Felt bowls (Ōtepoti)

Learn traditional felting techniques in this workshop and create a felt bowl from natural Aotearoa wool.
Three brown felted bowls with white stripes on a white background
$60.00 NZD per person
$60.00 NZD
  • Saturday 24 October: 2pm-4pm

Did you know that felting is the oldest known way to make fabric? In this 2-hour workshop, you’ll explore the ancient art of felting to create a beautiful and functional felt bowl from natural, un-dyed Aotearoa wool. Using just wool, soap, and water, you’ll learn this simple practice that requires no machines or chemicals. Once you’ve mastered the process, you’ll have the skills and confidence to continue felting at home, unlocking endless possibilities for creating beautiful, handmade pieces.

Please note

  • Please bring 2 towels and a bag, as your felting may still be wet when it’s time to take it home.
  • All other materials and tools will be provided.
  • Food & Drink – Bring a water bottle to keep hydrated, and any food or snacks you may need over the course of the workshop. To observe tikanga, we ask that no food or hot drinks are consumed in the work space, a separate area will be available for breaks.
  • This workshop is for adults aged 18 and older, or for young people aged 16–17 who attend with a supervising adult. Please note that if a young person attends, two workshop places must be purchased (one for the young person and one for the accompanying adult).

Cancellation

Bookings are non-refundable. If for any reason (this includes illness, travel delays, and injuries) you need to cancel your workshop, you will receive a refund minus a $30 administration fee. This is provided you contact us at least 14 full days before your booking.

Please see our Cancellation Policy for more details.

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We are grateful to be able to offer this workshop because of support from Creative New Zealand.

Your Host

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Mirabel Oliver

A longtime lover of many craft practices, Mirabel is a textile artist who studied sculpture at the University of Canterbury. In 2025 she held an exhibition in which her traditional needlework pieces plied together the daily threads of art and life. Mirabel loves the domesticity of working with wool and fabric, seeing their inherent resourcefulness and beauty as an important feature of family life. In 2026, she will be teaching drop-spindle spinning, hand darning, felt-bowl making, patchwork, and her new swiss darning workshop, as well as hosting our mending club.