artybirdcarnforth

ArtyBird February Bulletin

I am so excited by the New Level 1 Felt Course. As you know, City & Guilds changed their courses in line with current Government requirements. The new courses are very different to the old ones and it took me a year to plan out how I wanted it to be. I started off with what I would like to teach and then saw how this would fit into the course, and it did beautifully.

On the old route it took 5 years from beginner to completion of the Professional Level 3 Diploma Course. The new route takes the same amount of time a one year Level 1, 2 year Level 2 and 2 year Level 3, again beginner to professional. You can go as far as you wish, and because it is modular, you can stop after a year at Level 2 or 3 if you needed to and still receive a qualification.

So what is different and why am I so excited? The Level 1 course is a Cerificate in Textiles - making it a broad foundation for starting your feltmaking. There are four modules to it:
Design
Samples for Design
Textile Decoration
Felt

Although everyone who has signed up for a course so far has had a taster in felt, I always start off with how to make felt. Over the year we work with a range of wool types, but I start with merino, the easiest and most popular with felters. We explore flat felt techniques of painting with fibres and working with half felts. To support all this we create some simple designs and experiment with these. The Samples for Design module is a gem. I find so many people are nervous of design in paper, but are confident to experiment in textiles. The Sample for Design links the two and you may use paint, threads, fibres, fabrics.....to try ideas. It is so exciting and liberating at the same time.
Within the Textile Decoration module you learn how to dye fibres, fabrics and threads to use in your felt. This will save you a fortune when you go to shows and will stop you buying seductive packs. You will also print and paint onto fabrics to add into your work. Some of your samples may not involve felt, but most of it is applicable, giving contemporary mixed media approaches to felt making.

The Felt module looks at the traditional techniques as well. Working with a range of natural coloured wools and other fibres as well as 3-D work around a resist. Although nuno is not covered in the syllabus we have added this in so that there is a thorough grounding in all aspects of felt and you come out of it able to make pictures, vessels, berets and scarves with confidence and that are individual.

All well and good if you are attending and have a stock cupboard full of materials and equipment - but tricky and expensive to do at home?! NOT AT ALL!!?

We have worked hard to source and create packs of materials and equipment for you to buy as you go. These will be offered to you at a low rate so that you do not need to spend precious time and money getting things together before you can start. If you already have things then by all means use them, but if you are buying from scratch then the art materials we have are good quality for the money and the dyes and fabrics are ready to go. All you will need is your felt wools and equipment and away you go,

Going back to basics has been refreshing for my own work and I have created some new exciting pieces along the way. I have found new materials to work with which have opened up new avenues and am drawing together a lifetimes experience with textiles.

If you are looking to consolidate your felt knowledge and and enjoy developing your own ideas and work then this Level 1 course is for you. You can start it on-line at anytime and there will be a new attending intake at Carnforth in Spetember. Please get in touch with us if you would like to know more. Have a look at the gallery of work from the first term that we have made together. Our theme was sunsets.

Happy Felting

Kate & Rosie

Level 1 work by Elizabeth Birchall, Sarah Manders & Susan Turnbull