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Needle-felting: a textile technique for the surface

Session: Art Centre stories: engagement with industry Saturday 7 March 2009 3:00 - 4:25pm

Gay Epstein

Director, Ashford Australia Spinning and Weaving

Abstract

In 2004 felting and in particular needle felting was introduced to Titjikala Arts and Ernabella Arts as part of the Beanie Festival workshops. The innovation produced spectacular results that have been developed further over the years.

In Ernabella needle felting has been worked onto pre-made crochet, often using hand-dyed fleece. At Titjikala Arts Centre the artists also use needle felting to embellish wet felted objects. This year more needle felting will be worked onto commercially made mukata in the communities - a wool beret working like an artists' canvas. This will free up many artists who love surface design. Artists can also use circles of pre-made felt to embellish with needle felting and then finish with crochet sides.

Needle felting is a technique that is easy on the hands, making it a change for many artists from their other textile practices, such as basketry. It involves using a barbed needle to drive filaments of wool into the surface of the mukata. It is easy to control- making it similar to painting. Very fine detail can be produced. The artists grasp the basics quickly and are able to translate the motifs and imagery from their painting and ceramic practices to the textiles. Similarly, the textiles work informs their other practices.

Ernabella is known for the mukata, crocheted from yarns made from natural fleece wool and camel hair which is spun using the Pitjantjatjara spindle. However this work is largely done by the senior artists. Needle felting has engaged some of the younger artists as well - they are drawn to the technique for its immediacy, the colour and the fluid lines produced. Needle felting is a new technique but it has already has made a big impact on the Beanie Festival community.

See also: Gay Epstein's biography