Tag: Co Dublin

Recap: A Woolly Celebration: Feltmakers Ireland -Dublin Fibre Festival 2025

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

By Loli Cox, with additional reporting from Deirdre Carroll

On Saturday, the 18th of October 2025, Feltmakers Ireland took part in the Dublin Fibre Festival at the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) in Dublin.

Opening at 10 AM, a queue formed at the door as excited visitors waited to enter the hall. Throughout the day, a steady stream of attendees arrived eager to view the various crafts, textile materials, and fibre artists on display. According to the festival’s organiser, Mira Isan, over 750 people attended the event.

The hall at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham at IMMA provided a stunning and inspiring backdrop, brought to life by the festival’s vibrant creativity and the presence of Feltmakers Ireland at its centre. Our two tables welcomed visitors to discover the captivating art of felting.

Felting Demonstrated

Siobhan and Irina
Eva, Kelly, Adrienne, and Loli

At our first table, skilled volunteers wove magic with their hands, demonstrating the arts of wet and needle felting. Using wool blended with other natural fibres, they transformed fluffy tufts into sturdy, vibrant fabric through rhythmic kneading and precise needlework. The gentle splash of water and the earthy aroma of wool filled the air, drawing onlookers into the tactile alchemy that binds fibre to form.

Irish Wool Displayed

Panel with samples of wet and needle-felted Irish-raised wool

Our second table was a tribute to Ireland’s pastoral legacy, showcasing ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’, the guild’s cherished book born from a 2021–2023 community research and wool sampling endeavour, which was led by our former treasurer Annika Berglund.

This lovingly crafted volume explores forty of the island’s sheep breeds, from the silken Cladóir to the hardy Galway, and details the wool’s textures and felting potential. It offers practical wisdom on sourcing, cleaning, and dyeing wool, alongside heartfelt stories of the shepherds who tend these flocks.

A large panel, adorned with felted wool samples, invited touch, revealing each breed’s distinct character—coarse, fine, or delightfully springy.

The festival buzzed with curious visitors, their eyes wide as they watched wool transform and their fingers itching to explore the tactile samples. Many lingered, asking about our guild’s mission to champion sustainable felting and the diverse sheep breeds grazing Ireland’s green hills. The wool samples were a revelation, turning abstract knowledge into a sensory journey as hands traced the difference between a Donegal Horn’s rugged locks and a Wicklow Cheviot’s delicate strands. Conversations flowed, stitching connections between craft, culture, and land.

Artwork Displayed

Eva and Kelly
Adrienne and Loli
Kelly’s samples and amazing tools

Nearby, Feltmakers Ireland members’ artwork sparkled: elegant scarves, cosy gloves, soft slippers, and intricate jewellery like necklaces, bracelets, brooches, and earrings. Whimsical creations also abounded—lush landscapes evoking misty hills, and three-dimensional treasures like cheeky gnomes, plump pumpkins, playful puppets, pea pods, embellished vessels, and mischievous seasonal figures of ghosts, witches, and black cats.

In Summary

The day was a triumph: Several copies of ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’ found new homes, and a handful of inspired guests joined Feltmakers Ireland as members, eager to dive into this woolly world.

Members Exhibiting

In addition to the guild’s display at the Dublin Fibre Festival, four of our members were vendors at the event: Fiona Leech of @feltathome, Juliane Gorman of @felthappiness, Sandra Reynolds of @sandystitchedup, and Christine Jordan of @roughcirclestudio

  • Fiona
  • Juliane
  • Sandy
  • Christine’s display

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to the Dublin Fibre Festival for including us in this year’s event. We greatly appreciate their efforts in making a fibre festival in Ireland a reality, as well as the help offered by their volunteers throughout the day.

Lastly, a heartfelt thanks to our volunteers—Eva, Kelly, and Siobhan —for their warm enthusiasm and skilful hands, and to committee members Adrienne, Deirdre, Irina, Loli, and Lorna, for their tireless work in sharing the beauty of felting. Together, they spun a day of learning and inspiration, celebrating the timeless craft born from Ireland’s woolly heart.

Join us next time at the Dublin Fibre Festival to explore felting’s endless possibilities!

Visit our website for –

Volunteers Lorna, Loli, Siobhan, Deirdre, and Irina

Event: Dublin Fibre Festival 2025 – This Saturday

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Poster for Dublin FIbre Festival 2025

Feltmakers Ireland and 40 other local textile exhibitors will be at the Dublin Fibre Festival THIS Saturday, the 18th of October. This is THE opportunity to touch yarn and fibres in person, attend textile workshops, and watch spinning, felting, and other fibre arts demonstrations! To see a taste of last year’s event, there’s this blog post – https://feltmakersireland.com/2024/10/29/recap-fantastic-day-at-the-dublin-fibre-festival/

The Map and Vendor List

We will be there!

Have you wanted to purchase a copy of Feltmakers Ireland’s book ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’ but have not had the opportunity? Come to the Dublin fibre event of the year: The Dublin Fibre Festival. In addition, we will have several guild members demonstrating needle and wet felting. These include felting artists such as Eva Salamon @feltedvision and Irina Lampadova @irinalampadova1

  • When: 10 AM to 6 PM.

Feltmakers Ireland Members Exhibiting

Four guild members will be sharing their work –

Admission

Tickets can be purchased online or at the door.

For more information, visit the Festival’s website – https://www.dublinfibrefestival.com/

Their Instagram – @dublinfibrefestival

Recap - Sunday Session

Recap: October Sunday Session – Needle Felted Wrens – Sandra Coote

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

By Loli Cox

On Sunday, the 12th of October, 2025, Feltmakers Ireland Guild hosted a fully booked workshop for 25 members, led by Sandra Coote of Crafts of Ireland, based in Cavan.

Sandra, an accomplished feltmaker, raises Roscommon sheep on her farm, processing their wool for her felting projects. She offers workshops and sells felting kits, sharing her expertise with enthusiasts.

The Supplies

Clockwise from the top left: Roscommon needle felted wool for core of birds, grey-coloured felting pads, sharps container for broken needles, sample wrens, scissors, templates, bark with wires, and extra felting needles.
Roscommon wool dyed in Wren colours by Sandra

For our Sunday Session, participants crafted needle-felted wrens mounted on tree bark, using wool from Sandra’s sheep and materials she provided. Her clear instructions, detailed templates, and inspiring samples guided attendees in shaping the birds’ bodies, wings, and tails. Sandra’s hands-on teaching style, coupled with her warm, humorous demeanour, created a welcoming environment for all skill levels. She offered personalised support, visiting each table to assist.

Students Concentrating

Sandra recommended that students look at their phones to find photos of what a wren’s feathers looked like. As students layered on Sandra’s hand-dyed wool for the colouring of the birds’ feathers, Guild member Jane Fox shared about an app to identify birds’ songs: We downloaded the Merlin App so we could hear both the song and call of the Wren.

Here is where one can find more information about the bird song app – https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

Many of the Students with their Wrens

More Information

The guild expresses gratitude for Sandra’s generosity and expertise; we are thrilled to have a renowned artist lead the session. The workshop’s success highlights her skill in teaching and the charm of her 3D felted sculptures, which left members inspired and eager for more.

To see more of Sandra’s work, purchase her kits or book a workshop, visit her business, Crafts of Ireland – https://craftsofireland.ie/ You can also find her at the Knit + Stitch The Eikon Exhibition Centre, in Lisburn, UK, stand D53.

You can also follow her on social media:

Biscuits (without) History

This month, committee member Lorna Cady brought ‘Biscuits without History’, the latest instalment in her ongoing series of baked goods, which she kindly brings each month.

We are once again grateful to Sandra Coote for travelling from Cavan to teach us, for the fully enrolled workshop, and for the students who generously brought baked treats to share. We also appreciate the committee’s help in organising this Sunday’s Session.

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.

Sunday Session

This Sunday: 3D Needle Felted Wrens with Sandra Coote – FULLY Booked – Members Welcome to Observe

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

This month’s Sunday Session with Sandra Coote of Crafts of Ireland is now fully booked! We’re delighted to welcome 25 students to the 3D Needle Felted Wren Workshop.

A friendly reminder will be sent by email to all participants — we know how busy life can get.

If you registered for the class but are now unable to attend, please email feltmakersIE@gmail.com

Members who didn’t manage to secure a spot this time are welcome to come along and observe the session.

  • When: Sunday, the 12th of October.
  • The Sunday Session’s hours are as follows: 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM.

Additional Information

If possible, please bring a home-baked treat to share and a travel mug (so we can reduce our use of disposable cups).

As this is the season of coughs and sneezes, please refrain from attending if you feel unwell.

Apologies, but this Sunday’s Session will not have Zoom access.

Exhibition: Last Week of Sculpture in Context 2025

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Post for Sculpture in Context - 40th Anniversary

This is the last week to catch Sculpture in Context at the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland. The exhibition runs through this Friday, the 10th of October and includes the work of over 90 artists.

Where: National Botanic Gardens, Botanic Road, Dublin 9, D09 E7F2.

The Gardens are open daily, with free admission.

Guild Members

Three of Feltmakers Ireland’s members have pieces in the show: 

Ramona Farrelly – ‘Radiozoa’

Juliane Gorman – ‘SeeSeaBlue’

Fiona Leech – ‘Silent Chimes’

Apologies for some of the less-than-stellar photos.

On TV

On Friday, the 3rd of October, the RTÉ television program Nationwide produced a feature about this year’s Sculpture in Context. At around the 10-minute mark, you can see Juliane’s piece. To watch, visit the RTÉ Player – https://www.rte.ie/player/series/nationwide/SI0000001172?epguid=IH10008772-25-0111

Note: The RTE program will only be available for viewing within Ireland and will only be up for 21 days from the original transmission date.

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.

Sunday Session

Sunday Session: 3D Needle Felted Wrens with Sandra Coote – Member Event

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

On Sunday, the 12th of October, guild member Sandra Coote of Crafts of Ireland will teach members how to create a three-dimensional, needle-felted wren.

  • Sandra will provide materials, which include her own Irish-raised wool and the wires for the legs/ feet.
  • Members, please bring your felting needles and pads. The guild will have a few extra sets for those who do not have these tools.

This session is limited to 25 participants and costs 15 euros.

We will email an online payment link to members on the afternoon of Friday, October 3rd – at 2 PM, Irish Time. If you are not already a member, you can join us via our website – https://feltmakersireland.com/membership-application/

Sandra will also bring her popular needle felting kits, which will be available for purchase.

The Details

When: Sunday, the 12th of October.

The Sunday Session’s Hours are the following: 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM.

Where: CIE Sports Hall, Library Square Inchicore, Kilmainham, Dublin, D8

Additional Information

If possible, please bring a home-baked treat to share and a travel mug (so we can reduce our use of disposable cups).

As this is the season of coughs and sneezes, please refrain from attending if you feel unwell.

Apologies, but this Sunday’s Session will not have Zoom access.

Of Interest: Dublin Fibre Festival – Tickets Available

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
  • Dublin Fibre Festival - 18 October - IMMA

Tickets are now available for this year’s Dublin Fibre Festival, which we are excited to be a part of for its second year! Volunteers from Feltmakers Ireland will share the wonders of feltmaking at the festival.

Additionally, several members* will be showing (and vending) their creations.

When: The 18th of October, from 10 AM to 6 PM.

Where: Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA), Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Military Rd, Kilmainham, Dublin 8, D08 FW31

Entrance to the event has designated time slots. If you need to extend your time, please speak with the volunteers upon entry.

In addition to vendors and exhibitors, there are workshops and talks on crochetting, embroidery, weaving, and knitting.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit their website – https://www.dublinfibrefestival.com/

Their Instagram @dublinfibrefestival

*Apologies if we missed any members who are involved in this year’s Dublin Fibre Festival.

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.

Open Call: Exhibitions for Municipal Gallery – dlr LexIcon – Co Dublin

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

The dlr (Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council in Dublin) invites professional artists to apply for an exhibition in the Municipal Gallery, dlr Lexlcon.

This is an opportunity to apply for an exhibition featuring work that has already been created and does not have to be developed specifically for dlr LexIcon. But it must have been made within the last five years.

They will select three exhibitions, one for each year, from 2027 to 2029.

Additional Info:

  • One can apply if one is a professional artist living in Ireland, working in the visual arts or in contemporary fine art-led craft.
  • One can apply as an individual artist. One can apply as a group of artists who work together or as a group of artists who would like to exhibit together.
  • One can apply if you are a curator working with one or more artists.
  • One can apply as an arts organisation.

Please note that this Open Call Exhibition opportunity differs from their Visual Art Commission, which is for the creation of entirely new work. More info about THAT, here – https://www.dlrcoco.ie/arts/funding-opportunities/visual-art-commission-2027-2028-and-2029

Closing date for the Open Call: Monday, the 3rd of November, 2025 at 2 PM

Gallery information meetings: They will hold two information meetings to give interested artists a chance to hear about the Gallery and what is needed for this application:

  • In-person – There will be an in-person gallery visit with Arts Office staff on Tuesday, the 7th of October 2025, at 6 PM.
  • Online – There will be an online information meeting on Thursday, the 9th of October at 11:30 AM.

Please contact them by email arts@dlrcoco.ie or phone (01) 236 27 59 to book a place on one of these information meetings.

For further information and to apply, visit their website – https://www.dlrcoco.ie/arts/funding-opportunities/open-call-exhibitions-municipal-gallery-dlr-lexicon-2027-2028-and-2029

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: Change Clothes – Scrap Store – Dublin

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Change Clothes - Scrap Store Fill-a-bag for 5 euros - against scarps of knits, buttons, and other textiles.

Felters, makers, and other crafters might enjoy a visit to the Scrap Store at Change Clothes in Dublin, where €5 fills a bag with an assortment of available treasures, which may include the following –

  • Fabric scraps
  • Fabric lengths
  • Buttons
  • Trimmings
  • Ribbon
  • Zips
  • Beads
  • Yarn
  • Threads

One of our guild members recently visited and found lovely Nunofelted fabrics that she is going to upcycle into her own work!

Where: Change Clothes, Unit E, The Digital Depot, Roe Lane, The Liberties, Dublin, D08 TCV4

When: Scrap Store is open 12-4 PM, Thursdays through Sundays.

On Saturday, September 27th, the hours will be from 3-5 PM to accommodate the United Against Racism Carnival.

Note: There is no designated parking for the Shop.

Additionally, they offer a Clothes Swap, Repair Workshops, and other events related to sustainable textiles.

For more information, visit their website – https://www.changeclothes.org/scrapstore

Their Instagram – @changeclothesdublin

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.

Recap - Sunday Session

Recap: September Sunday Session with Jane Fox – Felted Name Badges

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland1 Comment

By Committee Member Loli Cox

Jane Fox wore her name tag and lots of felted flowers while helping the Guild at Bloom 2025

Feltmakers Ireland’s 2025 Season Opener: Name Tag Wet Felting Workshop

What an incredible start to the 2025 season for Feltmakers Ireland! Our recent wet felting workshop, led by the wonderfully talented Jane Fox, was a resounding success, bringing together over 30 enthusiastic participants for a day of creativity, connection, and craft. On behalf of Feltmakers Ireland, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to Jane for making this event truly unforgettable.

Jane’s worktable with the supplies used to make Name Tags
Such glowing colours of the prefelt from Jane!
Prefelt now chopped up to make letters for names
Some sample names on Jane’s worktable

The Name Tag Making Workshop was a perfect blend of skill-building and community spirit, with participants ranging from seasoned felters to those just dipping their toes into the craft. Jane’s expertise, patience, and warm, relatable approach created an inviting atmosphere that resonated with everyone. Her ability to guide each participant, regardless of experience level, ensured that everyone left the session not only with newfound skills but also with a sense of accomplishment and joy.

One of the highlights of the day was the creation of personal name tags, each a unique piece of artwork crafted by the participants themselves.

In the workshop, Jane began by explaining and demonstrating how the name tags would be made using two pieces of prefelt. Each student started with a rectangular piece of white prefelt to act as the base. They then chose from colourful pre-felted wool that Jane had kindly prepared beforehand using her drum carder. On top of this, students could add embellishments such as silk, viscose, or even tiny chopped pieces of prefelt to create a confetti-like effect.

Once the decorative layers were arranged, the pieces were wetted down and lightly felted so the fibres began to intermingle and bond.

Cutting Out Letters

After this stage, the colourful prefelt was gently patted dry, ready for the next step. Students then cut out the letters of their names and arranged them either on the white prefelt or on the coloured felt. These layers were felted together and patted dry once more. Jane brought cut-out paper letters for the students to use, while Elizabeth brought silver-coloured, metal ones from a Meccano set.

The Stained Glass Felting Method

Jane shows the back of an image that has the stained glass felting technique, which outlines the various sections.

To make the letters stand out more clearly, students used the “stained glass felting” technique developed by Niki Collier during COVID-19, which culminated in an international exhibition that was shown at the Pearse Museum in Dublin and Gallery Kabllo, Vienna, in Austria – https://making.ie/stories/felt-stained-glass.

The stained glass method involved needle-felting a narrow black border of Merino roving around each coloured field or letter, which gave the shapes a crisp outline and improved legibility. By the end of the process, each participant had created a unique felted name tag, decorated with colour, texture, and clear lettering.

Jane Shows How to Make Narrow Lines with Wool

Members Using the Stained Glass Technique

These beautiful creations will be used at future Feltmakers Ireland events, serving as both a practical tool and a meaningful memento.

Some of the Almost Done Name Tags

A Couple of Longer Names

Jane had a clever solution to those members who had longer names: On a colourful felted ground, one could ‘write’ one’s name using a needle felting tool and black Merino wool. No cutting out of letters is needed!

A Nifty Needle Felting Kit

A couple of members brought along portable needle felting kits that we admired! A rainbow of wool, tools and even finger guards were included.

Biscuits with History

Each Sunday Session, Lorna creates interesting baked goods that have been eaten in the past. This month, she brought Aberffaw Biscuits. We wonder what she will bake next month?

Biscuits by Lorna – always a tasty and educational feature at our Sunday Sessions. Each session, she makes a different type.

The early feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive, with many praising Jane’s ability to make the workshop both educational and fun. Her passion for wet felting shone through, inspiring everyone to explore their creativity and connect with one another in a warm, supportive environment.

Felting Away

We couldn’t have asked for a better way to kick off our Autumn 2025 season!

Our Gratitude

Many thanks to all the volunteers who helped our Sunday Session run so smoothly: Lorna for opening the hall and taking care of all of our caffeine needs, Adrienne for greeting the members, Sam for making sure that the hall was left in excellent condition, and the rest of the committee for ensuring that the day ran so well. Stay tuned for more exciting workshops and events with Feltmakers Ireland, as we continue to celebrate the art of felting and the connections it fosters.

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.