Tag: Wet Felting

Recap - Sunday Session

RECAP: June Sunday Session – Image Transfer for Needle Felting – with Adrienne Dempsey

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
A woman in a pink top holds up a piece of felt artwork depicting a landscape with a sheep, while a group of interested observers, mostly women, look on attentively. Various crafting materials are spread out on the table in front of them.
Adrienne shares how one can needle felt the transfer printed motif and the background

On Sunday, the 14th of June, committee member Adrienne Dempsey led a well-attended session in which we learned how to transfer printed images onto our felt.

Adrienne shared how to print the work onto water-soluble stabiliser paper and then transfer it onto our felt. We learned about the various substrates and materials we could use. She also demonstrated how one could needle-felt onto the printed image, or even all around it, to create a landscape.

A woman in a pink patterned top holds up a piece of fabric with a design while reading from a booklet about sticky water soluble paper stabiliser in a craft setting.
Adrienne shows the Water Soluble Paper Stabiliser
A woman in a pink patterned shirt demonstrates a craft technique to a group of attentive onlookers in a workshop setting. Various materials and tools, including an iron and craft supplies, are spread out on the table.
Here, she demonstrates Iron-on-Transfer Paper
A woman wearing a pink patterned top is holding up two pieces of fabric while standing at a table covered with various art materials and documents.
Here, she shows the different materials one can use a base – linen, silk, and calico (not pictured)

Adrienne’s Work

Adrienne brought a selection of her work to share. That kitten is especially adorable!

A display of six small framed artworks featuring a flower, an owl, a squirrel, and a cat, arranged on a textured surface.
Adrienne’s Work that has Transfer Printing
A close-up image of a cat's face displayed in a white picture frame.
So cute!
A collection of handmade jewellery displayed on white cards, featuring various earrings and a necklace. The pieces include felted beads in vibrant colours, gold and silver components, and unique designs.
Needle Felted Earrings

The Supplies

An assortment of crafting materials including fabric pieces, printed patterns, and colourful felt scraps arranged on a table.
A clear plastic container filled with spools of thread in various colours, including shades of pink, blue, green, and purple.
A variety of crafting materials spread out on a table, including fabric pieces, wool, printed images of animals, and organised containers with craft supplies.

Adrienne brought all the supplies needed, plus a bevvy of inspiring items.

She also gave the attendees several printed Help Sheets, including a glossary, information on where to find free clip art, two sheets of cute clip art, and information on where to purchase supplies in Ireland and online.

Where to Purchase Supplies

Recommended Needles

For the needle felting, Adrienne recommended the following types of felting needles:

  • 40 triangular needle for finer work
  • 36 triangular needle for initial shaping
  • 38 triangular is a versatile all-a-rounder
  • 38 star is her go-to medium gauge for all-purpose felting

The higher the number, the finer the needle.

Editor’s Note: There is an informative series of articles about felting needles by Jan on the Felting and Fiber Studio website – https://feltingandfiberstudio.com/2025/03/27/why-do-felting-needles-break-do-you-blame-your-tools-or-is-it-operator-error/

Where to Purchase Felting Needles

During the class, there were also questions about where to purchase felting needles.

Adrienne recommends the following:

Another member recommended Heidi Feathers needles because they liked how they are colour-coded.

Members at Work

Completed Pieces

While many more pieces were created, we didn’t manage to photograph them during the excitement of the session! Students have the option to wet felt them afterwards. If you would like us to add your piece, email a photo to feltmakersie@gmail.com

An elderly woman with long blonde hair smiles broadly while holding up a handmade felt piece featuring a sheep design. She is seated at a table with various crafting materials laid out, including yarn and wool.
Lorna
Two women smile and showcase their felted artwork featuring sheep during a craft workshop. Various crafting materials are scattered across the table.
Brid and Mary Ivell
Four women holding handmade felt artworks featuring sheep, displaying their creations in a craft workshop setting.
Anna, Marie, and Lauren
A playful felted sheep with colourful spots on a white background, alongside a cartoon sheep wearing sunglasses and a red vest, promoting a fun activity.
Eva via her Instagram @feltedvision

The June Sunday Session was well attended, with several members tuning in via Zoom.

A group of people participating in a crafting workshop, gathered around a table displaying various art supplies and materials, set in a community hall.
A group of people gathered around a table displaying various crafts and materials in a spacious community hall.

Thank yous

Thank you to Adrienne and her assistants, Sam and Loli, who helped make samples and kits for the Session. Thanks to Loli for some of the photos. Appreciation to all the members who attended in person or via Zoom!

Three women standing in a community space, each holding a piece of felt art. The first woman, with long hair and glasses, holds a black piece. The second woman, wearing a light-coloured top, displays a landscape design. The third woman, in a patterned pink shirt, shows a bird design on her felt piece.
Sam, Loli, and Adrienne holding some of the samples that they created for the Session.

Lastly, thank you to Lorna for her ever-informative and amusing ‘Biscuits with History’!

A person holding a homemade biscuit covered in icing sugar, with a handwritten note about the history and characteristics of Italian Ricciarelli biscuits. The note mentions that the biscuits are vegan and describes them as 'ugly but good'.

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.

Sunday Session

June Sunday Session: Felt & Fabric Design Transfer Workshop in Inchicore, Co Dublin

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Promotional graphic for a felt and fabric design transfer workshop titled 'June Sunday Session' with Adrienne Dempsey, featuring a handmade felt bowl with an embroidered bee design.

THIS Sunday, the 14th of June, we will learn how to transfer designs onto felt fabrics using soluble fabric and heat-transfer techniques with committee member Adrienne Dempsey. Editor’s Note: This is the session that we needed to reschedule from April.

In this workshop, we’ll explore different methods for transferring designs and bring them to life through needle felting. You’ll create a motif that you can use in your own artwork or transform into a decorative piece, such as a brooch.

Hand-stitched felted bee design on a natural fabric backdrop within an embroidery hoop.
Close-up of a handmade felt brooch featuring a black and yellow bee design on a circular beige background.

Materials we will use, which we will provide:

•Linen and silk canvas fabric
•Heat transfer materials, fabric pens
•Soluble fabric
•Vilene, cotton batting, calico, and Pellon
•Parchment paper
•Needle felting wool (black & white and a selection of colours)
•Felting needles
•Iron
•Embroidery threads & beads (optional)

What to bring:

Please bring both your Needle and Wet Felting Kits

  • Felting wool and felting needles
  • Felting pad
  • Towel
  • Bowl for water
  • Soap
  • Bubble wrap
  • Small scissors
  • Embroidery hoop (6 inch, optional)

The Details:

When: Sunday, the 14th of June, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM.

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

Additional Information:

Our Session will require lots of tea, coffee, cake, and chat, so there will be plenty of these. Of course, home-baked goods are always welcome!  Also, please bring your travel mug or camp cup to reduce our reliance on disposable cups.

To reduce the spread of illnesses, please refrain from coming if you feel unwell.

Zoom Access

For the session in Dublin, we will send a Zoom link on Friday afternoon, the 12th.


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.

Sunday Session

June Sunday Session: Felt & Fabric Design Transfer Workshop – with Adrienne Dempsey

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
A felt bowl featuring an embroidered bee design, promoting a felt and fabric design transfer workshop.

On Sunday, the 14th of June, we will learn how to transfer designs onto felt fabrics using soluble fabric and heat-transfer techniques with committee member Adrienne Dempsey. Editor’s Note: This is the session that we needed to reschedule from April.

In this workshop, we’ll explore different methods for transferring designs and bring them to life through needle felting.

You’ll create a motif that you can use in your own artwork or transform into a decorative piece, such as a brooch.

Hand-stitched felted bee design on a natural fabric backdrop within an embroidery hoop.
Close-up of a handmade felt brooch featuring a black and yellow bee design on a circular beige background.

Materials we will use:

•Linen and silk canvas fabric
•Heat transfer materials, fabric pens
•Soluble fabric
•Vilene, cotton batting, calico, and Pellon
•Parchment paper
•Needle felting wool (black & white and a selection of colours)
•Felting needles
•Iron
•Embroidery threads & beads (optional)

What to bring:

Bring both your Needle and Wet Felting Kits

  • Felting wool and felting needles
  • Felting pad
  • Towel
  • Bowl for water
  • Soap
  • Bubble wrap
  • Small scissors
  • Embroidery hoop (6 inch, optional)

The Details:

When: Sunday, the 14th of June, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM.

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

Additional Information:

If you can, please bring a home-baked good to share and a travel mug (to reduce our use of disposable cups).

To reduce the spread of illnesses, please refrain from coming if you feel unwell.

Zoom Access

We will send a Zoom link to the Session on Friday afternoon, the 12th.


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.

Recap - Sunday Session

Sunday Session Recap: Felting Alongside Friends – A Creative Sunday Gathering

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
A group of people engaged in a workshop or activity around a table, with various bags and items on the table, featuring a mix of ages and clothing styles.


By Adrienne Dempsey

On Sunday, the 12th April, a small but dedicated group of Feltmakers Ireland members came together for a truly enjoyable session of wet and needle felting. The day was filled with creativity, shared techniques, lively conversation, and plenty of inspiration. It was also especially lovely to welcome two new members into the group.

The morning unfolded in a vibrant display of colour and texture, with members working on a variety of beautiful pieces. Creations included felted hearts, bowls, bags, jewellery, and intricate 3D needle-felted animals. There was also great interest in embellished work using Angelina fibres, which added a distinctive sparkle to many projects.

A sincere thank you goes to Margaret Ryan Collins, Christine Bond, and Sandra Chase for demonstrating wet felting techniques and sharing their expertise with the group. Adrienne Dempsey and Sam Fagan also demonstrated printing and embossing with fusible Angelina fibres, showing how these can be used to add decorative, eye-catching elements to felted pieces.

Throughout the session, members collaborated and supported one another. Highlights included beautifully crafted wet-felted bowls and hearts, embellished brooches, works-in-progress such as felted bags, and charming needle-felted creations like a delicate bunny. It was wonderful to see both finished pieces and projects still evolving.

We rounded off the session in the best possible way—with tea, coffee, great conversation, and delicious hot cross buns. A special thanks to Lorna for providing this lovely treat. Thank you to everyone who contributed their time, skills, and enthusiasm. It was a warm, inspiring, and thoroughly enjoyable creative morning shared among friends.

Here are photographs from our session:

Two women engaged in a crafting activity, working with materials on a table. The image includes four smaller pictures showcasing their finished craft pieces against a red background.

Sam Fagan (left) and Adrienne Dempsey (right) demonstrate working with Angelina Fibres.

Two women engaged in crafting activities at a table, using colourful wool and tools, in a creative workshop setting.

Christine Bond (left) and Mary Lee (right) wet felting together.

A handmade turquoise felt heart with a central decorative pattern in shades of red and pink.

Mary completed a wet-felted heart and embellished it with Angelina Fibres.

A handmade felted bowl with a green and blue interior on the left, and a multi-coloured abstract design on the right.

Christine completed a wet-felted bowl, front and back.

A round textile art piece with a central dark pattern surrounded by a gradient of light blue and grey fibres.
A close-up of a round, blue felted wool item with a textured centre, featuring metallic threads for added sparkle.

 Adrienne Dempsey shared her needle-felted, embellished Angelina Fibre brooches.

An elderly woman with short white hair wearing glasses, focused on crafting with yarn, seated at a table in a workshop setting. She is dressed in a green coat and scarf, with a partially finished green and black bag in front of her, surrounded by various crafting supplies and materials.

Hilary Osman is working on her unfinished projects, adding a button closure to her felted bag.

A rectangular piece of felted wool in shades of blue, red, and hints of turquoise, featuring a textured surface.

Sandra Chase shared her wet-felted bag; it is a work in progress.

A woman with glasses smiles while holding a bright orange heart-shaped felted item, surrounded by various handmade felt animals including a hedgehog, fox, owl, and panda, showcased in a collage format.

Lauren Kirwan completed a wet-felted heart and shared a beautiful display of needle-felted pieces.

An elderly woman in a red jacket holds a handmade felt rabbit while smiling at the camera.

Mairéad de Burca shared a lovely needle-felted bunny.

Two women engaged in a creative crafting session, working on a table with various materials including colourful fibres and tools.

Margaret Ryan Collins (left) and Pat Duggan (right) wet-felting together.

A decorative round object with a textured surface, featuring a mix of deep orange and blue colours. It has a small, orange top resembling a balloon.

Pat completed a colourful wet-felted bowl.

Two women engaged in a crafting activity, one slicing a piece of material while the other observes. The setting is a well-lit indoor space with tables and decorations in the background.

Sandra (left) and Laura (right) wet-felting together.

Book cover titled 'The Complete Photo Guide to Felting' by Ruth Lane, featuring colourful felted materials and key highlights about felting techniques and tips.

Great book shared at the session, “The Complete Photo Guide to Felting” by Ruth Lane.

A handwritten note explaining the history of hot cross buns, detailing their ingredients, traditional consumption on Good Friday, and modern-day availability in supermarkets.

Lorna Cady’s ongoing series: Buns (or biscuits or cakes) with History!

May Session

Our May Session will be our Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Sunday, the 10th of May, from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM. There will be the usual business of the AGM, plus a special guest speaker, Zoë Daly of the Wicklow County-based company Ériu. There will be the annual drawing for a Bursary of 250 euros for a member to use for a textile-related workshop. Of course, we will enjoy tea and coffee, and member-supplied tasty treats.

We hope to see you there!

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.

Update: Felt & Fabric Design Transfer Workshop POSTPONED – Members Welcome to Come to Felt Alongside Friends instead

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Promotional image for a felt and fabric design transfer workshop. It features a round, cream-coloured felt bowl with an embroidered bee design on the front. The top text includes details about the workshop, highlighting a postponement due to fuel issues and an invitation for participants to bring their own projects.

UPDATE:

Due to the Fuel Situation, we will reschedule the Image Transfer Workshop to a later date so that members affected by fuel rationing can attend. Details to be provided later.

Felt Along Session

HOWEVER, members are VERY welcome to come this Sunday for an informal felt-along session.

If you have any WIP (works in progress), incomplete textile projects or wish to Felt Alongside Friends, this Sunday’s Session is the opportunity to do so.

Please bring your wet and/or needle felting kits to this session, along with your fibre.

The usual tea and coffee will be provided.

The Details:

When: Sunday, the 12th of April, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM.

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

Additional Information:

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

And, as this is the season of coughs and sneezes, please refrain from coming if you feel unwell.

NO Zoom Access to this Sunday Session:

Unfortunately, we will NOT be able to provide Zoom access for this Sunday’s session, as our tech support (Juliane) cannot attend. Thank you for your understanding.


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.

Sunday Session

This Sunday: Felt & Fabric Design Transfer Workshop – with Adrienne Dempsey

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
A felt bowl featuring an embroidered bee design, promoting an April workshop for felt and fabric design transfer.

This Sunday, we will learn how to transfer designs onto felt fabrics using soluble fabric and heat-transfer techniques with committee member Adrienne Dempsey.

In this workshop, we’ll explore different methods for transferring designs and bring them to life through needle felting.

You’ll create a motif that you can use in your own artwork or transform into a decorative piece, such as a brooch.

Hand-stitched felted bee design on a natural fabric backdrop within an embroidery hoop.
Close-up of a handmade felt brooch featuring a black and yellow bee design on a circular beige background.

Materials we will use:

•Linen and silk canvas fabric
•Heat transfer materials, fabric pens
•Soluble fabric
•Vilene, cotton batting, calico, and Pellon
•Parchment paper
•Needle felting wool (black & white and a selection of colours)
•Felting needles
•Iron
•Embroidery threads & beads (optional)

What to bring:

Bring both your Needle and Wet Felting Kits

  • Felting wool and felting needles
  • Felting pad
  • Towel
  • Bowl for water
  • Soap
  • Bubble wrap
  • Small scissors
  • Embroidery hoop (6 inch, optional)

The Details:

When: Sunday, the 12th of April, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM.

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

Additional Information:

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

And, as this is the season of coughs and sneezes, please refrain from coming if you feel unwell.

NO Zoom Access to this Sunday Session:

Unfortunately, we will NOT be able to provide Zoom access for this Sunday’s session, as our tech support (Juliane) cannot attend. Thank you for your understanding.


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.

Sunday Session

Sunday Session: Felt & Fabric Design Transfer Workshop – with Adrienne Dempsey

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
A felt bowl featuring an embroidered bee design, promoting an April workshop for felt and fabric design transfer.

For our April Sunday Session, we will learn how to transfer designs onto felt fabrics using soluble fabric and heat-transfer techniques with committee member Adrienne Dempsey.

In this workshop, we’ll explore different methods for transferring designs and bring them to life through needle felting.

You’ll create a motif that you can use in your own artwork or transform into a decorative piece, such as a brooch.

Hand-stitched felted bee design on a natural fabric backdrop within an embroidery hoop.
Close-up of a handmade felt brooch featuring a black and yellow bee design on a circular beige background.

Materials we will use:

•Linen and silk canvas fabric
•Heat transfer materials, fabric pens
•Soluble fabric
•Vilene, cotton batting, calico, and Pellon
•Parchment paper
•Needle felting wool (black & white and a selection of colours)
•Felting needles
•Iron
•Embroidery threads & beads (optional)

What to bring:

Bring both your Needle and Wet Felting Kits

  • Felting wool and felting needles
  • Felting pad
  • Towel
  • Bowl for water
  • Soap
  • Bubble wrap
  • Small scissors
  • Embroidery hoop (6 inch, optional)

The Details:

When: Sunday, the 12th of April, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM.

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

Additional Information:

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

And, as this is the season of coughs and sneezes, please refrain from coming if you feel unwell.

NO Zoom Access to this Sunday Session:

Unfortunately, we will NOT be able to provide Zoom access for this Sunday’s session, as our tech support (Juliane) cannot attend. Thank you for your understanding.


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: Second Printing of ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’ Now Available in Libraries Across Ireland

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Cover of the book 'Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking' featuring a rural landscape with sheep and feltmaking materials. Text on the right announces 'Our Book is in the Library!' and shows a search result from Libraries Ireland with availability details.

We’re delighted to share that the second printing of ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’ is now available through the library system in Ireland.

If you search your local library catalogue or visit the Libraries Ireland website, you’ll find that there are currently 20 copies in the system. Some are still on order and being processed, but you can reserve a copy and have it delivered directly to your local branch for collection.


You can find and reserve the book here: https://librariesireland.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/FULL/WPAC/BIBENQ/754928726/80649840,1

Editor’s Note: You will need a valid library card to reserve the book.

Thank You to Our Supporters

Everyone at Feltmakers Ireland would like to extend heartfelt thanks to all of our wool-loving readers and supporters who have made this second printing possible.

We are especially grateful to artist and guild member Annika Berglund for being the book’s editor. She took on the complex and detailed work of establishing the wool breed testing subcommittee and organised the results into a cohesive, educational, and beautifully presented book.

Prefer to Own Your Own Copy?

If you’d like to add ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’ to your own textile book collection, you can purchase a copy directly from our website: https://feltmakersireland.com/exploring-irish-wool-for-feltmaking/


Whether you borrow it through your local library or keep a copy on your own shelf, we hope this book continues to inspire your exploration of Ireland’s rich and diverse wool heritage.

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: Interactive Wool Crafts – European Wool Day in Tralee

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Promotional poster for 'Interactive Wool Crafts' event, featuring various wool crafts including felting, spinning, weaving, knitting, crochet, and Lumra rug making. Details include the date, time, location at Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee, and an invitation for individuals, families, and groups to attend.

On Saturday, the 28th of March, European Wool Day will take place at the Meadowlands Hotel in Tralee, Co Kerry. In conjunction with the Conference Talks, there is a full day of free interactive demos of woolcrafts from experts all over the country.

Volunteers from Feltmakers Ireland will be part of the Interactive Wool Crafts Room. We will demonstrate needlefelting and host hands-on felting circles for the public. The wool that we will use is Irish-raised and was purchased from Ériu and WoolstoreIE. We are grateful to have received some funding from the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland.

In addition to Feltmakers Ireland, other individuals and groups will be part of the Interactive Wool Crafts room. The list includes several members of Feltmakers Ireland: Karen Bowden (Fabulous Fibres), Lucia Errity, and Emily Thompson.

The lineup, with links to their Instagram:

There will also be a free-to-attend exhibition of artwork from Feltmakers Ireland and two other sister textile organisations:

When: Saturday, the 28th of March, from 10 AM to 5 PM.

Where: Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee, Co Kerry, V92DC83

For more information about European Wool Day, visit their website – https://ewe.network/ewd2026/

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.

Recap - Sunday Session

Recap: ‘Heart on Your Sleeve’ – Helena Mc Guinness – February Sunday Session

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
A group of people engaged in a crafting session, with a woman demonstrating a technique at the forefront, surrounded by participants seated at tables with various materials.
Helena Mc Guinness helping a student
A woman in a white sweater working at a table covered with crafting materials, including a brown bowl and pieces of fabric.
Helena demonstrating

On Sunday, the 8th of February, members of Feltmakers Ireland were delighted to have the multitalented artist, storyteller and committee member Helena Mc Guinness show us how to create felted hearts using a combination of wet and needle felting.

A variety of handmade felt decorative items, including colourful stones, a starfish, and a polka-dotted red piece, arranged on a grey table surface. Some items are wrapped in bubble wrap.
Helena’s samples that use the combined technique

Helena shared many interesting tidbits about how one can approach felting. Here are some of our favourites:

  • Thanking the Sheep for their wool
  • Allowing oneself not to think one needs a huge towel or a big setup
  • Using small sponges to wet the felt instead of more expensive tools, such as ball brausers
  • Adding the olive oil soap after wetting allows more control
  • Rubbing more reduces the need to roll
  • Adding a small metal ring by using needle felting instead of stitching

Scroll to the bottom to watch the video of our session.

A plastic container filled with yellow and green sponges, with some sponges stacked and others lying flat.

Students at the Session

A group of women engaged in a crafting workshop, seated around several tables covered with various materials and tools for creating felted items.
A group of people engaged in a craft workshop, focusing on felting techniques. One woman in the foreground gently works with materials on a pink towel, while others are seen in the background, participating actively.
A group of people engaged in a craft workshop, working on felt-making at a long table. Various tools and materials are spread out, including sponges, felting needles, and bowls with mixed media. Participants are focused on their projects, showcasing a collaborative and creative environment.

Completed Hearts

A heart-shaped keyring made from felt, featuring colourful flower designs in purple, pink, and green.
A handmade felt heart in shades of green, featuring a small red heart on one side.
A colourful felted wool heart shape placed on a grey foam pad, with a felting needle beside it.
A decorative felt heart shape embellished with red gemstones along the bottom edge.
A heart-shaped object made of felt, featuring green and orange patterns.
A smiling elderly woman with glasses holding a handmade felt heart with a face, sitting at a crafting table.
A handmade felted heart with an eye design, featuring the text 'I got 4'. The heart is predominantly white with red and black details, displayed on a textured background.
A handmade felt heart keychain with a cream background, featuring red and teal floral patterns.
A felted heart-shaped decoration featuring a colourful abstract design in shades of green, blue, and red.

Heart Photos kindly taken by Adrienne Dempsey

If your heart was not included, or you were working alongside at home via Zoom, please email us a photo of your completed heart. feltmakersIE@gmail.com

A Group Photo

A diverse group of twelve people, mostly women, smiling and posing together in a community centre, each holding colourful handmade crafts, with a banner visible in the background.
A photo of some of the students – taken at the very end of the session. Sorry if we missed everyone.

Biscuits with History

A tin filled with heart-shaped iced shortbread biscuits, accompanied by a handwritten sign explaining their significance linked to St. Valentine.

‘Biscuits with History’ is an ongoing series of baked goods created by committee member Lorna Cady. They are always so fun!

Appreciation

Many thanks to Helena Mc Guinness for leading us in an educational and enjoyable Sunday Session. Thank you to the members who helped set up the room and who assisted in guiding some of our newer felters.

Video

Sunday Session Video

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