Wet Felting a Wool Pouch w/ Colleen Hewlett - Asheville, NC

Discover the ancient craft of wet felting and the satisfying transformation of soft wool fibers into a beautiful, seamless pouch. Under the guidance of Colleen Hewlett, accomplished fiber artist and basket weaver, you’ll explore one of humanity’s oldest textile traditions — a technique that predates both spinning and weaving.

In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to wrap wool roving around a resist, then use hot water, soap and friction to create a durable piece of felted fabric. Colleen will share insights into the history and cultural significance of felting as an ancestral skill, as well as the science behind which fibers work best and why.

Once your pouch has taken shape, you’ll have the chance to add your own flair — sewing on buttons, adding decorative details, and attaching an optional leather strap with rivets. By the end of class, you’ll go home with a completed, ready-to-use felted wool pouch and the confidence to expand your skills into larger projects like hats, bags, mittens, or slippers.

What You’ll Learn:

• The history and importance of felt as an ancient and practical craft
• How to choose fibers that felt well and understand their properties
• The wet felting process: using heat, soap, and agitation to form solid fabric
• Troubleshooting tips for common felting challenges
• Finishing techniques, including embellishment and leatherwork
  

Accessible, hands-on, and deeply satisfying, wet felting offers immediate creative rewards. Whether you’re new to working with wool or eager to reconnect with traditional handcrafts, this class will give you both the knowledge and inspiration to keep creating long after the workshop ends. Sign up soon, as this class is sure to fill fast!

This class will be held outdoors on Saturday, May 16th, 2026, from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm in Asheville, NC.

All Firefly Gathering workshops are hosted in the greater Asheville area, sometimes at private venues. For that reason, the actual venue address will be included in your Welcome email, approximately one week before the workshop. Please note that classes are not actually held at Westgate Parkway.

This class is mostly geared towards beginners, but all levels of experience will walk away with a beautiful finished product and a lovely day of community crafting! The minimum age is 15. Moderate hand and upper body strength is recommended. Expect long periods of standing while felting.

Stay in touch with our Facebook event: Wet Felting a Wool Pouch w/ Colleen Hewlett

Colleen Hewlett has been working with wool for nearly thirty years. She moved to her farm twenty years ago with the dream of having her own fiber animals. Currently, she has a small flock of predominantly Shetland sheep whose wool she dyes, spins, knits, and felts into many different products from hats to three dimensional sculptures. She sells at regional art and craft shows, and has been teaching at earthskills gatherings for nearly 10 years.

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