Feltmakers Ireland guild members Mel Bradley and Clodagh Mac Donagh will be teaching a Shibori Indigo Dye Workshop in July.
Learn the Japanese art of Shibori to create patterns on fabrics. Using techniques such as Kumo (tying and clamping), Arashi (using poles and string to resist the dye), and ITAJIEME (folding and clamping).
Students will immerse their prepared fabrics in the Indigo dye bath and be amazed as the magic of the dye turns from green to a vivid blue.
Workshop suitable for beginners and intermediate students.
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By Feltmakers Ireland Committee Member and Chairperson, Elizabeth Redding
I set off early on Saturday morning, 13th June, for a two-day Indigo Dyeing Workshop with Malú Colorín in Wicklow. It was a lovely scenic drive through The Curragh and over the Wicklow mountains. On arrival, there was a very welcome cup of tea and cake waiting for us.
The first task was to scour the samples we brought. Malú explained the importance of scouring and the different ways for plant as opposed to protein fibres. Later, we saw for ourselves, as the water turned brown, even though everything had already been washed.
Next, she explained the difference between dye and pigment. Indigo is a pigment; therefore, it is not water-soluble. To make it soluble, it has to be starved of oxygen and be alkaline. We were told about the different plants that produce indigo. Some of which can be grown in Ireland.
Next was to start making up vats. Four in total. First was a fructose vat. When we had that made, we broke for lunch. After lunch, we made the other three vats: iron, banana and madder. We were told how to mind the vats and keep them alive. Then, it was time to finish for the day.
The second day was spent dying. First, we prepared some material by tying beads into it, and another piece by folding and clamping with pegs and lollipop sticks. There was a great variety of samples to dye. The materials were cotton, silk, and linen. The yarns were wool, cotton, flax, alpaca, tencel, and nettle.
It was very interesting how the different materials took up the dye. Some came out darker than others. I was so busy that I was forgetting to take photos of the process.
The Indigo Dyeing Workshop was very interesting, and Malú was so helpful. I would highly recommend it to anyone.
Have you recently taken part in an interesting textile workshop? If you’re a member of Feltmakers Ireland, we’d love to hear about it and share your experience with the wider guild. No need to give away the tutor’s “secret sauce,” of course!And your article need not be long either.
Photographs are always welcome. For best online display, please send images, ideally sized at 1080 × 1350 pixels at 96 dpi.
Please email your workshop report and photos to feltmakersie@gmail.com.
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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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The Local Enterprise Office (LEO), in partnership with Kilkenny Design, have launched The Makers Academy, a business development programme designed to support ambitious local makers, designers and creative entrepreneurs in building sustainable and scalable businesses.
The initiative will provide selected participants with access to industry-leading expertise, mentoring, a business development bootcamp, support, and retail insights from some of Ireland’s most experienced retail and enterprise professionals.
Applications close Friday, the 26th of June (due Thursday at midnight).
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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The European Craft Alliance, as part of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) Festival 2026 Satellite Programme, presents an interactive webinar that bridges the gap between theory and real-world practice by exploring how craft functions as a powerful, cross-generational intervention for wellbeing.
It is hosting a webinar to explore how working with our hands actively supports public health and social cohesion. The event begins with a keynote from Dr Anne Kirketerp (Craft-Psychology®), who will share the psychological benefits of craft as a powerful cross-generational tool.
Following her introduction, a panel of experts will present three European case studies.
Nicky Dewar (Crafts Council UK) will discuss building resilience in youth through hands-on education,
Alex Finberg (Woodcrafters) will explore mindfulness and green social prescribing for adults, and
Helena McAteer (Borris Lacemakers) will highlight how adapting historical lace-making promotes active ageing for seniors.
They will conclude with a live Q&A.
When: Wednesday, the 10th of June, from 11:00-12:30 Central European Time.
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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UPDATE: 14th of May. Unfortunately, this workshop has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances with the tutor.
Feltmakers Ireland is pleased to announce a hands-on, 3-Day Workshop to create a Reversible Nuno-Felted Vest with international tutor Jacki Sleator.
In this immersive course, students will use silk fabrics and Merino wool to create rich, textural effects. By layering wool, silk, and other fibres, they will experience how the materials transform and contort as the wool shrinks during the felting process. Guided step by step, students will develop both technique and creative confidence to leave the workshop with their own unique reversible vest.
There is the option to make a short or long-styled vest.
When: Friday-Sunday, the 5th-7th of June. 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
The price is 200 eurosper member and does not include supplies.
The price for non-members is 240 euros and does not include supplies.
This course is suitable for intermediate felters.
Note: The supply list will be sent upon enrollment.
If you have any questions about the workshop, please contact us at feltmakersIE@gmail.com
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.
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Questions: For questions about the content, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.
A four-week course is open to both beginners and experienced creatives who want to explore richly detailed textures and natural colours with Wet Cyanotype Printing on Paper and Textiles.
Guided by Ashleigh Ellis, students will learn to work with botanicals, wet ingredients, and natural dyes to create unique, environmentally conscious works of art.
Start Date: Thursday, the 7th of May 2026 Duration: 4 weeks Format: Online – Live Zoom teaching, recordings of Lives, and downloadable PDFs
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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Join us for the European Wool Experience — a free public event celebrating wool, creativity and craftsmanship on Saturday, the 28th of March at the Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee, Co Kerry.
Feltmakers Ireland will be taking part in European Wool Experience 2026. If you’ve been hoping to pick up a copy of our book Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking, we will have copies available on the day.
Our volunteers will also be demonstrating feltmaking techniques, and visitors will have the opportunity to join a hands-on wet felting activity using Irish-raised wool from Ériu and WoolStore Ireland.
The wool used for these activities has been partially funded by the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland.
The European Wool Experience will be a unique day, where wool comes to life through hands-on demonstrations, exhibitions, research displays and interactive experiences from makers, artists, educators and innovators across Ireland and 10+ European countries.
Whether you’re discovering wool for the first time, visiting with family and friends, or already passionate about fibre crafts, this is a wonderful opportunity to see traditional skills alongside contemporary practices — and experience the incredible versatility of this natural material.
Meet makers
Watch live 35+ demonstrations
Explore exhibitions and displays
Try wool crafts like felting, weaving, spinning and much more in a welcoming, relaxed environment
Drop in anytime — admission is completely free, and everyone is welcome!
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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The European Wool Experience, a vibrant, free, family-friendly event, will be at the Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee, on Saturday, 28 March 2026, from 10 AM–5 PM.
Celebrating Ireland’s hosting of ‘European Wool Day 2026’, this special public event, open to all, brings together exhibitors, makers and researchers from Ireland and more than 10 European countries, to connect and create a colourful, welcoming day of creativity, culture, and discovery.
Taking place at the start of the Easter school holidays, it’s an ideal day out for families, friends, individuals or organised groups looking for something creative and different.
Visitors can explore four rooms featuring over 35 demonstrations, exhibitions and interactive experiences, with plenty of opportunities to try wool crafts firsthand, including the following: wet felting, finger knitting, crios belt weaving, spinning, weaving, wool processing and more. Meet skilled makers, discover traditional and contemporary skills, view unique heritage displays, and enjoy a relaxed, hands-on atmosphere suitable for children and adults alike.
Throughout the day, volunteers from Feltmakers Ireland will demonstrate feltmaking, and we will also lead interactive wet felting activities.
In addition to the guild, several members will be sharing their artwork and fibres. These include the following:
The guild is grateful to have received some funding from the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland. This helped us purchase Irish-raised wool from Ériu and WoolstoreIE, which members could use in their pieces.
Drop in to the European Wool Experience for an hour or stay and explore at your own pace; admission is completely free.
Groups of 10 or more can book in advance via ewd@ewe.network (subject: Group Visit).
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 content-related questions, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.
To get ready for European Wool Day, which will take place on the 28th of March in Tralee, Co Kerry, Fibreshed Ireland has organised a series of subsidised wool-related workshops around the island.
Workshops include the following:
From Farm to Fibre: the cycle of sheep’s wool production from birth to yarn, taught by Feltmakers Ireland member Christine Jordan of @roughcirclestudio, 7th of March, Co Carlow
Not just a Granny Square, 7th of March, Co Kerry
Aran Knitting Workshop, 8th of March, Co Galway
From Fleece to Fibre, 14th of March, Co Laois
Mindful Weaving Workshop, 14th of March, Co Dublin
Adapting Knitting Patterns for a Better Fit and Creative Changes, 14th of March, Co Dublin
Wool Spinning Workshop, 22nd of March, Co Antrim
Threads of Belonging: A day of Weaving, Connection and Care, 22nd of March, Co Waterford
The workshops have been made possible with support from the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland.
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.
Fabricademy, Textile and Technology Academy is a multidisciplinary, intensive training program at the intersection of Textiles, Digital Fabrication, and Biology, delivered in equipped laboratories worldwide, providing distributed education with hands-on technical learning.
This year’s 5-day Fabricademy Bootcamp is hosted by Creative Spark Dundalk, and is open to students, designers, teachers, professionals, and curious makers interested in sustainable practices.
Discover laser-cut zero-waste fashion, 3D printing on textiles, biomaterials, electronic textiles, silk screen printing with lake pigments, seaweed harvesting, tufting, and more.
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.
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