Felt is the oldest known non-woven fabric made by the human hand. Before fiber was spun to create thread and yarn, it was discovered that the fleece of a sheep could be felted into a fabric and then used to make clothing and tents.

This ancient technique of matting, condensing, and pressing wool fibers together made a rugged and durable fabric which could be dyed and decorated. Today, there is a wide range of fibers that can be employed to create felt, and some of the same ancient techniques can produce a rugged or more delicate felted fabric.

My wet-felting process typically begins by laying down gauzy silk fabric as a foundation and then adding wool and other fibers that will migrate through the silk and combine to form a new fabric that’s both strong and lightweight.

One of my favorite silks is Margilan, a delicate, rarified variety from Uzbekistan.

This process of laying down wool fibers, as well as alpaca, silk, and viscose, on a silk foundation and then manipulating them allows me to be both painterly and sculptural.

I may use my own hand-spun yarn or my pre-felted pieces, depending on the texture I am trying to achieve. While I am drawn to earthy colors, I often work with brighter hues created with plant-based or acid dyes and enjoy the hand dying process. Once a piece is felted and dried, it can be embellished with embroidery and beading.

The designs, colors and three-dimensional textures are endless, and each piece I create is unique. Some can be used as a wall hanging while others work beautifully as a wearable piece of art.