Mad Hatters - part 2

A quick post to show some of the gorgeous hats made by students on Saturday.....

 

A couple of them need a little pleating and shaping to finish them off, but I think you'll agree that they are fabulous!

Mad Hats - Wet Felting Workshop

New year.... well almost the end of January and we have a 'Mad Hats' felting workshop on Saturday. 

I always think of felting as being creativity combined with excercise  - my two most favourite things (after chocolate).  That makes felting an ideal New Year's 'resolutiony' kind of a thing to do.

The 'Mad Hatter'  - In the old days when felt hats were made from rabbit fur, mercury was used in the felting process. And over time, many Hatters did indeed develop a neurological condition from exposure to these mercury fumes. According to Wikipedia  "It is commonly characterized through behavioral changes such as irritability, low self-confidence, depression, apathy, shyness and timidity, and in some extreme cases with prolonged exposure to mercury vapors, delirium, personality changes and memory loss occur as a result"  Hmmmmm - I don't need the mercury , I already have most of these.

Well, I am pleased to say that we no longer use rabbit fur and we no longer use mercury.  In fact, I think that making felt is a highly therapeutic activity. All that soap, warm water, rubbing and rolling- it's all very sensory.

And hats are fun!  Hats can be silly, they can be elegant, they can be a statement of your individuality, they can be cute, or they can be a cosy head warmer for walking the dog.   And on the subject of cosy, if your hat is too mad to wear, just pop it on the teapot.

Thanks to Kate for being a very beautiful teapot!

Anyway,  Saturday 27 Jan at Cottenham Village College - here's the link:    Saturday Schools 
If you scroll down to 'Mad Hatters'  and click on the right hand box it will take you to a pdf with more details.

Or go directly to contact to book a place.

Nuno Felted Scarf - 1 Day Workshop

There are still places left on this workshop- and here's the formal intro:

Nuno Felt Scarf

'A fun day doing wet felting to create a special scarf. Combining fibre and fabrics to create a light and elegant nuno scarf with a beautiful drape. We'll be piecing together different fabrics and using the fibres to hold the whole together. This workshop is a good challenge for beginners and for those with some felting experience.'

Saturday 15th October
10.00am - 4.00pm


As always, I think workshop prices at Cottenham are very reasonable compared with ...well, almost everywhere.  But the main reason to come is for the sheer joy of making something nice with a group of enthusiastic, like minded people!

£35 (£26 Concessions)  + whatever material you use. 


Go to  Cottenham V.C. Adult Learning for more details.

Felt a Beret Workshop

Berets,,,,,,,yes!  

The thing about berets is that you can make so many different things from one humble process.

Of course you can make a discreet and elegant beret, and there's nothing wrong with that. It's warm, it's wearable and it's easy to make, especially if you are a first time felter. So much nicer, in fact if you make it yourself with subtle shades of wool and beautiful surface decorations.  

Or you can stretch yourself and make a veritable artist's beret extraordinaire- grand and sumptuous.  You can wear this one out to a gala, or just keep yourself warm in your artist's garret through the winter. 

Making berets is fun!  The pattern is so simple, you can really play with the shape and take it in unexpected directions.  A good workshop for beginners and for intermediate felters.  

Contact Cottenham Adult Learning  if you'd like to come along.  This is  a day school on Sat 24 January from 10.00am - 4.00pm.  It's only £30/£23 plus any materials you use.

And I can't think of a nicer way to spend a Saturday in January than being up to my elbows in suds, talking textiles with other like minded people!