Needle Felting but not as you know it!

What is Experimental Needle Felting?

  • A course full of experimental techniques and ideas encouraging and inspiring you to play. 
  • Short bite sized videos that allow you to go off on a tangent and explore all the 'what if's'
  • Self-paced lessons, treat the course as an inspirational library
  • Watch the entire course in one go, then revisit and mix up ideas.
  • Share ideas in the private Facebook group and/or join our monthly Zoom Open studio sessions

This course is for you if...

  • You have a huge fabric/wool/yarn stash and need inspiration.

  • You are impatient, love quick results and may be a little rebellious

  • You love textiles and want inspiration for new ways of working.

  • You up-cycle or make/knit your own clothes and would like ideas to customise them by creating innovative new fabrics, edgings and textures

  • You have an embellisher machine but don't know what to do with it! (you absolutely do not need to own one of these machines to complete this course, but it may well be on your wish list soon!)


This is a short video that I made during the first lockdown in the UK when this course was just a seed of an idea in my mind! I explain these ideas further in the course as well as many other techniques.

More Reasons to play!

  • You want to learn new techniques to use for needle felting and/or your embellisher

  • You want inspiration for new ways of working, jumping off points and inspiration

  • You love up-cycling fabrics

  • You are working in another medium and want to incorporate needle felting into your work

Why Learn from me?

  • I have over 25 years experience as a conceptual textile designer. Selling internationally to clients ranging from Chanel and Dior to M&S and Boden.

  • Author of 6 craft books, including Simply Felt, The Impatient Patchworker and New From Old all about up-cycling your wardrobe

  • TV appearances with Kirstie Allsopp on her show Kirstie's Handmade Britain. Regular expert at her annual Handmade Fair

  • In-person workshops for Soho Farmhouse, Liberty, Dyson Institute, John Lewis, Festival of Quilts and The Knitting and Stitching Show.

  • Featured in Embroidery Magazine, Vogue, The Observer and The Makers Story

  • Founded reclaimed clothing label Salvage and sold collections to Koh Samui in London and Colette in Paris. 

  • An MA in Fashion from Central St Martins and a 1st class honours degree in Multi Media Textiles from Loughborough College of Art

  • I absolutely love sharing my ideas and techniques and I get super excited to see how you interpret them. 



Contents

My courses contain short inspirational videos, packed full of ideas and jumping-off points. I love it when lessons are short and concise as there's more time for play!

Introduction

Welcome!

Tools, materials and inspiration

Needle felting tools
Fibres and fabrics
Mood boards, pinterest and collecting ideas

Getting started

How it all started
Simple felt applique
An introduction to the embellisher machine

Needle felting with yarn

Playing with different yarns and textures
Florals and loops
Edgings
Braids

Needle felting with fleece

Painting with fleece
Fleece as a decorative glue
Simple flowers
More simple flowers!

Needle felting with silk

Applique possibilities
Preview
Silk applique
Gathered florals
Gathered stripes and details
Texturising and meshing

Watersoluble adventures

Simple weaves with wool yarn
Creating fabrics with fleece
Further adventures in needle felted weaves

Hand stitching

Hand stitching ideas
Stitching with Yarn
Stitching with fleece
Weaving through net and lace

Further ideas and mixing techniques

Adding hand stitch to your needle felted weaves
Mixing embroidery and needle felting
Using the back as the front
Thank you!

Upcoming Zoom Chats

Open Studio Hours

Frequently asked questions

You’ve got questions. We’ve got answers.

HOW LONG WILL I HAVE ACCESS TO THE CONTENT?

With my online courses you have *lifetime access. You can use the course like an inspiration library and dip in and out as you wish. 

*lifetime means for as long as I am creating textiles (hopefully this will be a very long time!), or as long as the platform is in existence.

IS TUTOR HELP AVAILABLE?

Yes, all my online courses have comments boxes under the lessons where you can ask questions, share work or ideas. There is also a private Facebook group. I am very present both in the course comments and on social media, you can also email me. I often organise group Zooms for all my course participants and you will be invited to join these should you wish to pop along and chat.

CAN I DOWNLOAD THE VIDEOS?

It is not currently possible to download the videos. Many students find it really useful to watch large sections at a time then make notes. My videos are really meant to inspire and fire up your imagination so that you are in the mood to play and invent in your own style. Do contact me if this poses a problem and we can discuss further strategies!

CAN I SHARE IMAGES & TECHNIQUES FROM COURSES?

You are more than welcome to share images of your work from this course on social media. It would be wonderful if you could mention me, as it helps other find my courses and in turn allows me to continue making a living as an artist.  Please do not share, copy or distribute any of the course content. Also, if you create work that is clearly based on my demonstration pieces please do not attempt to sell it as ‘yours’. 

AM I ALLOWED TO SHARE MY LOGIN AND PASSWORD WITH FRIENDS?

Many of the techniques included in this course have taken me years to develop. I hope that they will provide wonderful jumping off points from which you can develop your own personal style. This course is for your personal use only and your purchase ensures that I can continue creating, developing and teaching. 

AM I ALLOWED TO USE YOUR CONTENT FOR MY OWN TEACHING?

No. It is my intellectual property built from over 25 years as a designer, artist and teacher. If you would like to share the content with your group or educational establishment please do get in touch and we can discuss a licensing agreement. You can also book me for talks and workshops, both online and in person. Do get in touch if you would like to discuss any of these options by clicking here

DO YOU OFFER REFUNDS?

If you are really unhappy with the course please do email me here or message me using the box provided on Podia. I always want my students to be happy with their purchase and will do my best to work out a solution with you.

I STILL HAVE A QUESTION, CAN I CONTACT YOU?

I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have. You can send me an email at jayneemersontextiledesign@gmail.com