Creative Textiles

Course information:

This class is for those who are, or would like to be, textile explorers and makers of fabulous fabrics. It’s an opportunity to give yourself some dedicated time to nurture your creativity and to develop textiles that are personal, poetic, and fun. People with all levels of experience (or none) are welcome. Gain a thorough understanding of basic textile techniques including wet felting, experimental hand stitching, and free machine embroidery. Explore ways we can use these skills to make contemporary, expressive art/ craft. Each week, the tutor will introduce a process, technique, or subject. Most of the day is practical: experimenting, exploring, and sharing ideas. Each person will have a unique outcome according to the discoveries made along the way. Taking part in this live, in-person class means sharing ideas, learning from each other, and generally giving yourself creative time with friendly, like-minded people. This term we’ll start by making gorgeous, colourful pre-felt fabrics to work with over the next few weeks.

Aims and Objectives:

• To gain a thorough understanding of basic textile techniques including dyeing, printing, felting, experimental hand stitching, and free machine embroidery.
• To explore ways we can use skills learned to make contemporary, expressive art/ craft.

What you will need to bring

• Merino tops in a selection of colours. Start with about 500gms  Merino 21 microns’s available from Wingham Wool or other suppliers.   If you are new to felting, I suggest you buy these from the tutor for the first week so that you can get advise about what exactly to buy.
• 2. Bubble wrap – standard size bubbles – ± 2ft x 1 ft length.
• 2 pieces very thin plastic sheeting or get from tutor
• Large old towel + 1 hand towel
• A bar of soap – either plain unscented or olive oil soap, or dishwashing liquid.
• 1 Bowls / small bucket to hold hot water
• Apron and Washing up gloves (only if you are allergic to soap/ wool)
• Pipe insulating tube if you have one
• An empty milk bottle (or similar)

What is included in price of course

• Tuition

Progression:

• Use skills learnt to make a hobby into a business
• Use skills learnt to progress onto an accredited qualification

Course Detail:

Dates:      Tuesday 17 September, 1 October, 15 October, 5 November, 19 November 2024

Weeks:     5

Time:       9.30 – 3.30 pm

Location  Cottenham Village College

Price:      £199

Half term: 28 October – 1 November

Tutor

Ricki Outis

Ricki began screen printing on textiles professionally 30 years ago when she moved to the Cambridgeshire Fens from South Africa.  She found the space and the quiet of the fens enabled her to pursue what has become her life’s passion – the placing of colour and pattern onto cloth. Nowadays, she teach screen printing and other creative textile arts in all sorts of community and classroom settings . It still gives her pleasure to see the look of delight on a student’s face when they create something for themselves.