Fabulous Felt and Nuno-Felt Hats

Unleash your creativity in this immersive two-day class where you’ll transform raw fibers into stunning felt hats! Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced feltmaker, this class will spark your imagination and expand your skills while you create wearable sculptures that blend functionality and artistry.

You’ll learn the fundamentals of wet felting—from selecting and preparing fibers to shaping and blocking hats—while enjoying ample time to experiment and refine your technique. You’ll explore methods for creating a variety of hat styles, from timeless cloches and wide-brimmed beauties to fun and whimsical designs inspired by your instructor’s original patterns. And, you’ll delve into Nuno felting, a magical wet-felting technique that allows you to incorporate lightweight silk fabrics and add rich texture and visual intrigue to your creations.

You’ll leave with your own unique, handcrafted hat – wearable expressions of your individuality and style – and an appreciation for what you can craft with your hands and a little soap, water, and imagination!

Dawn Edwards is a celebrated felt artist with a passion for sharing her craft. She exhibits widely, teaches extensively across the U.S. and internationally, and her work has been featured in leading publications, including Worldwide Colours of Felt, FELT Magazine, and Fiber Art Now. Dawn is also co-coordinator of FeltUnited, a non-profit working to unite over 7,000 feltmakers around the globe. Based in Plainwell, Michigan, Dawn sells her work under the label ‘Felt So Right.’ Her expertise and enthusiasm make her the perfect guide for your felt hat-making journey! Find out more about Dawn by checking out her website: https://www.feltsoright.com/

$285 – $340

Additional Supply Fee:  None. The $20 supply fee for plastic laminate material for two hat patterns, plastic resist materials, and written instructions is included in the class cost.

Scholarship Available: No.

Level: Open to all skill levels

Minimum Number of Students: 8 by June 29, 2025
Maximum Number of Students: 12

Required Supplies:

• 6 oz or more of 19 to 20 micron Merino wool top. Please ensure your wool is NOT a Superwash Merino, which will not felt. (Dawn’s hats range in weight between 2.5 ounces to 6 ounces each, and you’ll have time to make up to two hats in the class).
• One 12″ diameter polystyrene (Styrofoam) floral wreath with smooth, round edges (color does not matter).
• Several old bath-size towels and a plastic bag to put your wet towels in.
• One 2′ wide by 6′ long piece of bubble wrap (small bubbles).
• A plastic bucket or plastic bowl (mixing bowl) for water.
• Olive oil soap or your favorite soap for felting.
• 1/2 of a pool noodle.
• Sewing kit: Sharp pointed scissors, sewing needle, thread, stainless-steel straight pins/quilting pins, and a tape measure.
• Notebook, pen, and a black permanent marker.
• If you have a simple wooden ‘crown hat block’ (also referred to as a utility block) in your head size, please bring it. If you do not have access to one, a cloth wig head in your head size works well. If bringing a wood hat block, cover your block with plastic cling wrap/film or  bag  so that it does not warp due to moisture.
• Optional: Wet-felting mesh fabric (I like to use this to add soap to my piece without disturbing my wool layout).
• Optional: Lightweight silk fabric (chiffon, etc.) for nuno-felted hats, lightweight beaded silk fabrics, vintage cotton doilies, silk fibers, and/or silk hankies.

Class Schedule: The class will be in person at the SEFAA Center on Sunday, July 27, and Monday, July 28, from 10 am to 4.30 pm each day. There will be a short 1/2-hour break for lunch each day, so we encourage you to bring your lunch. A small refrigerator and a microwave are available for your use.