WORKSHOP 

Discover how to use felt as a decorative element on garments and sheer fabrics using stitching and appliqué techniques. Add stencilling to create unique, double-sided fabrics. You can also use these techniques on t-shirts and sweat-shirts.

Please note that you will not be making felt in this workshop. Instead you will be learning how to use pieces of your handmade felt to embellish fabric in interesting ways. You can choose to work on a t-shirt, sweat-shirt, sheer scarf or piece of organza.

You will come away from this workshop with plenty of ideas for revamping your clothes!

  This image shows the back (black leaves) and front (green leaves) of an organza scarf.

This image shows colourful birds on black jersey.

OUR TUTOR

Chris White has a background in garment design and custom manufacturing in her small business. She has a passion for fashion design, up-cycling garments and is always seeking new and interesting ways to incorporate felt into clothing.

Other information

Skill Level

You must have some sewing experience and be familiar with the workings of your sewing machine.

You will need to be able to make your own flat piece of felt to bring along to the workshop. Note: you will not be learning how to felt in this workshop.

Materials list

  You will need to bring along:

• Sewing machine in good working order, preferably with a free motion foot.
  
• 1 or 2 pieces of hand-made felt approx. 40cm x 30cm.  Multi-coloured (painterly effects), graduated colours or patterned felt will produce an interesting outcome. Make sure your felt is fully felted.  Nuno felt is acceptable.
• Garment of choice for reinventing.  Chris suggests looking in the Op shops to find a t-shirt, or a sweat-shirt that you can work on. Alternatively, you can try this technique on a piece of organza or on a sheer scarf (in a solid colour).  Note: working on sheer fabric is a little more difficult.
• Sewing equipment including thread, scissors (a medium general cutting pair and a small sharp pointed pair) and pins.
• An apron to wear when printing.  
• Printing board (if you have one).  A printing board is a piece of flat wood (approx A3 size). The top is covered with a piece of woolen blanket and then covered again with either a piece of canvas or a piece of an old sheet. The coverings are held in place at the back with staples.    Your tutor has a couple of boards that will be available for use on the day.
  
  
• Your lunch and snacks (tea and coffee will be provided)

Note: your tutor will provide printing materials including a range of suitable stencils, printing inks and printing tools.

Cancellations: see Workshop Terms and Conditions.