Year 11 Art and Design Students Explore Felt Making with Andrea Hayes

On Friday, 7 March, Year 11 Art and Design GCSE students had the opportunity to take part in a felting workshop with textile artist, Andrea Hayes. The workshop introduced students to the traditional craft of felt making and needle felting, where they experimented with a variety of wool fibres to create bright, colourful, and skilful textile pieces for their portfolios.

Andrea Hayes demonstrated both wet felting and needle felting techniques, guiding students through the process of layering, shaping, and blending wool to achieve rich textures and intricate designs. The results were outstanding, with each student producing a unique, eye-catching piece that showcased their creativity and growing technical skills.

The workshop was especially meaningful as it took place just a day before International Women’s Day (Saturday 8 March). Andrea took the opportunity to discuss the heritage of felt making, a craft that has been traditionally practised by women for centuries across different cultures. Felt making has long been used to create clothing, textiles, and decorative art, preserving both cultural identity and craftsmanship.

This hands-on experience not only enriched students’ artistic techniques but also gave them a deeper appreciation for the historical significance of textile arts and their connection to women’s creative work throughout history. It was an inspiring and educational session that brought both tradition and innovation into the classroom.