Felt Making Workshop

Learn a new skill - and make some great Christmas gifts. Felt maker Cathy Unwin will lead this special workshop giving you the opportunity to make a range of beautiful felt items, which will be ideal as Christmas gifts or table centrepieces. You'll be making table mats and flowers but will also gain the knowledge and skills to go on to make a variety of decorative felt objects.

Felt making is one of the most ancient textile crafts, involving wool fibres, water and friction. The story goes that a man was walking across a desert in the dim and distant past and as his footwear was rubbing he grabbed a handful of sheep wool or camel hair, depending on what livestock he had with him, to put into his sandals for adding comfort. The constant friction from walking and the warm atmosphere in his shoe together with the sweat all went to turning the wool into a piece of felt!

Cathy grew up in a creative family and says that'making' is in her DNA. She qualified in felt making to City & Guilds level 3 and has taught in schools; Landmark Arts Trust; various youth and textile groups; and private and IFA* workshops as well as at craft exhibitions. She is a member of the Eastern Region Textile Forum, E17 Designers and has served four years on the committee of the *International Feltmakers Association (she now helps run the London IFA group too). Cathy will be assisted by another IFA member, Anne Willits.

£45pp for tuition. Price does not include admission to the Centre. Please bring with you a hand towel, a piece of bubble wrap approx 2ft square, a pair of scissors, and a plastic bag to take wet felt home. You may need approx £3 extra on the day to purchase the wool fibres (although some will be provided in the cost of the course).

Booking essential - please call 020 8409 4400.