Top 10 Best Felting classes, courses, learnings kits and gifts in the UK

Art4Space are thrilled to announce we have the keys to our new 'Make and Mend' Space. We are preparing the space, and it boasts some impressive features, including its location in the communal garden and a wealth of amazing resources. Our focus will be textiles and sustainable practices, repair, and revive. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the generous sponsorship and donations from Mace, Structure Tone, Specialist Lighting, Arena Electrical, Sale Mechanical, and Winters Electrical, helping us bring this vision to life. Their support has been instrumental in fitting out the space with all the necessary equipment and materials to make it a welcoming and inspiring environment for our community. A big thank you to Richard Walker, our Chair, without whom this project would not have been possible. Also, thanks to Singer who has donated 2 sewing machines. To celebrate the start of our new adventure, we are offering some exciting taster classes at a special price of just £20 per workshop. We are inviting you to join us and help us inaugurate the space while providing valuable feedback. Feel free to book as many as you like, bring along friends, and capacity for 8 makers. All welcome. The official opening of the space is on 6th July and a crowdfunding appeal to launch a full programme of activities in the year ahead. Our regular tutors will be teaching these classes, and they are experts in their field. **A selection of dates and times to try out: ** Felting: Learn to felt a small animal, keyring or broach using sheep wool – making your armature to create a cute creature or decoration. DATE and TIME: Thur 23d May June 6.30 – 9pm Kanzashi Flowers: If you are a zero-waster crafter, then this one is for you: Learn how to make a Kanzashi flower. She will show you the Japanese technique of folding upcycled fabrics to create a flower which can then be a broach or clip. We have all the fixings and treasures to adorn your flower. We are hoping Mo can join us, who has set up a Kanzashi enterprise for Art4Space and sells in our shop for purposeful profits to fund our crafternoons. DATE and TIME: Thur 30th May 6.30 -9pm Bling an item of clothing: Why not bring your cycle tabard or favourite Jeans Jacket or a treasured piece that you want to customize with embroidery and adornment? Applique techniques are shown. A huge range of treasures for you. DATE and TIME: Thurs 6th June 6.30 -9pm Doodle stitching: Begin by learning several styles for outlining, filling, decorating and applique. Find out about floss, fancy threads, fabrics and needles DATE and TIME: Thur 13h June 6.30 – 9pm Vintage Quilted Purse: My dear friend recently donated lots of beautiful vintage fabrics, every patchwork purse design is a limited edition – unique! Learn how to sew in a zip using a sewing machine. DATE and TIME: Thurs 20th June 6.30 – 9pm Mending clothing: Including Boro – Japanese-inspired mending—hand sewing repairs. DATE and TIME: Thurs 27th June 6.30 – 9pm

A relaxed workshop for two. Great as a gift for a friend or loved one. Taking place at Heather's home studio in Camberwell. As this is a private workshop we can start it to suit you. Just so long as we're finished by 5.30pm. These four hour workshops (including a 30 minute break) provide you plenty of time to learn how to make your own felt including creating a surface design Or the basic technique for making seam free 3D objects. For those of you who've already completed my basic workshops there is the option to make a small bag or a nuno felt neckerchief. Heather always aims for sessions to be flexible to individual participants needs. You will be fuelled by plenty of home made cake (let me know if it's a special occasion), teas and/or coffee throughout. Depending on where you are on your felting journey Heather will guide you through how to lay out the fibres, use carders to blend colours, show you how to work with pre-felt, create nuno felt (combine silk chiffon with wool and other fibres to make a fluid piece of felt). It really is up to you. Wet felt making is a simple process (once you know how) made up of a series of repetitive actions. Many people find it relaxing and some a stress buster. But, elements of felt making are quite vigorous and very hands on. If you have arthritis in your hands you may find parts of the process challenging. That being said it’s not stopped anybody before and Heather is very happy to help you with vigorous parts of the process. Please note Heather has three cats (they’ll be elsewhere in the house during the workshops). Antihistamines are available but if you have a strong allergy her workshops may not be for you.

On the hunt for some spooky things to do in London in time for the 31st of October? Look no further than this craft workshop perfect for beginners! Make some frighteningly amazing Halloween decorations that are perfect to hang around the house. You'll use colourful felt, thread and stuffing to make these cute and sustainable ornaments with plenty of guidance from your talented teacher guiding the class. First you will design your little stuffed creations. There will be plenty of samples on hand to inspire you and some ideas from your teacher too. Then you can get cracking on making your own Halloween decs. Looking for some team-building ideas in London to celebrate this ghoulish season? Then you'll love this engaging class. Getting creative is a great way to unwind and everyone will leave feeling refreshed. This class is great for individuals and couples as well as for a team building activity, birthday or hen do. What to bring: This workshop is BYOB (you can bring your own alcohol, we provide the glasses) or you can request a tea or coffee from the host.

Feltmaking is one of the oldest textile crafts in the world, with written and archaeological evidence that the nomadic peoples of Central Asia have made felt for thousands of years. Its roots lie in practical items for warmth; carpets, boots, clothes and even portable homes known as yurts. Today it is a practised by textile artists across the world to create both practical and purely artistic work. In this workshop you will learn what makes felt such a versatile textile and how to make a 3D felt flower using the wet felting technique. You will learn how to: • blend and lay out wool fibres, • how to use a resist for 3D work and • how to make and fuse three individual felt components to create your flower. Lesley will demonstrate each step and give students individual help and advice. What’s Included The workshop fee includes a pack of wool fibres, plus the feltmaking equipment required. About The Tutor Lesley has been making handmade felt for over 20 years using the wet feltmaking technique. She has sold and exhibited her work at fairs and exhibitions and also in an independent craft shop. She is a long standing member of the International Feltmakers Association and was a committee member for a number of years, eventually becoming Chair. All materials and light refreshments will be provided.

Feltmaking is one of the oldest textile crafts in the world, used in nomadic cultures for centuries as a way to make carpets, boots, clothes and portable homes known as yurts. Today it is also a popular textile craft that allows you to create unique practical and artistic items from 2D art to sumptuous wearables. In this workshop you will learn how to make a 2D wet felted memory sampler to create your own unique reminder of a significant life event, special holiday or another treasured memory. For example, the sampler could capture the colours of the landscape after a once-in-a-lifetime trip, or mark a wedding or anniversary. The workshop fee includes a box frame, wool fibres, silk fibres and other materials but you are encouraged to bring something of your own to incorporate, such as fabric scraps, a piece of lace, knitting yarns or even buttons. It could be a piece of a favourite item of clothing that you no longer wear e.g scarf, jumper, blouse; a piece of a wedding dress or baby’s first outfit; or the buttons or trimming off a loved but now unworn item of clothing. Almost any fabric can be used, but natural fabrics such as silk, linen, wool or cotton work best. As the sampler will shrink as it is felted it is best to bring pieces that are A5 – A4 size that you don’t mind cutting up. During the workshop you will learn how to: • blend and lay out wool fibres, • how to apply fabrics, lace, knitting yarns etc • how to manipulate the wool and other items into a finished piece using the wet felting technique • how to further embellish and mount your sampler into a box frame that will be supplied as part of the workshop fee. Lesley will demonstrate each step and give students individual help and advice. Things Students Should Bring Lesley will supply most of the feltmaking equipment needed for students to use during the workshop, but there are a few things you need to bring. scraps of fabric: natural fabrics such as linen, silk, muslin, cheesecloth, woollen, cotton etc work best, but dress net, lace, loosely woven or lightweight synthetic fabrics can be used too. About The Tutor Lesley has been making handmade felt for over 20 years using the wet feltmaking technique. She has sold and exhibited her work at fairs and exhibitions and also in an independent craft shop. She is a long-standing member of the International Feltmakers Association, a worldwide organisation with 1000+ members, and was a committee member for a number of years, eventually becoming Chair. She has taught feltmaking in both the UK and France.

Hop onto this needle felting workshop for all levels in this fun Easter-themed class at Tea and Crafting. Unleash your creative side and take home something special that you've crafted yourself plus a kit to make another easter egg and easter bunny. Suitable for beginners, as well as those with a little experience, this class teaches the basic needle felting techniques in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Needle felting is extremely therapeutic and can really help with anxiety and stress in this busy world right now.Using beautifully soft English wool, and just a small needle, your very own Easter bunny will come to life in your hands. Then using an array of delicious, fondant coloured wools you will make a lovely Easter egg for her too.

Enjoy a really fun time on this seasonal workshop needle felting a super cute Christmas Robin with Hanne Crank. Suitable for beginners, as well as those with a little experience, this class teaches you the basic needle felting techniques in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Using lovely soft, English wool, and just a small needle, marvel as your pretty Robin comes to life in your hands! You will then have the opportunity to mount your creation on a beautiful Lake District, yule log ; creating the perfect rustic Christmas decoration for your home. Hanne is a needle felting artist from the Lake District, where she creates natural, whimsical wool sculptures. Always reflecting the beauty of the north, her creations are made using local wool from Beatrix Potter’s farms and are sold throughout the South Lakes and beyond. We are so delighted to have her visit us for this special workshop.

Come and join us and learn to make some wonderfully comfy summer cotton sleep shorts or pyjama bottoms. Get a fix of spring colour with this beginners sewing class where you can make practical night wear in any colour you like. They look great teamed with a simple vest top or sweatshirt. Simple to make in any size our resident Seamstress Pat Stevens will guide you through step by step. We look forward to seeing you at StitchN13! SKILLS: Fabric cutting, sewing curves, finishing seams and sewing an elasticated waistband. If there is time you can learn to make matching ties to decorate your make. COST: £40 DATE & TIME: Saturday 2nd April, 10-12pm DURATION: 2 hrs WHAT TO BRING : A notebook and pen if you wish to jot down ideas. Fabric can be bought here at Stitch or you can bring your own. Message us with your dress size and shorts or pyjamas if you want us to let you know how much fabric you will need. We will provide everything else. LOCATION: 364 Green Lanes, Palmers Green, N13 5XL (entrance inside Post Office) Please ensure you have read fully our terms and conditions. We look forward to seeing you soon! The StitchN13 Team x

In this introductory workshop you will learn about the ancient art of felt making, practised by the nomadic people of Central Asia for thousands of years and now being adopted by textiles artist across the globe. You will learn about the process of bonding wool fibres together using the wet felting method; from laying out the loose fibres to working them together with just soap, water a little elbow grease, to form a new and unique fabric. You can use your completed felted work to stitch into, frame, embellish other textiles with and much more. During the workshop you will learn… about different wool types tips on pulling out the fibres from the wool tops, how to layout the wool fibres to create an even felt, how to embellish the surface by incorporating other fibres and yarns the wet felting process You can make an abstract, decorative textured flat pieces or try creating a picture in wool. For inspiration bring along images, sketches and photos to help you on your creative journey. Instruction notes are provided to take home on where to buy wool tops and recapping the process, so you can continue practising your new skills.