You can see the first sample on the table in the picture below. They mostly felted the pebbles during lunch while eating and chatting. Once it was mostly done they cut a hole in the top and after healing the cut edge removed the resist and cut a smaller hole to reveal the pebble. Similar to the one below that I made a few years ago.
Next was cracked mud. I had them layout two 10×10 pieces( top and bottom) they added painter’s tape in 2 widths and then added the top
Naturally, because it was a wet felting class, they had to do some rolling.
I had them cut the mud sections at different stages of felting, prefelt, mostly done and done. so they could see how that affects it. I think they could have used more felting before the fulling but we had limited time and had to move on to book resists. I had them make a four-page book resist using half circles. they managed to get it laid out and wet down but then we were out of time so they had to take them home to finish.
3 students sent me pictures of the finished pieces. The first one she manipulated to look like origami.
And this one, She says it needs more fulling but wanted to get me the picture.
The third student got creative and combined her samples into a tea cozy.
All in all a good class. I just wish I could squeeze more techniques in. But no matter how fast you want to be felting takes time.
12 thoughts on “felting techniques class”
Love the creativness of the lady who cobbled together the tea-cosy 🙂
That’s a lot of interesting work for the students for a weekend – they must have been knackered by the end – and the progress photos of their work are lovely.
Thanks Ladies. I love to see how creative my students are. so many different ideas I never would have thought of. It was a very full day.
Looks like lots of fun. As you say, there’s a limit to how many different pieces of felt you can make in one day. As they’re felters with some experience I’m sure it’s fine to show them the ideas and let them finish the work at home. I especially like the yellow origami piece.
Thank you, it was fun day, I did tell them about another technique they could try at home. I am sure they will figure it out.
Another great workshop Ann, with lots of inspiration for future projects for your students.
I was particularly taken with the mats that they were working on, or were they towels? I think probably mats; were they woven plastic? The surface looked to have plenty of texture for rubbing against. I’m sure they would have been fun to work on, and from which to pick up ideas for “cracked earth” designs too.
Ann
Thanks you, one thing I love about teaching is seeing how everyone has different ideas for the same thing. The mats are supposed to be beach mats. but they sell similar things in different sizes as outdoor carpets. I have a big 5×8 foot one.
I feel that this was a lot to learn in such short time, I am amazed at how many things you managed to show them, Ann! I am sure that they were fine with finishing off their project on their own, as long as they learned all of that on how to accomplish those good results.
It is a lot but I I always want to do more. I hope they find new and interesting ways to use the techniques.
Looks like a fun class. I always want to teach techniques instead of a specific project. That lets students use the techniques in their own way. Your class looks very creative.
I like techniques too. It’s a hard sell. Even at the intermediate level people seem to want a finished project to go home with. That would be fine if you had a week. It was a fun class though.
Your last sentence is so true Ann. Felting takes time. But boy they got through so much with you. Did you manage to take any photos of the cracked mud results?
Your students went home pretty tired but very happy with all their creations.
Love it!
Helene
What a full day of learning. I am going to have to look up what “cracked mud” means? It’s probably one of the things in Ruth’s online course I failed miserably at, and erased from my memory.😬 I think it’s wonderful you have a group, eager to learn whatever techniques you offer!