Amanda Critchlow - felt
Amanda has been immersed in textile crafts all her life. She has been teaching for over 30 years, covering several different aspects of creative textile arts. For the last 10 years turning wool fibres into felt with soap, water, action and a little magic has been the textile craft that has been inspiring her the most. Turning the felted fabric into beautiful and useful items or creating seamless felted artefacts has been her focus. Most of the time she likes to use locally sourced fleece, uses natural dyes to colour the wool and does basic botanical printing onto the felt too.
Felt is an ancient craft which only needs very basic tools available to everyone. Wool fibres, water, soap, your hands and time. Other tools assist the process such as reed mats, heat and ridged wooden blocks.
Amanda has been teaching the skills and versatility of wool both locally and abroad. In her classes she demonstrates how you can mix wool fibres with silk, cotton, linen and other fibrous threads for wonderful textures and effects; how to create flat felt, 3D felt and fine cobweb and lace felt. Plus she teaches the technique of combining wool with woven natural fibre fabrics to create nuno or laminated felt. The latter being used mostly in clothing as it is fine, strong and drapes well.
The history of felt, the versatility of it and samples of the different types and techniques are always shared and included in the classes.
Felt workshop
Sunday 19th February 2023
10.30am – 4pm at Art House, South Brent
Spend the day making felt: either a piece of standard felt or nuno felt (which is wool felted with woven fabric) which ever you would prefer; both options will be taught. This is the traditional method with water and soap which can be quite therapeutic. Beginners and experienced felters will be catered for.
Make a piece to take away large enough to make into a small purse, or wall hanging.
Instructions for a purse will be given.
Bring your own lunch, but tea and coffee will be provided.
£40 including basic materials
Please email if you are interested in joining Amanda:
amanda.critchlow@googlemail.com
