-Françoise Hoffmann-
-Françoise Hoffmann-
FROM PROTOTYPE TO CUSTOMIZED TEXTILE DESIGN (2 modules)
FROM PROTOTYPE TO CUSTOMIZED TEXTILE DESIGN (2 modules)
From February 16 to 20 and from April 27 to May 2, 2026
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Teacher's introduction
Teacher's introduction
Under the artistic and technical direction of Françoise Hoffmann, artist, felt maker, Master of Art (class of 2008), this Master Class opens up the field of felt and textile design.
"…A unique characteristic of Hoffmann's work is the incorporation of printed textiles—and graphic aesthetics—into felt… Hoffmann was ahead of his time in introducing digital technology into felt making…" Susan Brown, curator at the Cooper Hewitt Design Museum, Exhibition catalog, Fashioning Felt, New York 2009
Françoise Hoffmann, a contemporary artist, is an active member of the Master Craftsmen and their Students Association, dedicated to the transmission of unique skills.
"What if magic were this breath of freedom that blows through Françoise Hoffmann's felt?" - Yves Sabourin
« By playing with textures, silk muslin, wool, colors, and her original prints, Françoise Ho&mann explores a wide artistic vocabulary and a visual syntax comparable to those of pigments on a painting.She subjects one of the oldest textile techniques, felt, to the most fertile contemporary combinations. The hybridization of the material with other techniques such as photography reveals creations with a double meaning, front and back, one legible, other blurred, like a metaphor for our perception of events that oscillates between clarity and obscurity. » Christine Athénor FITE Director.
In 2003, she began a collaboration with French haute couture, creating a hybrid fabric of felt and jacquard velvet for Lanvin. In 2005, she designed costumes for the opera houses of Lyon, Baden-Baden, and La Scala in Milan. Her appointment as a Master of Art by the French Ministry of Culture in 2008 brought her national and international recognition.
She has participated in numerous exhibitions worldwide, notably in New York (Cooper-Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum), France, Vietnam (Hanoi, Hue), Hong Kong, and China (Beijing, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Ordos, Shanghai). Some of her major creations have found their place in world-renowned museums, such as the Textile Museum of Lyon, the National Silk Museum of China in Hangzhou, the La Piscine Museum in Roubaix, the Felt Museum in Mouzon, and the Hat Museum in Chazelles-sur-Lyon.
As an artist, she collaborates in workshops with, among others, Lainamac, the Hat Museum Workshop, the JINZE Art Center, the Hong Kong Polytechnic School, FITE and the Textile Hub of the Changshu Institute of Technology.
The Training
The Masterclass consists of two modules of 5 and 6 days, totaling 79 hours of in-person instruction, and one individual videoconference session.
It is designed for individuals with experience in manual and/or artistic work related to textiles or other materials who wish to express themselves with felt. Beginners are welcome.
4 to 6 participants per session.
The modules are complementary and cannot be taken separately.
Objective of the Training
Combining the malleable and creative potential of felt with the absorbency of silk, this masterclass is dedicated to exploring the effects of materials and to the graphic design and creation of a hybrid felt*.
It is part of a broader perspective of research, exchange, openness, and the transmission of an ancestral technique in dialogue with a contemporary artistic interpretation.
THE PROTOTYPE
Module 1: February 16-20, 2026 (36 hours)
Creating a prototype is a fundamental step to validate a project in its initial and final dimensions, its volume, its shape, and its texture.
Compulsory subjects
Ecru Merino wool, 16 to 21 microns, in sheet and roving – to be provided by the intern.
White silk muslin. Material provided.
This predetermined choice of an ecru monochrome in Merino wool of varying microns allows for a principle of simplification, resulting in better legibility of lines and textures.
The Shape
Creating a garment shaped to fit the human body is ideal for experimentation.
This type of flexible structure allows you to:
Acquire the techniques, reflexes, and tips inherent to felting
Validate the fiber shrinkage potential
Construct a garment that meets the desired final result.
Each participant will choose their design from the provided list and create their own template:
Jacket – dress – vest – top, etc. If you already have a personal project in mind, please contact me beforehand to confirm its feasibility within the Master Class.
Detailed program
1 day - February 16:
Morning (3 hours):
- Introduction: Viewing of a lecture given by Françoise Hoffmann as part of an exchange program between Living National Treasures of Japan and French Master Craftsmen in Kyoto in 2024. "Felt: A Traditional and Innovative Zero-Waste Technique." This film situates the material in space and time, its traditional uses, and contemporary interpretations.
- Q&A session.
- Time for individual discussions on each participant's project.
Afternoon (4 hours):
- Sampling of various wools: Fiber distribution. The technique and direction of the fibers.
- Blending wool with silk.
- Exploring textures: solids and voids, relief.
Sampling is crucial for each project and a source of fundamental information for the upcoming creation.
2 day - February 17:
Morning (3 hours):
- Calculation of the shrinkage of the fibers used and selected for the project.
- Study and design of a template based on the fibers and the final volume of the part to be produced.
- Cutting of the template in 2D in preparation for the 3D model.
Afternoon (4 hours):
- Validation of the template based on the project.
- Placement of the silk fabric on the template, front and back.
-Determination of the direction of fiber distribution on the silk fabric.
3 day - February 18:
Morning (3 hours):
-Distribution of the wool according to the desired effect, as previously determined.
-Humidification and pre-felting.
Afternoon (4 hours):
-Construction of the volume during the fiber distribution process.
-Production of closed and open sections.
-Filling of the part.
4 day - February 19:
Morning (4 hours):
- Demolding of the part
- Removal of the template.
- Verification of the material density.
- Correction of imperfections.
Afternoon (4 hours):
-Fulling.
-Rinsing.
-Grooming.
-Drying.
5 day - February 20:
Morning (3 hours):
- Finishing touches according to each person's progress.
- Adjustments to the mold on a mannequin.
- Photographing the creations.
- Time for discussion and analysis of the works.
Afternoon (4 hours):
In preparation for the second module:
- Determining the size of the future creation, choosing the yarns and the desired texture.
- Establishing a project specification for each participant.
- Design concept to be determined by each participant:
Choosing a personal theme
Exploring the graphic design of digital prints.
Discussing the various possibilities
An approach to colour and its effects.
Objectifs pédagogiques de ce module
At the end of this first module, the trainee will have a basic understanding of the principles of wool felting.
- Material distribution techniques.
- Fiber distribution direction.
- Felting process.
- Exploring the potential of given materials.
- Hybrid felting technique: wool and silk.
They will be able to design a template anticipating the 3D effect, create a seamless wool and silk volume, and plan future creations.
BETWEEN THE TWO SESSIONS
Preparations for Module 2
For its use in the creation of a future hybrid felt pen, within fifteen days of the first module, trainees must send a JPG file of a personalized print project via WeTransfer or Swisstransfer:
Text
Photography
Drawing
Computer-aided design
An individual video conference will be organized with Françoise Hoffmann who will validate the feasibility of the project in accordance with the specifications of each person.
Preparation of digital prints in Françoise Hoffmann's workshop.
Creation of files for printing.
As a guideline, the printing time is 6 weeks.
To validate the skills acquired in the first module, participants will design a template.
CREATION OF A TEXTILE DESIGN
Module 2: April 27 to May 2, 2026 (43 hours)
Each participant will present their personal project to Module 2. This project will have been previously considered and for which they will have defined:
A template to design the volume
The choice of animal fibers: what type of wool for which project?
The choice of textile design, the prints of which will have been previously made on silk.
The next step will be to develop the project, guided and directed by Françoise Hoffmann.
Building on the technical learning of essential basics to develop one's practice and creativity, the second module will be purely artistic in nature, giving free rein to each person's imagination regarding the choice of volume within reasonable limits, the design of silks, textures and the working of wool as a graphic palette.
"Felt is undeniably a creative, evolving, and demanding material. It interacts with each person's sensibility; my experience has shown me that we all have a different touch, a different approach to the material, and although we are capable of reproducing a lesson, finding one's own dialogue with this material remains essential. Artistic creation is anything but pre-digested. Felt is a physical investment; it often involves an energetic, hands-on engagement with the material to achieve the desired result. It is also a caress, a breath carrying stories—those it tells us and those we have to tell."
Detailed program
Day 1- April 27:
Morning (3 hours):
- Sharing of trainees' projects.
- Template validation.
- Corrections if necessary.
- Reproduction on a material suitable for felting.
Afternoon (4 hours):
- Sampling based on the chosen wools and colors.
- Blending with the chosen textiles.
- Texture work.
-Exploring the graphic potential of wool.
- Interpenetration of colors and pattern.
Day 2 - April 28:
Morning (3 hours):
-Preparation of the template.
-Consideration of the textile assembly.
-Graphic creation and unfolding of the pattern with the silks on side A of the template.
Afternoon (4 hours):
Anticipation of volume in:
-Graphic design and deployment of the pattern with the silks on side B of the template.
Day 3 - April 29:
Morning (4 hours):
-Distribution and orientation of the fibers on face A according to the predefined material effect option.
-Graphic and/or pictorial creation using the fibers and their predetermined colors.
Afternoon (4 hours):
-Distribution and orientation of fibers on face B
-In accordance with face A, anticipation of volume in the graphic design.
Day 4 - April 30:
Morning (4 hours):
-Building the volume and consolidating the material.
-Fulling in the bamboo mat.
Afternoon (4 hours):
-Verification of material density and interactions
-Felt-making.
-Demolding of the mold.
Day 5 - May 1:
Morning (4 hours):
- Felting until a stable material is obtained.
- Rinsing and wringing.
- Finishing keys: ironing and polishing.
Afternoon (3 hours):
- Training review.
- Time for discussion and scouting locations for the photo shoot.
Day 6 - May 2 (7h):
- Staging of the creations in a way that resonates with one another, including prototypes from the first session.
- Photography
At the end of the masterclass, participants will validate their ability, starting from an idea or a personal creative project using hybrid felt and textile design, to express a personal interpretation through:
The design of the model
the textile design
the creation from start to finish of a unique work in hybrid felt.
Monitoring of execution and evaluation methods
Attendance sheets.
Learning is supported by practical demonstrations, one-on-one consultations and illustrated help and explanations.
Training evaluation forms.
Material available for students
Each participant will have their own individual workstation, with an adjustable-height table.
Wool and textiles can be purchased on-site if needed, depending on availability.
The workshop features a spacious, bright, and airy studio, as well as an extensive library specializing in textile art and color.
The cost of the training may be covered by your professional training organization (OPCO) (Vivea, Afdas, FAFCEA, Pole Emploi, etc.) depending on your status and eligibility.
Level of prior knowledge and prerequisites
This course is open to beginners.
Target Audience
Early and mid-career textile/fiber artists interested in expanding their horizons and exploring how felt can be part of their artistic vocabulary and creative practice. And/or intermediate-level felt makers wishing to deepen their understanding of the medium and the role of sampling in their work.
Personal financing rate
Sessions 1 and 2 and intermediate online session (79 hours of training): €1975.
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
Maximum number of trainees: 6
Accomodation
Total immersion is beneficial for maximum impact; much of the interaction takes place outside of class time, during breaks, and through informal conversations over meals.
Our residence is the ideal place to stay on-site throughout your training. For more information, please contact us at contact@feutreformationfrance.fr.
Individual equipment to be brought by the trainee
1 white chalk marker, water-soluble.
1 bar of Marseille soap with olive oil.
4 small terry towels (available on site)
1 pair of craft scissors (for cutting plastic)
1 pair of sewing scissors (for cutting silk)
1 small spray bottle (for plants)
1 pair of tweezers
1 small wooden hand brush
1 measuring tape
1 craft tape measure
1 flat aluminum ruler
Sewing pins
White thread and needle
1 roll of packing tape
1 apron
1 notepad and pen
Equipment provided by the training center
Bamboo mat 180/120cm, one per trainee
Bubble wrap
Silage tarp (allow 400/400 cm per trainee for both modules)
Mosquito net 200cm per trainee
Small basin, one per trainee
Sanders with non-slip pads
Extension cords - hair dryer
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