Past Workshop Topics

a workshop with Sue Eslick

In this one day class we will create fine felt around a resist to make a hollow form which will form the basis for our hat.  Silk fabric can be added to provide surface decoration, colour shading and extra strength. Sizing and design elements will be discussed to create a unique hat.

The workshop is suitable for inexperienced felters – if you can lay out wool tops finely and evenly.

A materials fee of $0 is payable to tutor.

Estimated materials list $

For details of the Cancellation & Refund Policy click here

For all queries, please email the Feltwest Workshop Co-ordinator through our Contact page.

Raising the surface of your felt creates texture, depth and interest.  Over the years felters have pushed the boundaries of embellishing felt finding new and innovative ways whilst using a range of materials and methods.  In this one day workshop we will make samples exploring the many techniques available to us whilst using treasures from our stashes, found items, and/or repurposing those UFOs (UnFinished Objects).

We will explore

• fabric, painting and stitching options used before laying wool
• Inclusions – feltable and non feltable
• Bubbles, frills, folds & ruffles
• Negative resists
• Negative space
• Reverse Nuno
• Differential shrinkage patterns and ghostly affects
• Topping with fibres, yarns, paper and felt
• Adding horns, spikes, handles and loops
• Shibori shaping & stitching at various felting phases for texture, loops, plaits & tails
• Embroidery stitches for height and style

You may choose to focus on one or two techniques or explore them all, making one sample or a plethora of them. As we are working small you could achieve many of these techniques in one day.  Your day – your choice.  We will also explore various ways of documenting your samples for future reference.  As with all Studio Detritus workshops, we challenge you to use only what you have, or can share, or swap.

Studio Detritus is an ongoing series of workshops that focus on using what we have rather than acquiring more, yet getting more in the end.  Soosie has been a practicing felt and textile artist for over 30 years and has won awards, prizes, and been featured in many exhibitions and publications around the world. 

Experience Level: All welcome.

A materials fee of $0 payable to tutor.

Estimated materials list $20 only if you need to buy “fresh” wool.

For details of the Cancellation & Refund Policy click here

For all queries, please email the Feltwest Workshop Co-ordinator through our Contact page.

a workshop with Sharn Bruere

Close your eyes for a moment and imagine warm honey being drizzled over you brain. Relaxing right? Now imagine getting home from a long day, kicking off your hard shoes, and the same relaxing feeling pouring over you as you slip into your super cosy 100% wool slippers made just for you by you.

Bliss found.

Come learn the magical art of felted wool slipper making.

Sharn will take you through the entire process in six easy to follow steps – from resist making to sole options. By the end of the workshop you will have made a beautiful pair of slippers and will be able to share the magic by making a pair for everyone you know.

Sharn is a town planner by trade and wool felter at heart. She started her wool felting journey making felted wool baby shoes. She now takes custom orders for ladies slippers through her website Woolly Wombat. She has made hundred of pairs of wool felted slippers using the wet felting technique. Through the making of each pair she has perfected the art, streamlined the process and made all of the mistakes (so you don’t have to!). She has written an e-book on how to make felted wool slippers and knows all the tips and tricks to complete a pair of beautiful and magical slippers.

Find her online (Woolly Wombat) or say hi when she is next at a club toss and tell.

Sharn will have the following products available at the workshop:

• Core wool
• Wool kits to make a full pair of slippers
• Shoe soles
• Resist material
• My e-book (printed) on the magical art of slipper making

A materials fee of $nil is payable to tutor.

Estimated materials list $40

For details of the Cancellation & Refund Policy click here

For all queries, please email the Feltwest Workshop Co-ordinator through our Contact page.

a workshop with Kaye Louwen

In this workshop you will learn how to make a simple nuno-felted tunic top that fits you perfectly. Commencing with a basic pattern in one of 3 sizes (40% shrinkage allowed) you will be shown how to make adjustments for your particular body shape, and also for different necklines and hemlines. On silk chiffon we will use a quick layout method and all seams will be felted.

Kaye Louwen

I have always loved making things and have done a lot of dressmaking in years gone by. I am a retired Maths teacher, so am not afraid of calculating shrinkages and helping others to understand this process. I have been felting for around 14 years now and have attended many workshops with local and International feltmakers.

After attending a number of jacket and dress workshops I have come up with my own patterns and methods.
I have run many beginner felting workshops, both privately and for FIGS (Felters In the Great Southern), of which I was a member during my 9 years in Mt Barker. I hosted a 3 day advanced workshop in Mt Barker to make a nuno-felted sleeveless coat with a shawl collar.

I have participated in a number of group exhibitions and a solo one in 2018 at the Riverfront Gallery in Denmark WA. This was featured in the Australian Felt Magazine.

I have won prizes for my felted creations in the Plantagenet Art Prize. Feltmaking gives me much joy and I love to share my skills with others and meet with other creative people

Kaye will have the following products available at the workshop:

• Kits for garment – optional but recommended details in materials list
• Wool
• Silk
• Embellishments

A materials fee of $nil is payable to tutor unless you purchase product on the day.

Estimated materials list $70-80

A pattern for the garment is included in the workshop price – Kaye will be contacting you prior to the workshop to arrange delivery of the pattern and to discuss pre workshop preparation.  Kaye can also provide you with silk and/or wool plus embellishments in your colour choice.  Please email Kaye for more details, to order, and arrange payment.

For details of the Cancellation & Refund Policy click here

For all queries, please email the Feltwest Workshop Co-ordinator through our Contact page.

a workshop with Vimol Imsanguan

In this workshop, you will be creating a needle felted babushka and standing doll as shown on the picture, learn how to handle wool, form the shape to create doll using needle felting technique with and without wire armature.

Vimol Imsanguan

I am self-taught needle felter since 2013 who enjoys working with various types of wool to create both 2D and 3D sculptures.  I especially enjoy felting dolls, fantasy creature and landscapes.  You can see more of my work at

https://www.facebook.com/WoollyBirdsAndFairy or https://www.instagram.com/woollybirdsandfairy/

A materials fee of $5 is payable to tutor.

Estimated materials list $10

For details of the Cancellation & Refund Policy click here

For all queries, please email the Feltwest Workshop Co-ordinator through our Contact page.

a 4 day workshop with Nancy Ballesteros

It has been recognised that certain proportions keep showing up in things we consider beautiful – a Natural Rhythm that our human brain finds especially visually pleasing. Mathematicians have written books; Leonardo Da Vinci used it when he painted Mona Lisa – The Golden Ratio, Fibonacci’s numbers… How could all this help you with your creativity?

In this workshop you will explore simple, practical ways to apply this powerful design principal to your nuno felting. It is an amazingly easy way to obtain visually pleasing outcomes – no maths is required!

Students are able to choose different designs of Kimono Poncho they would like to create. It can have either structured linear lines or more a more rhythmical and organic pattern. You will have a choice of creating either a Silk fabric collar or a felted collar. Very basic sewing skills will be needed.

Learn Nancy’s newest technique of working with WET wool for making clear sharp lines while also learning to felt great superfine cloth. Please come with an open mind and spirit ready to learn how to work with wool in a very different manner – it will be challenging!

Emphasis will be placed on QUALITY FELT. Specific fulling techniques will expand your felting skills.

Drawing from her 30+ years of designing colours, Nancy will also teach some practical ideas about designing with colour. She will help you develop your own colour language. Nancy will also share her No-Roll Felting Technique.

Recommended skill level: Intermediate to Advanced felter

Estimated cost on materials list:
$210 average size person 
$230 for tall person

Materials fee payable to tutor: None

For details of the Cancellation & Refund Policy click here

For all queries, please email the Feltwest Workshop Co-ordinator through our Contact page.

a workshop with Sue Eslick

In this two day class we will create a unique strong three dimensional felt bag. 

You will learn how to create different shapes and designs from a single, simple template by applying different thicknesses of wool, and cutting the template in different places.  We will felt around the resist to make a hollow form which will form the basis for our bag.  The application of additional design elements such as pockets and reinforced handles will be covered.

Techniques will be learned to full, shrink, stretch, steam and block the felt to form a firm bag. Emphasis will be placed on producing quality felt that is fully felted, strong, and smooth and holds its shape. 

Basic templates will be provided that may be adjusted to each individual design. 

The second day will focus on techniques to get a really professional finish to your bag. This will include getting a smooth surface, reducing colour bleed, top stitching, fasteners, and reinforced handles.

Basic felting skills and experience in using a resist are required. 

For details of the Cancellation & Refund Policy click here

For all queries, please email the Feltwest Workshop Co-ordinator through our Contact page.

a workshop with Pam De Groot

This workshop will explore the relationship of wool dimension and space to create undulating forms. Drawing on your own skill in the sculptural aspects of wool, investigate the power of shape, connections. You will discover how to vastly alter the surface of felt, through adding components or foreign objects.
Some experience in felt making is preferred.

No materials fee payable to Tutor.

Estimated cost of materials on list: $100

About Pam

After originally working as a studio potter, Pam has now worked in the field of Fibre and Textile art for almost 21 years, creating wearables, accessories and more recently sculpture. In this time she has explored new approaches to using felt, fibre, dyeing techniques and colour. She particularly pushes the boundaries of what is possible within felt making to reach new innovations in this ever growing field of textiles.

I hope to excite the viewer with the possibilities and mysteries of this craft.

After originally working as a studio potter, Pam has now worked in the field of Fibre and Textile art for almost 21 years, creating wearables, accessories and more recently sculpture. In this time she has explored new approaches to using felt, fibre, dyeing techniques and colour. She particularly pushes the boundaries of what is possible within felt making to reach new innovations in this ever growing field of textiles.

I hope to excite the viewer with the possibilities and mysteries of this craft.

a workshop with Soosie Jobson

The simplicity of the circle has endlessly fascinated humans. They are intricately woven into our existence through culture, religion, language, and design.  The circle has a mystique about it- it is the perfect never ending shape as it has no beginning nor end. It is an efficient shape it covers the maximum possible area for any given perimeter or circumference.  The circle gave us the wheel. 

We will harness this mystique and combine it with the power of differential shrinkage to create vessels and bowls embellished with the ghost image technique.

Skills to be covered: Differential shrinkage theory – harnessing wool’s ability to shrink, simple circle geometry, ghost image creation, colour theory, and laying techniques.

This workshop is for all felters, in particular if you have participated in, although not essential, the Skills Extension Differential Shrinkage.

A materials fee of $5 is payable to tutor.

Estimated materials list $50

For details of the Cancellation & Refund Policy click here

For all queries, please email the Feltwest Workshop Co-ordinator through our Contact page.

a workshop with Katrina Virgona

Come along for a fun day learning how to wet felt some intriguing 3D forms inspired by seeds and pods. Participants will discover ways to use a basic resist to create (and recreate) multiple variations of naturally occurring objects. With projects to suit both beginners and more advanced felters, this workshop will suit all creative souls.

This workshop is suitable for all felting levels – although basic felting experience is required.

No Materials fee.

Materials on list are estimated at $20 – list will be emailed upon completion of your order.

About Katrina

Katrina was born in North Queensland and moved to Fiji for four years with her family when she was nine. On return, she lived, worked, and studied in various locations around Australia before settling in Perth in 1984. In her studio practice, Katrina creates 3D artworks and contemporary textile jewellery pieces, drawing on a diverse range of materials including wool, wire, wood, metal, fur, and hair. Katrina teaches art theory at Curtin University and conducts a range of textile workshops. Her artworks have been exhibited and published locally, nationally, and internationally. For more images see: https://katrinavirgona.com or Instagram @katrinavirgona

For details of the Cancellation & Refund Policy click here

For all queries, please email the Feltwest Workshop Co-ordinator through our Contact page.

a workshop with Alison Gomes

In this 2 day workshop you will make and take home your own unique scarf.

You will be guided through the technique of nuno-felting (the art of adding fabric to wool before you felt it). You will learn all things related to making nuno-felt, such as how to choose your fabrics, different ways of combining wool and fabric, and plenty of tips on getting a great result. And it doesn’t end there…

In the next part of this workshop, we will enhance our nuno scarves by adding detail through hand-stitching (no embroidery experience necessary). Discover how you can take a piece of felt to another level, simply by stitching into it. See how different threads or yarns look when added to felt, and how the size, density and timing of stitching can all change the final look of your piece.

At the end of this workshop, you will have created a very special scarf in your chosen colour palette and design. What’s more, you can then apply these techniques to other felt creations in the future.

This workshop is suitable for all felting levels – although basic felting experience is required.

Materials fee of $12 payable to the tutor.

Materials on list are estimated at $40 – list will be emailed upon completion of your order.

About Alison

I am a fibre and textile artist living and working right here in Perth. My own felting journey began in 2007 when I first discovered the joy of creating hand-made felt. I was hooked! I still love the process and the magic of turning simple wool fibres into unique, beautiful pieces of felt. You can have a look at some of my work at www.nativeneedle.com.co
I have also had my work displayed in a few different exhibitions over the years.

It gives me great pleasure to pass on this love of felt by teaching the techniques I use. And to then see others inspired to make beautiful things of their own. Over the years I have taught several workshops for Feltwest, and I look forward to teaching this one too.

For details of the Cancellation & Refund Policy click here

For all queries, please email the Feltwest Workshop Co-ordinator through our Contact page.