The International Feltmakers Association (IFA) online courses for wet feltmaking are currently open for enrollment. There are five different courses, and each covers a specific area of interest to felters:
The January-February Coursework access begins on the 2nd of January, 20206 and ends on the 28th of February, 2026. The courses run three times a year with a period of access to the online material. The other two slots are scheduled in May/June and October/November.
The workshops are delivered step-by-step, on-screen, and as downloadable or printable PDFs through the Ruzuku platform. Students work at their own pace and can use the online group forum to ask the course mentor any questions. Students can also share their work through peer feedback and discussions.
Fibre packs can be ordered if needed.
Feltmakers Ireland guild member Hélène Dooley is one of the mentors with the IFA Discovering Feltmaking Courses. She masterfully guided us through the ‘Cracked Earth’ and ‘Geode’ techniques during our April 2023 Sunday Session!
These online courses are open to both IFA members and non-members, and would make a perfect gift for oneself!
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Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.
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On Friday, 21st November, Fibreshed Ireland will gather at The Richmond Education and Event Centre, Smithfield, from 10 AM to 4:30 PM to hear from a diverse range of growers and practitioners who work in line with Soil-to-Soil principles of circularity, compostability, and agroecology.
Sarah Babiker — Threads of Story: Woolcraft a Language & Memory between Ireland and the Arab World
On Saturday, there will be an open day of craft demonstrations, workshops, shopping opportunities, and community building at Richmond Barracks, Inchicore, from 10 AM to 3:30 PM. Admission to the demonstrations and shopping is free, but each workshop will be ticketed.
Upcycling workshop with Eimear Greaney (@upsew.ie), from 10 AM to 12:00 PM
Aran knitting with @ryankoenigstudio, from 10 AM to 12:00 PM
Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.
Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.
Questions: For content-related questions, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.
The International Feltmakers Association (IFA) online courses for wet feltmaking are currently open for enrollment. There are five different courses, and each covers a specific area of interest to felters:
The October-November Coursework access begins on the 1st of October and ends on the 30th of November, 2025. The courses run three times a year with a period of access to the online material. The other two slots are scheduled in January/February and May/June.
The workshops are delivered step-by-step, on screen and as a downloadable or printable PDF through the Ruzuku platform. Students work at their own pace and can use the online group forum to ask the course mentor any questions they may have. Students can also share their work through peer feedback and discussions.
Fibre packs can be ordered if needed.
Feltmakers Ireland guild member Hélène Dooley is one of the mentors with the IFA Discovering Feltmaking Courses. She masterfully guided us through the ‘Cracked Earth’ and ‘Geode’ techniques during our April 2023 Sunday Session!
The online courses are open to IFA members and non-members.
Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog
Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.
Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.
Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.
On Monday, the 15th of September, Malú Colorín of Talu Earth will share her best tips to identify dye plants in the wild, so that you can gain insights into the colours we see, and learn how to predict the results in the dye pot.
She will discuss the following:
Is that a dye plant?
What colour does it make?
Will this brightly-coloured flower dye my shirt that colour?
Why is it so hard to get green?
When: Monday, 15th September at 6:30 PM (Irish time), via a FREE Zoom call.
Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.
Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.
Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.
Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.
Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.
Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.
These courses are not feltmaking specifically, but they may be of interest to add to one’s textile-related skills. The Joomchi workshops are in Dublin, and the Paper Casting Workshop is online.
2 in-person Joomchi Workshops in Dublin
Art in Layers is offering two in-person workshops in September on how to create Joomchi, which is a traditional Korean paper-crafting technique that involves layering hanji (Korean mulberry paper) by hand.
“In this class, you’ll learn the meditative process of bonding paper fibers without adhesives, creating stunning pieces with depth and dimension. Perfect for all skill levels, joomchi offers a beautiful way to explore texture, color, and form while connecting with a centuries-old craft.” – from the Art in Layers website.
The Surface Design Association (SDA) offers an online paper casting course taught by Leah Aegerter.
In this foundational paper-making workshop, students transform pulp into unique cast-paper sculptures. Starting with dry abaca pulp, they will delve into the process of reconstituting, blending, dyeing, and casting sheets using a traditional mould and deckle. Abaca paper is characterised by long fibres with impressive wet strength, making it ideal for manipulation. Students mould wet sheets onto objects at home, around the studio, or in the environment. This method of papermaking and casting exemplifies a DIY approach to adapting the traditional craft for a personal studio setting, as described on the Surface Design Association website.
When: Three live Zoom sessions in October/November, with recordings available for a year.
Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.
Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.
Questions: For questions about the content, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.
Join tutor and artist Ashleigh Ellis for a free course preview on Wet Cyanotype Printing on Paper.
Whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned creative, this is your chance to meet Ashleigh, see her process, and find out how you can explore the magic of botanicals, sunlight, and natural colour.
When: This Wednesday, the 13th, at 6.30 PM for a live preview talk via Zoom.
Note: The course starts on Thursday, the 28th of August, via the Appleoak Fibreworks online education platform.
Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.
Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.
Questions: For questions about the content, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.
The first one is by Feltmakers Ireland member Hélène Dooley, who has written an article about her experiments with natural dyeing, using tea, pine cones, and the roots and bark of a plum tree. Of special interest is her experiment with felting WITHOUT soap! Instead, she used vinegar.
As it is sunny outside in Ireland (today), it may be a good time for wool washing. Or not. If you are wondering how to wash MORE wool, TWO blog posts from the Felting and Fiber Studio may be of interest. Canadian feltmaker, Jan, explores creative ways to use agricultural equipment for washing larger volumes of wool fleece.
The fourth article, also by Jan, is relatively recent, dated August 4. It is about demonstrating needle felting and includes invaluable tips on how to engage in conversations with the public. She even describes how, when working on 2D pictures, the application of wool can be similar to using traditional art supplies such as pastel, watercolour, or acrylic paint. You will also have a laugh, as she writes in a humorous style.
Note: You can ‘subscribe’ to the Felting and Fiber Studio’s blog in order not to miss any posts. Just like our website, there is a sidebar with a box to enter your email address.
Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog
Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.
Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.
Questions: For questions about the content, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.
Pam de Groot demonstrating fibre weight layout during the workshop.
This past weekend, a dozen passionate felters gathered for an unforgettable three-day workshop led by internationally renowned artist Pam de Groot, who travelled from Australia to share her expertise. Hosted by Feltmakers Ireland, the workshop welcomed participants primarily from Ireland, with one dedicated felter joining us from Germany. The event, held at the Bayside Community Centre, was a vibrant exploration of felting techniques, creativity, and community, leaving everyone inspired and equipped with new skills to craft unique, wearable art.
Necklaces, earrings, and brooches created by Pam to show the various techniques the students would learn.
Pam de Groot is an Australian textile artist celebrated for her innovative approach to three-dimensional felting. With a deep passion for transforming raw fibres into intricate, wearable sculptures, Pam’s work blends traditional techniques with contemporary flair. Her creations often feature bold textures, vibrant colours, and unexpected materials, pushing the boundaries of what felt can achieve. During the workshop, her warm and engaging teaching style shone through, making complex techniques accessible and exciting for all skill levels.
Pam demonstrating. In the foreground are sample pieces of felted jewellery that she has created.
Over the three days, Pam guided participants through a variety of felting techniques, each opening new possibilities for artistic expression.
Techniques included –
Shaping with Resists: Creating diverse forms, from small round resists to complex structures, using simple tools.
Crafting Pea Pods: Using plastic moulds to shape delicate, nature-inspired, pea pod designs.
Dyeing Flower Stamens: In an imaginative twist, special fishing line became a medium for vibrant, lifelike stamens to enhance floral designs.
Designing Closures: Participants explored decorative and functional options, experimenting with various ways to finish their pieces with intention and flair.
Pam’s teaching approach was a perfect balance of demonstration and individualised support. She began with group instruction, clearly explaining each technique, then devoted one-on-one time to help participants bring their unique visions to life. Her patience and encouragement fostered a collaborative, creative atmosphere where everyone felt empowered to experiment.
From Technique to Creation: Wearable Art Emerges
After mastering the techniques, participants delved into designing their own wearable pieces, incorporating a rich array of materials, including soft Merino wool, shimmering silk fibres, textured silk cloth, hearty Irish wool, delicate silk pods, stones, and other textiles. The diversity of materials sparked endless creativity, resulting in an inspiring collection of necklaces, brooches, and other adornments, each piece as unique as its creator.
Samples of some of the pieces created by the students during the workshop.
The workshop was a testament to the versatility of felting as an art form. From bold, sculptural designs to delicate, intricate pieces, every participant left with a creation that reflected their personal style and newfound skills.
More Samples of Students’ Work
Here are some photos of some of the students’ pieces from the workshop. If we missed your work, please email feltmakersIE@gmail.com so we can add it to the display.
The workshop wasn’t just about learning techniques—it was about connection. The group of felters, including members of Feltmakers Ireland and our international guest from Germany, bonded over their shared passion for textiles. The collaborative spirit, combined with Pam’s inspiring guidance, made the experience truly transformative.
A huge thank you to Pam de Groot for sharing her expertise and inspiring us to push the boundaries of felting. Her ability to connect with each participant and guide them through their creative journey was truly remarkable. We’re also deeply grateful to Sam Fagan for coordinating the workshop and to helpers Juliane Gorman, Hélène Dooley, and Annika Berglund for each volunteering their invaluable assistance for a day.
Conclusion
This workshop was a celebration of creativity, community, and the endless possibilities of felt. We can’t wait to see how the skills and inspiration from this experience continue to shape the work of these talented felters!
All of the students and Pam de Groot assembled on the final day. Photo by Annika Berglund.
Lastly, here’s a video of the images –
Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog
Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.
Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.
Questions: For questions about the content, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.
Discover the Japanese art of Shibori with Indigo Dyeing, creating patterns on fabrics with Mel Bradley and Clodagh Mac Donagh.
Students will learn using techniques such as KUMO (tying and clamping), ARASHI (using poles and string to resist the dye), and ITAJIEME (folding and clamping). Immerse your prepared fabrics in the Indigo dye bath and be amazed as the magic of the dye turns from green to a vivid blue.
The workshop is suitable for beginners and intermediate students.
Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.
Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.
Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.
Feltmakers Ireland 