wet felting
What do you get when you mix wool, water, soap and some elbow grease with your creativity? A beautiful wet felted art work! This centuries-old process knits the wool fibres together to make a felt fabric that can be displayed as it is, or further embellished at home with embroidery, sequins and beads.
You can use a host of different colours, grades and types of wool to build up strikingly beautiful designs such as landscapes or abstract pieces. Because there are so many different types and colours of wool, and infinite ways of arranging them, every piece will be unique.
Hot water combined with agitation of the wool causes the microscopic scales on the wool fibres to open up and knit together. The addition of soap accelerates this process by increasing the alkalinity of the wool, and also makes it easier for your hands to move over the surface of the wool. Though wet felting requires some physical effort, it can be a very mindful experience - and you have the satisfaction of creating something beautiful, too.
Why not try Wet Felting for yourself one of our workshop sessions? We can offer both individual and group sessions (up to four people) - further information can be found on our Wet Felting Workshops page. Trisha will work alongside you to enable you to create an individual piece of work – please contact us to have a discussion about what you’d like to make, and to book a workshop session.
N.B. Please be aware that the ‘elbow grease’ required means that the wet felting process may be difficult for anyone with weakness in their shoulders, elbows, wrists or hands; if this applies to you, please discuss with Trisha before booking a workshop.
Please also note that wet felting is not the same as needle felting. Wet felting uses water, soap and agitation, as described above, to create a flat felted fabric; though flat, the fabric can be used afterwards to make 3D objects if desired. In needle felting a special felting needle is jabbed repeatedly into wool to make the fibres knit together into felt; the process is often used to create 3D felted items such as soft toys.
If you would like some design inspiration, please browse our Wet Felting Gallery
For further general information, please read our FAQ page.
Gift Vouchers for our workshops are available - why not give someone you love a special treat or original birthday gift? Vouchers are available from £10 upwards, in multiples of £5, or you can buy a voucher for a whole workshop session - either half-day (£48 per person) or full day (£96 per person). Please contact us for further information; if a ‘workshop’ voucher is required, please discuss this so it is clear what is included.