Feltmaking Workshops in Schools

Feltmaking in Schools

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About Feltmaking

Felt is a wonderful material that has been handmade for thousands of years in many countries around the world and is considered the oldest known textile. Felt is created by rolling sheep’s wool with warm, soapy water, allowing the natural scales on the wool fibres to hook and lock together to form a strong, felted fabric. Many of us have discovered this process by accident with woolly jumpers in the washing machine… oops!

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Who Are the Workshops For?

Feltmaking workshops are suitable for children of all ages and abilities, including nursery, primary, secondary, and special schools. Creative and pleasing results are always achieved, and workshops can be linked to class topics and National Curriculum subjects.

 

Curriculum Links

• Art & Design – Pupils explore new materials, experiment with techniques, and plan their own designs.

• Science – Pupils learn how felted fabric is made and why feltmaking is an excellent example of irreversible change.

• Literacy – Pupils develop vocabulary related to feltmaking and can follow up the workshop with writing activities.

• Numeracy – There are opportunities for counting, measuring, and making times tables fun and meaningful.

• History – Pupils learn about the origins of feltmaking and how different countries and cultures have used felted fabrics.

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Why invite an artist into school?

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Benefits of Working with a Professional Artist

Working with a professional artist in school provides a positive role model for children and offers valuable insight into how artists work and why they choose a creative career. This experience helps pupils understand artistic processes and approaches to making art. Feltmaking textile workshops are particularly effective in developing new creative skills, knowledge, and confidence.

Teachers also benefit from these workshops by developing and broadening their own creative skills for use in the classroom. Dedicated CPD sessions can be booked separately if required.

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GCSE and A Level Workshops

Feltmaking workshops for GCSE and A Level students offer the opportunity to explore a new medium and create imaginative, individual artwork that supports assessment objectives and enhances arts portfolios. Older students also gain insight into how artists present their work to the public, alongside an understanding of the commercial and business skills involved in becoming a professional and successful creative practitioner.