Felting courses

Want to learn wet or hand felting, needle-felting, cobweb and nuno felting at courses, workshops and classes across the UK? Legend has it that the technique of felting was first discovered by Saint Christopher (the patron saint of travel), who packed his sandals full of wool to make them more comfortable. The sweat and movement induced by a long journey may have lead to world’s first pair of socks, as well as the first example of the material that became known as felt. Felting is used across the world in making decorative and warm slippers, bags, hats, brooches, trimmings, piano hammers, carpets, drum stands and roofing. Needle felting is hugely popular, with such wonderful courses as 'needle felted animals' whereas the technique of 'cobweb' or nuno felting are used to create beautiful flowing fabrics such as scarves. Felt is made by compressing or matting natural wool fibres together, usually with soapy water. This means that felt, uniquely, is a cloth that is not woven. Felting courses and workshops are great fun and a wonderful way to meet people and develop your creative potential at the same time. The techniques used in carding and felting wool are simple, yet difficult to get right. You can use just about any wool; alpaca and lambs wool are popular as is merino wool, which takes dye particularly finely, producing wonderfully vibrant and unique felt.