Wet-Felting as a Textile Technique for Y11 BTEC Level 2 Art and Design Carnival Mask Design

I'm excited to be teaching wet-felting to a new group of students. 

I joined their BTEC Carnival project after they had already experimented with a few other textile techniques; so far they have experimented with, reverse appliqué (mola), stitch and slash and trapping sequins and threads in heat-bonded angelina fibres. 

An inspiration image - Venetian Harlequin Mask 

This was the students' first ever experience of wet felting and wow! they have already made some pieces that can either be used as a base for their mask or even cut up and added to to other fabric bases. 

Here the Y11 student used mohair yarn to lay-out a harlequin grid and then added diamonds cut from pre-felt. 

Inspiration image: Harlequin mask with feathers 

Student work: Experimenting with the possibilities of adding multicoloured felted beads 

I am currently at home on a school snow day but am itching to start making my own mask.

A very simple demonstration piece to show the students that they can cut their hand felted fabric to shape. 

Inspiration image: Venetian mask with raised scroll surface detail

Inspiration image: Couching

I can see the potential of the the textile technique - Couching -to add some more interesting surface texture and pattern. 

Y11 Student work with glittery twinkle fabric trapped in during the wet-felting process. 

Y11Student work.- Their first ever piece of hand-made felt! 

Let's see how the BTEC FirstAward Carnival Mask project progresses....... 

See more School Felting projects http://www.allsensesart.com/schools-projects

Young People from Birmingham Children's Hospital exhibit their artwork at Artsfest 09

Last summer I led various feltmaking projects for young people in mental health wards in Birmingham Children’s Hospital. The workshops were received so enthusiastically by the participants that I was asked to take part in the project again this summer.

Here's a quote from a member of staff at Playtrain , “The whole atmosphere within the ward changed as soon as Kirsty arrived. There was an air of enthusiasm and very definitely a positive energy.”

I feel proud of the work that I have been able to teach and empower the young people to make. The three wards all have patients with different health issues and therefore different levels of concentration, self esteem, and desire to participate.


Finished felted wallhanging made by young people on Ward 3. The design was based on scenes from an imaginary computer game. See their plans for the design below.

Last year we made these fantastic felted football glove puppets, cushions, bangles and wall-hangings and this year we made two splendid wall-hangings, flowers and mini-beasts.

It was even more exciting for the young people as their work was exhibited as part of Artsfest (the UK’s largest free arts festival in Birmingham). It was also exhibited at BVSC: Centre for Voluntary Action, Birmingham over a 4 month period and now much of the work is on permanent display within the hospital.

I’m also really happy to say that some items have been kept by the young people; that special cushion to cuddle, those really cool puppets to play with and those beautiful flowers to embellish handbags and jackets (so in fashion at the moment!) Feedback from staff is that these items are significant in raising the young people’s sense of self-worth and achievement

Fluffy wool fibres laid out to make an underwater sea scene.

And here is the hanging framed and on display in the Council House as part of Artsfest 09.

Here's one of the felted animals made by one of the young people at Birmingham Children's Hospital last summer.

Artsfest is a fantastic weekend to chill out in Birmingham. Listen to a huge variety of music, watch dance and drama performances, try some drop in craft workshops and also buy hand made items by local artists and crafts people.

Here’s Jamie Lewis, a friend, and very talented felter. Even as a felter myself I have bought some of Jamie’s mega cute felted animals. I would never attempt to replicate Jamie’s animals as we all have different felting styles no two feltmakers can make identical work.

Woolfest Make a trip to the Lake District for a festival all about wool

Four years ago I went to Woolfest with my children Bryony & Dominic. That was summer 2005 and it was the first year of this now famous festival devoted, to wool. It was (and still is) held in Cockermouth sheep market. Stall holders each had a pitch with was in fact an empty sheep pen within the market. My dad and brother are farmers so I’m comfortable with that sort of setting. We met up with my friend Liz Brown and some other Scottish felters and had a wild time. I remember the frenzy of activity in the restaurant after the evening meal. Suddenly there were spinning wheels and fleeces everywhere! Liz and Co slept in her own cosy Yurt and we were sleeping in a little tent. The only thing was that there was barely any grass so we were pitched on a very narrow grass verge at the edge of the sheep market car park!

These are photos from 2005

Bryony experimenting with a really unusual weaving frame. Warp and weft are all one thread.

Bangles and scarves made by various talented Scottish Feltmakers

Jeanette Sendler's fantastic sculptural hats. Many with animal sculls and weathered bones incorporated.

Next weekend, Friday 26th and Saturday 27th June, we are off up to Cockermouth for the 5th Woolfest. I’m looking forward to seeing how the festival has developed. Now there are classes and demonstrations and you can bring your own fleeces to sell too. It will be very tempting for me as there will be lots of lovely fibres on sale for felting but meeting up with other felters, sharing ideas and being constantly amazed and inspired by what can be made from wool will be the best.

How about Yuli Somme and Anne Belgrave’s “Bellacouche Leafshrouds” (felted burial shrouds)?