Creating Sculptural Creatures and People through Needle Felting
Date: Saturday, August 28, 2004
Time: 9am – 6pm (Shopping & Lunch break 11-2)
Instructor: Traci Bunkers
Cost: $100

Come and learn how to create sculptural, felted items out of wool without the mess involved in traditional felting methods. (Traditional felting methods use hot water and soap to get the fibers to “mesh” together). This method, called needle felting, is a dry felting method that uses only a special barbed needle to create felt. By jabbing and poking a felting needle into prepared wool (normally prepared for spinning into yarn or making felt), you can create 2-D or 3-D pieces—your imagination is the only limit to what you can make.

In this class, I will teach you the basics of needle felting and how to create a creature or humanoid around a simple flexible armature, making your finished piece moveable and positionable. The hardest things to make in needle felting are hands and feet, and I'll teach you a simple way to create them. We will also make detailed faces on our creatures or people. Your piece can be as detailed or simple, realistic or imaginary as you like. Needle felting can also be used to add a detailed design to traditionally made felt. Another advantage of needle felting over traditional felting is the portability—all you need is wool, a felting needle, and a piece of foam to work on top of. Plus, at any time you can add to your piece or change it! For more information and examples of my needle felted pieces, you can visit my website at www.bonkersfiber.com .

Supply List:  

There is a $15 materials fee payable to the instructor at class time.  

To insure everyone has the correct felting needles and wool, I will provide all the materials: felting needles, natural and hand-dyed wool fiber in many colors, and foam blocks. These will be yours to keep!  

Optional: Bring any accessories (charms, etc.) Or, if you want to use yarn for hair instead of locks of wool, bring that too.  

If you have any questions, please e-mail me at Bonkers@bonkersfiber.com ! Don't hesitate to ask!

©2003-2004, ART Unraveled. All rights reserved. No content may be reproduced from this website without written permission.