The Art of Needle Felting: Craft a Chickadee

Join artist Janie Pemble and to learn about the wool, tools, and techniques of needle felting through creation of a sculpted Chickadee. You will learn about and use armature to create some simple legs and feet, or you can choose to create a hanging version. Whether you are a total beginner to needle felting, or have some experience but wish to learn more, you will enjoy this class. All materials are provided for the project. (If you wish, you can purchase your tools and supplies to take home to pursue more projects.) Cookies (with gluten-free options) and tea will also be provided as you felt your bird and learn along with Janie.

A versatile natural medium, sheep wool can be dyed, sculpted, shaped, manipulated to create beautiful, durable and delicate textiles, and painted with. Although the art of felting (“wet felting”) is an ancient one and has been utilized by many cultures across the world, needle felting (“dry felting”) is a recent art that is only a few decades old, first appearing in the 1980’s.

Special barbed needles are used to condense and sculpt wool fibers into any desired shape. Sometimes a wire form (called armature) is needle felted around to provide strength and/or flexibility to the finished sculpture. There are many different techniques that can be used in needle felting, but with understanding of the materials and with some practice, this art is easily accessible to everyone.

Janie Pemble is a self-taught needle felt artist who loves sharing this creative and rewarding art with others. Although she also dabbles in wool painting and wet felting, needle felting is her primary medium, and birds are her passion and “go-to” inspiration. Her Common Loon sculpture was exhibited in the 2024 Fiber Fusion NW show and her needle felted small songbirds will be at the Evergreen Quilters Quilt and Fiber Arts Show in September. But her primary love is teaching, and she offers limited classes, workshops, and demonstrations to youth and adults.

All workshop registrations are final and non-refundable, but you may transfer your spot to another person by notifying us in advance.

All workshop registrations are final and non-refundable, but you may transfer your spot to another person by notifying us in advance.

The Whatcom Museum acknowledges that we gather on the traditional territory of the Lhaq’temish – Lummi People – and the Nuxwsá7aq – Nooksack People – who have lived in the Coast Salish region from time immemorial. The Museum honors our relationship with all of our Coast Salish neighbors and our shared responsibilities to their homeland where we all reside today.

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