Tag: Fine Felt

RECAP: Fine Felt Workshop 2026 with Annika Berglund

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
A group of 20 women standing in a large hall, all holding paintbrushes and jars of paint, smiling at the camera, with a variety of clothing styles and colours.
Group photo of Annika and many of the students at the end of the day.

On Sunday, the 11th of October, 18 students gathered around longtime guild member and artist, Annika Berglund, to explore how to make fine felt. We learned about the importance of using “gentle hands” and how to create “compact versus scrunchy felt”.

The workshop was divided into two parts, with Annika demonstrating each step along the way. In the morning, we created a flat square of black, white and grey felt, learning how careful handling of the wool fibres influences the finished material.

Editor’s favourite takeaway: Feltmaking transforms loose wool fibres into a new material, much like baking transforms butter, flour, sugar and eggs into a cake. Once these transformations have taken place, the original ingredients cannot simply be separated out and returned to their former state.

In the afternoon, students learned how to create a three-dimensional felt piece using a resist. Annika encouraged anyone new to the technique to “have faith” in the process, which is a reassuring reminder that sometimes you need to trust the felting.

The group included longtime members, newer members and even non-members. This mix sparked interesting conversations as students shared their textile interests and experiences.

Annika Demonstrating

A crafting workshop scene where a woman demonstrates a felting technique to an attentive audience. The table is covered with various materials, including felt pieces, bubble wrap, and tools, while participants observe and engage in the process.
A woman with purple hair focuses on her work while holding a piece of wool, wearing a blue cardigan with a necklace made of large beads. She is in a group setting, with other blurred people around her.
A woman with short purple hair demonstrates a crafting technique at a table, surrounded by an attentive audience. She is rolling a material wrapped in bubble wrap on a green cloth, with various crafting supplies and instructions visible on the table.
A craft workshop scene with a woman demonstrating a felting technique, surrounded by attentive participants observing the process. Materials such as bubble wrap and fabric are set up on a table.
A person carefully unpacking an item wrapped in bubble wrap on a table, with several people observing in the background.

Some photos of Annika demonstrating to the students.

The Busy Hall

A busy arts and crafts workshop in a community hall, with numerous tables occupied by participants engaged in creative activities. Various materials and tools are spread out, while attendees chat and work on their projects.
A group of people engaged in a workshop or class in a community hall, with a speaker gesturing in front of them. Attendees are seated at tables, some are working on various materials. The environment appears casual and collaborative.
A group of women attentively listening to a speaker during a workshop or meeting in a community hall setting.

The room was full of tables arranged in a chevron pattern, and students gathered in twos and threes.

Hands Working

A close-up of hands pressing down on bubble wrap, showcasing pink and red nail polish. The background suggests a crafting or creative activity.
Close-up of a person wearing a blue sweater, working on a black fluffy circular material placed on a yellow surface covered with bubble wrap.

Always nice to have photos of hands working!

Appreciation Time

Interior of CIE Hall Inchicore, showcasing the bar area with seating and a prominent wall sign displaying the club's name and establishment year.
A table displaying various food items including baked goods, biscuits, a bottle of milk, and a box of cookies. There are labels and notes providing information about the items.

Many thanks to Annika Berglund for taking the time to share her knowledge and lead the workshop! Additional thanks to the volunteers, Siobhán, Lorna, Irina, Fiona, Helena, Loli, Sam, and Juliane, who helped to set up the room and assist the students. Thank you to everyone who brought yummy treats to share, too!

Lastly, we were delighted that the filmmaking happening simultaneously in the adjacent room had limited impact on our workshop. (We were told there would be a rave scene with loud music!) Thanks again for everyone’s patience as we wove through the maze of interesting rooms to get to the big hall at the back of the CIE Sports Hall.

Our regular Sunday Session will be on the 18th of October, when longtime member and textile artist Mel Bradley will share her Textile Journey. No need to book. For more information, see this blog post: https://feltmakersireland.com/2026/09/29/sunday-session-mel-bradleys-textile-journey-18th-of-october/

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.

Education: Fine Felt Technical Workshop with Annika Berglund – Saturday, the 26th April

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
FIne Felt - Wet Felting Workshop - shows black to white gradiations of flat and 3 D felting.

Fine Felting Technical Workshop

We are excited to announce our upcoming technical feltmaking workshop, ‘Fine Felt’, which will be held on SATURDAY, the 26th of April, from 10:00 AM to 4 PM. 

This ‘Fine Felt’ Technical Workshop is recommended before taking our more advanced ‘Basic and Beyond: Felted Bag with Handle’ workshop on the 8th of  June.

This year, we are offering a Technique Improvement Workshop aimed at beginner and intermediate wet felters. The course aims to examine “Fine Felting,” which is traditionally desired in the craft of felting. 

The class is a repeat of last year’s Fine Felt Technical Workshop, but students are welcome to retake it if they wish.

The Schedule

The class is made up of two parts: A Square 2D sample and a Small 3D Vessel. 

In the morning, beginner wet feltmakers will learn how to lay out wool using a flat 10-inch template and how to felt, full, and shrink. We will look at the graduation of colour and shrinkage rates.

A team of helpers will be available to anybody needing support.

During the morning session, more experienced feltmakers can focus on creating a very light, even layout using 10 grams of wool for a 10-inch square. We will look at how to get the densest, finest felt possible while working on creating a perfect square sample with a shrinkage of 30%, 40%, 50% or possibly 60%, depending on our speed of felting.

This may not be how we would do felting on an everyday basis. But, this session spent truly concentrating on careful felting should improve our overall felting work.

We will break for lunch. Please bring something to eat as we will only have 30 minutes. Tea and coffee will be provided. Bring a ‘travel mug’ to cut down on paper cup waste.

In the afternoon, we will apply our learnings from the morning to make the finest little vessel possible. We will use a different layout (spokes and wheel), laying out 10 grams of black and white wool around a 20 cm circular resist. The goal will be to create a very thin, fine vessel, that is well-felted and sturdy.

SUPPLIES

We will supply ALL wool and materials needed for the workshop.

Please bring TWO towels.

We will have spares, but if you have the following items, please bring them with you:

  • A bowl
  • A water sprinkling brauser or similar (optional as we will have spares)
  • Small sharp scissors
  • Ruler with inches AND centimetres

When

We will start at 10:00 on the dot as we have much to cover. Please try to be there a few minutes early to get settled in.

Where

CIE SPORTS HALL is in Inchicore, Dublin 08, where we usually meet.

Cost

Feltmakers Ireland is keen to promote Fine Felting, and for this reason, we are offering this all-day workshop at the low price of 30 euros for members. 

If you have friends who have been wanting to join the Guild or will want to take the Basic and Beyond Workshop in June (The Felted Bag with a Handle), this Fine Felt Technical Workshop is the perfect opportunity to learn how to make Fine Felt.

Become a member of Feltmakers Ireland – https://feltmakersireland.com/membership-application/

The Members Only price will be in effect until Monday, the 14th of April. 

There are only 27 spots available. 

Registration

Please register BEFORE the 14th of April to reserve your spot at the lower price. After the 14th, the workshop will cost 40 euros per person (for non-members and members).

Note: Members have ALREADY received an email announcement with a Payment Link on Friday, the 21st of March, 2025.

If you have not received the email or have ~just~ joined Feltmakers Ireland and want to register, please email feltmakersie@gmail.com.

We will send you a link to pay online via credit or debit card.

This will be an in-person class, and, unfortunately, Zoom attendance will not be available.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us via the above email.

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.