-Krystel Chavigny-

LEARN HOW TO FELT

Presentation of the Teacher

Krystel Chavigny, passionate felter, offers basic training in manual wool felt making techniques. Trained by Christina Zofall, she moved to Haute-Garonne in 2003, where she developed an original approach to felt, combining mesh and felt for unique creations. She contributed to the creation of numerous events such as the European Felt Days in Felletin and the Wool Days in Montbrun-Bocage. Felt is made with carded, combed wools, having significant felting power, and of different qualities and origins. The field of applications with this material is very extensive. The quality of the wool guides and directs the projects which invariably begin with experimentation and research. The production of samples reveals the manufacture of a new non-woven fabric, giving a more or less thick, flexible or compact material.

Introduction

Felt is a material made up of an agglomeration of fibers. It is necessary to clearly distinguish the fabrics and differentiate between a woven structure (wool cloth type) and boiled wool (knit structure) having undergone a fulling process.

Sheep's wool is the fiber with the greatest natural felting capacity. This phenomenon comes from the structure of the fibers whose surface is formed of scales. Other fibers such as angora rabbit hair, mohair (angora goat), camel hair, alpaca, dog hair, also have felting capacity. But the structure of undulating and elastic sheep's wool has a much tighter intertwining.

Regarding the manufacture of manual felt, the spontaneous ability of wool to intermingle makes it the most appropriate fiber to work with in an artisanal workshop.

Garenne rabbit hair is renowned for making cones for hat making, but chemical intervention is necessary to open the fibers and make them suitable for felting. The handmade felt technique is that developed by the nomads of Central Asia, and you will approach an adaptation of it.

The fibers are placed on a bamboo mat, or on bubble wrap, then sprinkled with water and a little Marseille soap. Your woolen tablecloth, once sufficiently but reasonably soaked in lukewarm water at first, to avoid thermal shock, you will roll up your woolen tablecloth in the mat or bubble wrap and put pressure on the material which will spread out: you will start to felt gently.

When you have noticed that the fibers are sufficiently intertwined by regularly checking your work, you can separate from the mat or bubble wrap and move on to the maximum fulling stage until you obtain a beautiful felt.

Excellent documentation: "Art of the Feltmaker book" by English ethnologist Mary Burkett.

Educational objectives of this course

Know how to make flat felt surfaces from rustic or more precious wools.
Learn how to make felt in 3D from different combed, carded or raw wools.
Apply the previous techniques to a personal project in 2D or 3D, with personal wool or other sources.

Detailed program

Day 1:

Presentation of the different wools with strong felting power.
Learn how to lay wool to get felt.
Making samples on other supports: wool and silk (nuno felt).
Calculation of shrinkage factors to make a part.

Days 2 and 3:

Project of a 3D object.
Sampling, make the basic pattern (paper), then the 2nd pattern (fabric) with the shrinkage factor.
Realization of the project in 3D.

These days are dedicated to the realization of a personal project by the student, accompanied by Krystel Chavigny. The objective is to apply the techniques and practices acquired during the training.

Target Audience

This training is intended for beginners wishing to learn the manual production of wool felt. It is aimed in particular at breeders wishing to promote their wool production, as well as costume designers, decorators, textile artists, visual artists or anyone looking for skills and techniques that will allow them to integrate felt. wool in their professional practice.

This training will give students wanting to discover, become familiar with, engage professionally or not with this subject, the desire and the possibility of acquiring the basics. Thanks to these fundamental bases, they will then be able to go further, by following specific training cycles (Master classes). They will then be supported by high-level trainers who have developed techniques applied to specific creative projects.

Level of prior knowledge and prerequisites

None, suitable for beginners who have little or no knowledge of this practice.

Monitoring of execution and evaluation methods

Attendance sheet.
Practical demonstrations and individual consultations, supported by personalized help and explanations.
Evaluation forms.

Materials available for students

Individual workstation with height-adjustable felting table, emergency felting equipment if necessary.
Possibility of purchasing raw materials on site depending on available stocks.
Modern and bright workshop.
Free access to a library specializing in textile art and colors.
The wools used during the training will be available on site.
WIFI.

The wools used during the training will be available on site.

Personal Financing Rate

3-day training (21 hours): Educational cost in personal financing including the supply of raw materials: €390.

Registration form available (soon in the meantime please write to contact@feutreformationfrance.fr)

If your tax residence is in France:

Tuition fees may be covered by training organizations (OPCO, Vivea, Afdas, FAFCEA, France Travail, etc.) depending on your status and eligibility. Contact us for personalized advice and a quote at contact@feutreformationfrance.fr

Accommodation

Our residence is the ideal place to sleep on site throughout your training. If you would like to know more, write to us at contact@feutreformationfrance.fr.

Book my accomodation

Material to Bring

Scissors.
Thread.
Tape measure.
Calculator.
Notebook.
A very tight piece of fabric (old-fashioned sheet type, 50 cm).
Apron.
Good quality Marseille soap.

All other felting materials will be provided on site. The cost of wool used during this training is included in the day's price. Textile materials (silk, wool, cotton) can be purchased on site depending on needs and availability at the time.

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