Needle Felting a 3D Dryer Ball - December 14, 2024

December 14, 2024

1pm-4pm

Come and needle felt a 3D dryer ball, or a decorative ball with me!

Needle felting is a craft that involves using a barbed needle to create 3D sculptures or 2D designs out of wool.

In this class, we’ll start with a handmade dryer ball base, made ahead of time by the instructor. During class, the instructor will teach you how to use a variety of felting needles to cover your dryer ball with colored wool and teach you how to create a frog design onto the ball.

Dryer balls are a chemical-free, economical alternative to fabric softener and dryer sheets. They are used to reduce drying time, decrease static cling, and soften clothes. After class, participants can take their dryer ball home and run it through a wash and dry cycle in their own machines, to further help shrink the fibers. Or, they may also choose to use the completed ball just as a decorative piece.

In this fun 3 hour class, you’ll learn about different types of wool used in needle felting, recommendations of where to buy wool, which needles are best for each part of the project, the differences between single and multi needles, how to avoid breaking needles, and how to create shapes with wool to add the frog features. You will create one frog dryer ball.

Wool is fun and versatile to work with. Each design completed in class will be unique to the person who made it, depending on the color and design choices they make.

I’ve been needle felting for approximately 9 years, and love teaching people how fun this art medium is to work with. Wool is so soft and tactile to work with, and this kind of activity is known to be good for brain health. Not only can certain repetitive actions benefit your physical health, but they can also improve your mental health by reducing your stress levels.

Tuition: $40

Materials: $20

This course is for all ages, but minors must be accompanied by an adult.

Your Instructor

A bit about me...My name is Karen Storkamp. I can be found often, (I post a lot), on Facebook as I Felt It, and less often on Instagram as karensfelting. I’m a prolific felter, and can happily spend whole days with my wool and needles. I discovered several years ago that I also have a passion for sharing my love of needle felting. I’ve learned so many tricks and tips over the years, and can absolutely guide you thru every step of the process. And along the way, if you get hooked, all the better. I’d love to arm a whole lot of people with tiny needles. Besides sharing what I’ve learned about felting, I also love meeting so many great people. I believe that the shared experience of art provides a common ground for social interaction. I know it sure feels magical when a group of people are gathered in one space, sharing creative energy.

I started needle felting in 2016, and have truly found a happy place. I love everything about needle felting….. the textural element of wool, the soothing, rhythmic, and repetitive motion of the needle going into the wool, and most of all, the magic that happens when you let your inner creative out! Without any background as an artist, I had lots to learn, both about needle felting and what my interpretation of art is. The exciting part for me is that I continue to learn new things all the time! What I’ve learned is that anything that you can imagine can be brought to life with just a little wool, a felting needle, your hands, and a desire to explore art.