FELT: Hands On with Shetland's Beautiful Variety of Wool Straight From the Sheep

Work together using hands and tools to wet felt a giant tapestry which will go on display at Mareel during Wool Week. The work is a follow up to Lydia and Amanda's successful Shepherd's Bridge project in collaboration with Oslo Nasjonalmuseet in 2023. By joining the workshop, you will learn how to turn sheeps fleece into felt using soap, water and elbow grease. The sheep provide the colours and textures while you provide the enthusiasm in this physically engaging chance to work with others to create something big.

• Voxter Outdoor Centre Workshops - Wednesday 30th July - Booking Required
• Mareel Workshops - Friday 1st August & Saturday 2nd August - Free, Drop-in

This project has been generously supported by Shetland Arts' Creative Shetland Commissioning Fund to celebrate and promote Shetland based artists. The wool is supplied by Shetland Wool Brokers and farmers across Shetland. If you keep sheep and would like to include a fleece in the work please do get in touch or bring it along!

If you have any questions about the workshop please contact Lydia at [email protected]

Voxter Outdoor Centre Workshops

Wednesday 30 July, 10:30am / 12:30pm / 2:30pm (Sessions are 1.5 hours each)

These workshops will be held at Voxter House Outdoor Center, Brae, in their beautiful conservatory space (unless it's really good weather in which case we will move the activity outside). The sessions are suitable for all creative abilities aged 6+ that are happy to get a bit damp and messy*. That includes grown ups wanting to get hands on with felt making and embrace some tactile and nature led craft.

Felting involves rubbing hot soapy water into carefully layered wool, using repeated actions with tools and body power to create friction which binds the wool together, anyone who can do this will be able to participate. The fleeces will be skirted (the dirtiest bits picked out) but not washed so expect to still find a bit of plant matter, peat and sheeps poo mixed in with the wool. Gloves and aprons will be available along with tools to help with the felting.

You will work together with others on one large piece of art and each session will add on to the work of the last so feel free to book for more than one session if you really want to get stuck in.

Please bring your own drinks and snacks. Voxter House has beautiful gardens perfect for a picnic, or if the weather is against us the cosy sitting room will be available to enjoy a cup of tea and any food you've brought. If you can, please bring your own rubber gloves and apron, and a change of clothes for
children (and adults) who might get a bit wet. If you have any skirted fleece of your own you'd like to include, please bring that too!

Children aged 6+ are welcome but require full adult supervision.

Book Now

(This event is on a 'pay what you can' scheme, please select the price you would like to pay).

Mareel Workshops

Friday 1 August, 4pm - 7:30pm / Saturday 2 August 10:30am - 2pm

These workshops are a free drop in the auditorium at Mareel, suitable for all ages and creative abilities that are happy to get a bit damp and messy*. That includes grown ups wanting to get hands on with felt making and embrace some silliness in their craft.

Felting involves rubbing hot soapy water into carefully layered wool, using repeated actions using tools and body strength to create friction which binds the wool together, anyone who can do this will be able to participate. The fleeces will be skirted (the dirtiest bits picked out) but not washed so expect to still find a bit of plant matter, peat and sheeps poo mixed in with the wool.

Gloves and aprons will be available along with tools to help with the felting. You will work together with others on one large piece so come from the beginning to learn the whole process or drop in for a little while to make your mark.

Free, Drop-In

*IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR PREGNANT AND IMMUNOCOMPROMISED PEOPLE: Wool is an animal byproduct that may carry bacteria that cause disease such as tetanus and toxoplasmosis. The risk from skirted and prepared fleeces is small but should be considered by anyone planning to attend. Adults bringing in children should supervise them closely at all times and good hand hygiene should be observed by all. Participation is at your own risk and any unusual symptoms should be addressed with a medical professional immediately.