The focus of this 3-day workshop is on designing and making a fashionable Nuno-felted merino wool and silk dress that is a wearable piece of art.

Students will use the instructor’s simple but effective techniques to customize a felting pattern for themselves, adding pleats and accents to shape their dress. Surface design will be included in the felting process, using different techniques and materials to make a very creative coat. All materials are included, but you may bring additional embellishments for your dress (wool yarn, locks or roving; silk fabric).

Basic felting experience required. No sewing needed.

You will take home a dress that you made, valued at $1,200.

The location:

West County Fiber Arts is the studio of felt artist Heidi Harris, on a beautiful 1-acre property in rural Sonoma County, California. Classes will take place both indoors and in the garden.

Lunch will be provided each day, featuring foods from local farms. Wine, tea and snacks will be served from 5:00 to 6:00 pm on Friday and Saturday, allowing time for relaxation and getting to know your fellow students.

Overnight accommodations are not included in the tuition, but are plentiful in the vicinity — from nearby hotels to camping at the Russian River. See our Food & Lodging page for suggestions.

The instructor:

Charity van der Meer studied fashion and knitwear design at Nottingham University of Art and Design in the UK. She then moved to the Netherlands, where she developed her own unique style of creating garments using felting, sometimes combining felting and knitting in a true celebration of textile techniques.

Charity goes beyond traditional felt making and dress making, exploring endless possibilities and constantly researching new materials and techniques. Her one-of-a-kind creations are breathtaking combinations of natural fabrics, raw materials and organic fibers. Her commitment to the sustainable use of wool inspired her to create the Sharit Ethical Fashion line, which is rapidly becoming a recognizable brand in the Netherlands.

She loves to share her knowledge of garment felting — an ancient method of garment creation — using her own found and tested techniques, and has taught in Africa, North and South America, Europe and New Zealand.

Sharit Ethical Fashion: sharit4.net

Visit Charity’s Facebook page here: facebook.com/sharit.vdmeer