Felting 101

Wednesdays, July 15 and 22, 7:00–9:00 p.m. (2 sessions) Admission: $50 General; $40 Members; $30 Students Mark your calendars. Registration for this course begins online, on site at the Skirball, and by phone on Tuesday, March 31, at 12:00 p.m. This course is an introduction to the art of felting, an increasingly popular contemporary craft. Students will learn the history of this oldest of textile materials, a dense, non-woven fabric, without any warp or weft, made from matted and compressed fibers or fur with no apparent system of threads. The class will cover different techniques for creating felt, which can be employed to sculpt wool fibers into flat fabrics, adhere wool designs to another fabric, and create 3D shapes:

Fulling: creating felt from previously knitted objects, such as gently used sweaters

Dry needle felting: using one or more specially crafted, barbed needles to entangle raw wool fibers called "roving"
During the course, students will create an artful adornment (see example pictured at left) and a second project of their choice. No experience necessary.

Instructor: A lifelong crafter, Gabrielle Tsabag discovered the art of felting a number of years ago and has honed her technique through books, classes, and experimentation. She is a former Skirball senior museum educator and holds an MA in education from the University of Judaism.

Class size limited to 15 students

Additional fee: $30 materials fee, payable to instructor at first class meeting.