Felt Book
In this class you will produce a beautiful A5 sized book, combining traditional feltmaking and bookbinding techniques. This workshop is one of a series of “Repurposing Silk Fabrics through Felt” classes which are all about creating beautiful and meaningful textured pieces of handmade felt, using merino wool and silk fabrics and exploring the endless possibilities these materials offer. The process is slow and considered, this class is all about quality, not quantity! For this reason, the workshop will be held over 2 days one month apart, giving you plenty of time to stitch into/embellish your piece of felt which you will make on the first day. Your work could perhaps include small pieces of fabric or thread, perhaps a scrap of old loved fabric or a treasured remnant, thus creating a precious memory book. Combined with wool, a prefelt will be made which will then be stitched into, cut, reshaped and felted some more. The process will be repeated 2 or 3 times to create an exquisite textured surface which can then be further enhanced with stitch. The second day will be the bookbinding day when you will create a beautiful book, using traditional bookbinding techniques, again using recycled materials. Forget all about feltmaking being hard work, using my techniques it’s a very gentle and relaxing process, no heavy rolling required, so ideal for anyone who has wanted to make felt but thinks it’s too hard physically! Also, it can all be done sitting down... Suitable for any level of experience, this class is not only aimed at feltmakers, but also at embroiderers and anyone who loves to stitch as handmade felt is a wonderful surface to stitch into and onto. There will be a materials cost of £15 per person (payable to Jill on the day) and I will need to know at least 2 weeks in advance what colour/s you would like to work in, in order to obtain and prepare your fabrics and materials.
STUDENT REQUIREMENTS
- You will need your normal feltmaking equipment, if you don’t have any, don’t worry, I will have spare equipment you can use,
- 3 hand towels
- Sharp scissors
- Sewing equipment (pins, needles etc)
- An assortment of embroidery threads, wools etc if you wish to stitch into your work
- Notebook for notes and design ideas.
- Fabrics: if you have any special fabrics you would like to use in your felt, please bring them as well. We can have a look at them to see if they are suitable. It’s sometimes nice to use old fabrics that have sentimental value or some other personal meaning or are just too old to wear or use any more. Loosely woven silks, especially old scarves and other similar viscose or cotton fabrics and lace work well, also devoré velvets. Polyesters, nylons or other man made fabrics don’t work as well, although it is sometimes interesting to use small amounts of these fabrics to produce interesting textures, and the stitching will strengthen the felt if these fabrics have not been successfully incorporated.
Fabrics: I will bring a selection of suitable fabrics, but if you have any special fabrics you would like to use in your felt, please bring them. We can have a look at them to see if they are suitable. It’s sometimes nice to use old fabrics that have sentimental value or some other personal meaning or are just too old to wear or use any more. Loosely woven silks, especially old scarves and other similar viscose or cotton fabrics and lace work well, also devoré velvets. Polyesters, nylons or other man-made fabrics don’t work as well, although it is sometimes interesting to use small amounts of these fabrics to produce interesting textures, and the stitching will strengthen the felt if these fabrics have not been successfully incorporated into the felt.
