This introductory 1-day workshop will teach the use of the FeltLOOM® needle-felting machine as a tool for textile design and creation. An understanding of the machine operations and techniques for making felted fabric designs that can be used for items such as scarves and shawls will be gained. This workshop will appeal to anyone who has an interest in designing and creating felt based materials and products.

Workshop presenter

Mette Hay is a textile artist and a current textile design student at AUT and assists at the Textile and Design Lab in an operational role presenting and supervising felting workshops and making sessions. As you might expect from someone who has lived, worked and travelled to thirty plus countries, Mette’s artistic influences are diverse and eclectic, and her Danish heritage anchors her appreciation for clean and functional design. Her journey as an artist has seen exploration in photography, paint, sculpture and textiles as well as public mural installations and the support of children’s creativity. Her current studies at AUT are exploring the space between art and design within the realm of textiles and textile manipulation. With an emphasis on sustainable natural materials and their marriage with form, function, aesthetic appeal and the connection with our environments. A key component of Mette’s evolving practice is to re-define how creativity is viewed.

Workshop content

The workshop covers essential skills including techniques, layers, patterns and textures. It provides an overview of FeltLOOM® needle-felting technology with a demonstration of fabric production or transformation using fibres to fibres and fibres to fabric. The workshop will include examples of design approaches and provide guidelines for FeltLOOM® artwork and skills for combining different fibres to transform them into unique designs. Participants will apply the skills they learn to create their own original designs that will be processed into fabric.

Learning outcomes
- Gain an understanding of the essential FeltLOOM® functions for design and production.
- Be introduced to needle felting technology, process and workflow.
- Use FeltLOOM® as a tool to create and develop original fabric.
- Be introduced to FeltLOOM® techniques including fibre to fibre and fibre to fabric.
- Gain and understanding of the FeltLOOM® operations.

Participant requirements

This is an introductory level workshop and no prior knowledge of textiles or felting is required.

What to bring

Materials are provided but you are welcome to bring along your own materials to experiment with if you wish. Please bring refreshments and lunch. Several cafes are located nearby.

Location

AUT University, Textile and Design Lab, Level 3, WE Building, St Paul Street, Auckland CBD. If you require a map of the AUT Auckland City campus please go to 'Campus Map' link.

Following on

For participants who wish to continue accessing the felting machine after attending the 1 day workshop, regular 3 hour making sessions will be available to them. Please email tdl@aut.ac.nz for details.