Nuno felting – Japanese inspired with Liz Clay

Art textiles

Ref: SLW12376

Suitable for all £420
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About this course

A Japanese inspired workshop to create light and versatile nuno felt fabrics to be worn or for domestic use. The technique offers rich textural qualities, when combined with three-dimensional methods of pleating and stitch resist.

Course Description

Nuno felting creates an extremely versatile fabric to accommodate many different uses.

The Japanese word nuno means cloth. In this Japanese inspired workshop you will create beautiful nuno felt fabric for shawls, scarves or other wearables, or for domestic uses, like wrapping cloths. Furoshiki are traditional Japanese wrapping cloths traditionally used to wrap and/or transport goods.

You will explore the rich textural qualities offered by the nuno felt technique and learn how to transform the felted surface using woven cloth to add structure and shape to fine felted fabric.

Guidance with tutor-led sampling exercises will help you develop an awareness of colour and texture in the felted surface through mark-making and layering of materials. Three-dimensional methods of pleating and stitch resist will be taught.

The aim being to encourage and enable you to develop a personal approach with confidence. Use these skills to create something special to wear, as a stylish art piece or use as elegant wrapping as an ecologically friendly alternative to wrapping paper.

Timetable

Arrival Day - this is the first date listed above

Courses start early evening. Residential students to arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm.

6.45pm: Welcome, followed by dinner (included).

8 - 9pm: First teaching session, attendance is essential.

Daily timetable

Classes 9.15 - 5pm, lunch is included.

From 6.30pm: Dinner (included for residential students).

Evening working - students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with their tutor's permission and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.

Last day

Classes 9.15am - 3pm, lunch is included.

Residential students are to vacate their rooms by 10am please.

(This timetable is for courses of more than one day in length. The tutor may make slight variations)

Course Materials

Included

  • The tutor will prepare and supply fabric materials pack for your initial samples.

What students need to bring

  • You need to bring your own fabrics, fine and sheer weight silk and cotton fabrics (black and colours are useful). Open weave fabrics are also useful e.g. muslins. Small pieces are fine for sampling but to make scarf length or larger samples you will need a couple of 1.5 or 2m lengths in any width fabric. Silk chiffon, organza, habotai (lightest possible) muslins are very suitable.
  • Wool: carded batts and/or processed tops in merino and merino/silk blends in a good range of colours. Total approx. 50gms per student (this can be purchased from the tutor)
  • Your personal felt making kit to include:
  • Bubble wrap (2.5metre length x approx. 75 cms width)
  • Tube for rolling – essential approx. 35 cm wide minimum
  • Olive oil soap and bath sponge – essential
  • Spray bottle and container for water
  • Two towels – medium size
  • Scissors x two sharp embroidery and large cutting types
  • Hand carders – not essential
  • Strong tacking threads and needles
  • Small fabric pieces, lace and ribbon oddments

Available to buy

  • Available from shop:
  • Some materials used on this course are usually available, including undyed fabrics, including fine cottons, silks, muslin, scrim, fine silk chiffon and organza in black and white
  • Notepads and pencils
  • Available from tutor:
  • On this course most of the materials and additional wool blends will be available from the tutor. This charge should be paid to the tutor before the end of the course, by cash or cheque.
Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no sandals or open toes).

Tutors

Liz Clay

Liz Clay is a practitioner and researcher of hand made felt, specifically working within haute couture and innovating felt making techniques. She studied textiles at Bath School of Art and Design. Her PhD investigates the creative potential of British 'waste' wool for fine craft felt making. Author of Nuno Felt, she teaches and exhibits internationally. Work is held in the collections of Givenchy, Balenciaga, the Crafts Council and Bradford College Textile Archive.

Accommodation

Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.

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