Wet Felting a Lace Table Runner

Join VAWAA Artist and Slovenian felt maker Anja for a fun and relaxing wet felting session. On Saturday, May 2, at 10:00 AM EDT (UTC-4), we'll be learning how to create a table runner / place mat / coaster using almost nothing but the softest wool fibers, soapy water and our hands. Wet-felting is the oldest technique of making textile that existed in the world and is very fun and relaxing activity. We will create a beautiful felt item with a special ‘lace’ pattern - all seamless, no sewing. You can use this table top surface in many different ways - to protect and decorate your dinning or coffee table, you can put it on the shelf with potted plants on top. No prior knowledge of wet-felting is required and we will of course learn a few tricks of the trade. We'll reconnect a week later, on Friday, May 8 at 12:00 PM EDT (UTC-4), to share creations, learnings, and feedback. Limited to 20 participants.

What you'll need

All you'll need is to wear comfortable clothes and an apron, and bring the following materials and tools –

- 3.5 oz. / 100 g of merino wool tops in 2-3 different colors (carded wool suitable for wet-felting; extra fine, 20 micron max.)
- 3 towels
- a bar of soap
- a curtain netting or mosquito netting; can be replaced by clog wrap or a plastic bag cut into a single piece of plastic
- bubble wrap (about 50 cm x 50 cm / 19 in x 19 in); can be replaced by a wet towel
- scissors
- a spoon
- a sponge (or a water sprinkler bulb for wet felting)
- alcohol marker (optional)
- plate (about 26 cm / 10 in)
- hot soapy water (dish-washing liquid or grated olive oil soap diluted in water)
- a waterproof surface

How to join

We'll be hosting this VAWAA Online on Zoom. We'll send you the link and details to join via email a few hours before it begins.

About Anja

Anja is a felt maker, designer, and textile artist. Although she uses the oldest technique of textile making, wet felting, she combines it with modern techniques such as cobweb felting, nuno-felting, felting with pre-felt, seamless 3-dimensional felting, shibori felt etc. to create scarves, clothing, bags, vessels, pillows and felt art.

She says one of her obsessions has been creating and developing the thinnest of felt that she makes from the softest merino wool, and other fibers like nettle, silk and viscose. As a true master of wet-felting, she knows how to make everything seamless and with zero-waste.

Visit her artist page to learn more about her in-person VAWAA.

Sessions are ticketed to support artists, makers and our small team. If you’re experiencing financial hardship, please reach out. We may have a generous participant who has paid it forward and would ask that you pay the love forward by sharing online sessions with 3 new friends.