Category: Felt

Education: Reversible Felted Vest Workshop – Jacki Sleator – Co Kildare near Dublin

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Promotional poster for a reversible felted vest workshop by Jacki Sleator, featuring images of vests in short and long styles, with event details including date and location.


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.

Where:  Kilteel Community Hall, Kilteel Lower, Kilteel, Naas Co. Kildare W91 TK6A

Additional Information

  • The price is 200 euros per 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.

Reserve Your Spot

The link for MEMBERS to purchase is here – https://buy.stripe.com/aFa00icjd8JFddc2ROaZi0k

The link for NON MEMBERS to purchase is here – https://buy.stripe.com/28EfZg0Ave3Zehg1NKaZi0l

Of course, you are always welcome to become a member and pay the lesser price.

MEMBERSHIP is HERE – https://feltmakersireland.com/membership-application/

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.

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.

Education: Lena Archbold Workshop in September – A Couple of Spots Open – Co Roscommon

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Promotional image for an International Tutor Workshop featuring Lena Archbold in Ireland, showcasing various colourful tunics. It includes details about the event date, location, and booking information, with a note on limited spots available.

Workshop with International Tutor

Lena Archbold will teach a two-day workshop on the topic of Reversible Tunic.

For more information and to register, please see this page on the Feltmakers Ireland West website – https://feltmakersireland-west.com/lena-archbold-masterclass/

Note: This workshop is not suitable for beginners.

This workshop is for Feltmakers Ireland members only. One can join the guild here – https://feltmakersireland.com/membership-application/

Waiting List

When the class is full, we will start a Waiting List. To be added, please email 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.

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.

Exhibition: Feltmakers Ireland Presents ‘Water and Flow’ Exhibition – Phoenix Park Visitor Centre Gallery – Dublin

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
'Water and Flow' Feltmakers Ireland Group Exhibition poster, featuring felt artwork by Joanne Turner. Details about the exhibition location at Phoenix Park Visitor Centre, dates from 2nd to 26th April, and opening hours. Announcement of a launch event with knitwear designer Conor O'Brien on the 4th.

Feltmakers Ireland is delighted to present ‘Water and Flow’, a vibrant group exhibition featuring the contemporary artwork of 68 members. This showcase explores the many interpretations of water through the rich and versatile medium of felt.

From gentle streams to powerful oceans, ‘Water and Flow‘ explores the many moods of water: its energy and stillness, its capacity for renewal, and its connection to human emotion, from sorrow to joy.

Using fibres ranging from imported Merino wool to locally sourced Irish fleece, members have created a diverse body of work that highlights both traditional and contemporary felting practices. Featuring an array of textile techniques, including wet felting and needle felting, guild members have created three-dimensional sculptures, wall art, and wearable pieces, each offering a unique perspective on the theme, reflecting the creativity and individuality of the artists involved.

The Opening

The exhibition will be officially launched by knitwear designer Conor O’Brien on Saturday, 4 April at 3 PM.

Where and When

The exhibition is at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre Gallery and runs from Thursday, the 2nd of April, to Sunday, the 26th of April. The hours are 9:30 AM to 5 PM, daily, with the exhibition closing on its final day at 3 PM.

The gallery is conveniently accessible by Dublin Bus number 99 and is located within the historic Phoenix Park. There is ample parking near the Centre.

For further details, including maps and directions to the park, visit https://www.phoenixpark.ie/directions.

The artwork featured on the exhibition poster is ‘Waterfall’ by Joanne Turner.

Her Instagram @olannoriginals

We warmly invite you to join us for the opening or visit throughout the month to experience this dynamic and engaging exhibition celebrating feltmaking in Ireland.

Online Catalogue

A link to Feltmakers Ireland’s online catalogue of ‘Water and Flow’

There is also a PDF version of the catalogue (if the above link is not working for you).

Of Interest: Feltmakers Ireland West Meetup– Co Galway – THIS Sunday

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Colourful felted Easter eggs with a blue egg open to reveal a yellow chick inside. Text promotes a needle felting event.

Feltmakers Ireland West‘s next Sunday Session is THIS SUNDAY, on the 22nd March 2026.

Come along, and Needle Felt a Chick and Egg with Belinda from www.chasingdreamsfeltart.com

Please bring your needle felting kit.

Time: 11 AM

Where: Gort Town Hall, Ballyhugh, Co. Galway, H91 E0C8

For more information about Feltmakers Ireland West, a vibrant addition to our Guild, visit the website – https://feltmakersireland-west.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.

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.

Of Interest: Finale of FeltMatters Podcast with Vivienne Morpeth

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Image gallery image
A woman wearing a handmade, multicoloured felt top with varying shades of blue and grey, styled with a black long-sleeve shirt underneath. She has light hair and glasses, looking thoughtfully away from the camera.
Vivienne Morpeth wearing one of her Nunofelted tops

Season 4 of the International Feltmakers Association‘s podcast Felt Matters is drawing to a close. In it, hosts Vivienne Morpeth and Heather Potten discuss some highlights from Vivienne’s life as a feltmaker. They chat about her initial encounter with felting, the role of family and mentors, and the support and inspiration from the International Feltmakers Association. She stresses, too, the importance of teaching through experimentation. This has been particularly crucial in the development of her upcoming book, ‘Nuno Feltmaking | design, techniques and projects for the creative maker’, which she discusses here with her daughter, Raphaela.

Season 4 Episode 3 Vivienne Morpeth | A Legacy in Felt

To listen to the podcast, visit their YouTube – https://youtu.be/8HvfaRUypU0?si=9TI-8qerxNUeRdkv

Vivienne’s website – https://viviennemorpeth.uk/

Vivienne’s Instagram – @vivienne_morpeth_

IFA’s Instagram – @internationalfeltmakers

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.

Of Interest: Cecilia Vicuña Exhibition at IMMA – Galway Wool via Woolstore Ireland

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Poster from IMMA for Cecilia Vicuña exhibition

Cecilia Vicuña‘s solo exhibition, ‘Reverse Migration: A Poetic Journey’, is the first show in Ireland by the renowned artist, poet and activist. For this exhibition at the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA), Vicuña delves into themes of ancestry, ecological urgency, and the interconnectedness of humanity, inspired by the discovery of her ancient ties to Ireland.

Feltmakers Ireland guild member Katarina Hruskova, of WoolStore Ireland, assisted the artist in preparing the wool used in the creation of the installation, titled ‘Aran Quipu’.

Placard from the gallery wall.

Photos of the Piece, ‘Aran Quipu’

In her Co Galway workshop, Katarina washed and carded 50 kilograms of wool, which she purchased from the Galway Wool Co-op at their annual Meitheal. Then she needle-felted the clean fibre by hand into 50 strips, each 5.5 metres long. As Cecilia Vicuña wanted the strips to be very fluffy, hand needle felting was the method. Altogether, it came to 275 metres of Galway wool. The entire process from start (washing) to finish took Katarina 6-7 weeks to complete.

The Galway Wool, after being cleaned and carded

Needle Felting

The wool fibres were then needle felted.
Further along, with more fibres added in.
Loading the trailer with the felted wool.
More wool.
Unloading at IMMA

At IMMA, the long strips were then mounted, with assistance from other Irish artists, in a large hall.

Katarina Hruskova and artist Cecilia Vicuña at the opening
Katarina and her partner Keith

Katarina said that at the opening, visitors were encouraged to walk between the strips. Editor’s Note: On a recent visit, a museum attendant encouraged attendees to touch a sample of needle-felted Galway Wool.

In addition to the installation incorporating Irish wool, the exhibition includes other installations featuring natural materials such as plants and shells, along with paintings, drawings, and sound art by Vicuña.

The exhibition runs until the 5th of July, 2026.

Where: IMMA, Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Military Rd, Kilmainham, Dublin 8, D08 FW31

For more information about Cecilia Vicuna’s exhibition, visit the IMMA’s website – https://imma.ie/whats-on/cecilia-vicuna/

Katarina has a display showing the stages of wool processing.

To purchase cleaned and carded Galway wool fibre (and those from other Irish-raised breeds), visit Katarina’s website – https://www.woolstore.ie/

Katarina’s Instagram: @woolstoreireland

Education: IFA’s Quintet of Online Felting Courses – January 2026

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

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!

For more information and to register, visit the IFA’s website – https://www.feltmakers.com/discovering-feltmaking-course/

The IFA also has a branch for all of Ireland – Region 14. To join, visit here – https://www.feltmakers.com/join-the-international-feltmakers-association/

These online courses are open to both IFA members and non-members, and would make a perfect gift for oneself!

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.

Of Interest: Farm to Yarn – Ériu featured on RTÉ’s Nationwide

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Image of Presenter Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh and owner Zoë Daly.

In the second of three programs, Nationwide explores Ireland’s wool sector – delving into its rich heritage, current challenges, and future possibilities. Today’s episode will be about Ériu, a ‘Farm to Yarn’ company, based in County Wicklow.

Presenter Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh visits Ériu’s farm to talk about their mission to revive Ireland’s wool industry. From caring for their sheep to handcrafting every garment, Ériu creates 100% Irish wool yarn and garments, all while truly caring and supporting a community of local farmers through their Farm to Yarn network.

Broadcast: TODAY, WEDNESDAY the 26th of November – 19:00/ 7 PM on RTÉ One, or catch it later on the RTÉ Player – https://www.rte.ie/player/series/nationwide/SI0000001172?epguid=IH10008772-25-0126

For more information about the company, visit their website – https://eriu.eu/

Ériu’s Traceability Page is fascinating because it shows the two types of wool that they use (Emerald Romney and Bluefaced Leicester), and the actual farmers who raise the sheep which provide the wool – https://eriu.eu/pages/traceability

Their Farm to Yarn page is also interesting: it’s about the history of wool in Ireland – https://eriu.eu/pages/farm-to-yarn

Ériu will soon offer Irish-raised wool tops, dyed and natural, in addition to their yarn and knitted items. Stay tuned – we will share this exciting development with the felting community when it happens. According to our book, ‘Exploring Irish wool for Feltmaking’, both fibres are good for wet felting, and the Romney is suitable for needle felting.

Ériu’s Instagram – @eriu.ireland

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.

Event: Fibreshed Ireland Syposium & Textile Market – This Friday & Saturday

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

On Friday, the 21st of November, Fibreshed Ireland will gather at The Richmond Education and Event Centre, Smithfield, for their annual Symposium to hear from growers and practitioners who work in line with Soil-to-Soil principles of circularity, compostability, and agroecology.

Speakers

● Jennifer & Tristan Lienhard of @appleoakfibreworks
● Katarina Hruskova of @woolstoreireland (Katarina is a member of Feltmakers Ireland!)
● @kathykirwan_theartofnature of the Flax 405 project
● Mary Ann Williams, editor of the book @textilesofireland
● Michelle McCabe, researcher exploring the connections between textile craft and wellbeing with ATU Sligo
● @ryankoenigstudio — 16th-century experimental textile archaeology about the knitted Ballybunion wool cap
● Sarah Babiker — Threads of Story: Woolcraft a Language & Memory between Ireland and the Arab World

Textile Market

Saturday 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 requires a ticket.

Feltmakers Ireland will demonstrate felting with Irish-raised wool!

Local fibres and textiles from a selection of Fibreshed Ireland members will be available: Included are two Feltmakers Ireland members –

  • Juliane Gorman of FeltHappiness will vend her Cyanotype-printed, Irish wool hats
  • Katarina Hruskova of WoolStore Ireland will vend locally raised wool that she has processed.

Workshops

● 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
● Weaving Circle with Lucy Hyland (@ourselfcarerevolution), from 1 to 3 PM
● Movement session for crafters with @aideen.macken, from 3:30 – 4:10 (FREE, with optional donations to support Fibreshed Ireland’s work)

Where: Dublin (different venues each day)

Optional social dinner in @fidelitydublin on Friday, the 22nd of November (book at checkout)

Discounts for students and Fibreshed Ireland members!

For more information and to reserve tickets, visit their website – https://fibreshedireland.ie/symposium-2025/

This event is part of Irish Design Week, & partly funded by the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland. https://www.dcci.ie/whats-on/irish-design-week-2025/

Education: IFA’s Quintet of Online Felting Courses – Now Open

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

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!

For more information and to register, visit the IFA’s website – https://www.feltmakers.com/discovering-feltmaking-course/

The IFA has a branch for all of Ireland – Region 14. To join, visit here – https://www.feltmakers.com/join-the-international-feltmakers-association/

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.