Felt Matters

Felt with Chris Liszak: Coats, Calculations and Community

In this episode Heather Potten, Louise Curnin and IFA chair, Chris Liszak, explore how mathematics and craft combine in feltmaking. Chris explains her yardage approach to making tailored felt coats — measuring pieces, multiplying for average shrinkage and using sewing skills to achieve a good fit. The conversation focuses too on teaching and community-building within the International Feltmakers Association. Chris highlights how the IFA uses online tools to connect geographically-spread feltmakers. She outlines how, in Region 18, they run monthly Zoom meetings, record talks and send newsletters to share workshops and show-and-tell across the Americas, and encourages regional coordinators to work together in a similar way.

Let's talk about Felt with Lori Demange or Grumpy Pumpkins Don’t Sell

Hosts Heather Potten and Louise Curnin chat with Lori Demange, the IFA’s editorial coordinator, about how a desire for warm slippers launched a decade-long felting journey. Laurie recounts learning wet felting from countless online videos, turning a side-hustle of needle-felted pumpkins into a creative education that led her to craft fairs, artist workshops and editorial volunteering. The conversation covers how workshops with generous tutors expanded her practice, and how felting opened doors to fibre festivals, books and a wider textile community.

How Felting Changed Our Lives with Heather Potten and Louise Curnin

A warm, conversational episode about how feltmaking ripples beyond craft: new skills, small businesses, artist co‑ops, travel, and personal growth. Heather Potten and new co-host, Louise Curnin, talk about turning classes into lasting friendships, opening local shops to sell work, and branching into related crafts—dyeing, leatherwork, ceramics, weaving—to enrich their felting. They describe shared rituals (making at a table, silent concentration), studio life (yurts, messy bedrooms and dogs on mic), and the satisfaction of creative escapes. The episode ends with behind‑the‑scenes laughter and production notes, making it an inviting snapshot of the two feltmakers.

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Season 4 Episode 3 Vivienne Morpeth | A Legacy in Felt

As Season 4 of the podcast Felt Matters draws to a close, Vivienne Morpeth and Heather Potten discuss some of the highlights of Vivienne’s life as a feltmaker. They chat about her initial encounter with felting, the role of family and mentors, and the support and inspiration from the International Feltmakers Association. She stresses, too, the importance of teaching through experimentation. This has been particularly crucial in the development of her upcoming book Nuno Feltmaking | design, techniques and projects for the creative maker which she discusses here with her daughter, Raphaela.

Season 4 Episode 2 Silk and Wool in Nuno Felting

In this episode of Felt Matters, hosts Vivienne Morpeth and Heather Potten discuss the art of Nuno Felting. Vivienne shares insights into how she crafts her signature felt dresses. Early on in her felting career, she utilised inherited scarves and sewing patterns. However, she soon developed her own way of creating seamless dresses with hand-dyed silk and fibre, techniques she describes in her upcoming book. In contrast, Heather describes how she uses ready-printed silks to create texture and pattern on a 3D vessel for an exhibition called Holding Conversations.

Season 4 Episode 1 This Felting Life

As Felt Matters launches its fourth and final season in its current form, Vivienne Morpeth and Heather Potten talk about friendship, art, and facing life's challenges. Vivienne, whose treatments for cancer have failed, has decided to spend her remaining time completing her book and creating this last set of podcast episodes. Together they touch on the balancing act of discussing death openly while still chatting about their great love of felt. They explore the possibility of the podcast evolving, ensuring that the discussions and community spirit continue beyond Vivienne's involvement.

Season 3 Episode 4 Inspired to Felt

In this episode of Felt Matters, hosts Vivienne Morpeth and Heather Potten explore Heather's deep-rooted connection to Orkney. Heather shares her fascination with her Orcadian heritage and jewellery from her childhood, specifically pieces by the innovative designer Ola Gorie. As they discuss their shared love of Celtic and Norse art, the conversation evolves into a felting project primarily inspired by these cultural symbols. The episode unfolds with tales of Heather's formative years in Orkney, weaving in elements of mythology, family, and creativity, resulting in unique felted pieces representing these rich influences.

Season 3 Episode 3 Felting in Colour: An Alaskan School Adventure

In this episode of Felt Matters, hosts Heather Potten and Vivienne Morpeth explore a unique felting project led by Jeanne Osnas in Anchorage, Alaska. Inspired by Episode 1 of the podcast, Jeanne worked as an artist-in-residence, introducing elementary students, aged five to eleven, to the art of felting. Over two weeks, students created colourful flat felt pieces, later transforming them into mosaic art. The project nurtured a collaborative environment, with older students like Jeanne's daughter, Rosemary, helping younger peers. This episode highlights how felting can engage young minds in creative expression and foster a sense of community through art.

Season 3 Episode 2 Felting, Bees, and Collaboration

In this episode of Felt Matters, hosts Vivienne Morpeth and Heather Potten discuss artistic collaborations, featuring an insightful interview with Lydia Needle. Needle, whose name serendipitously echoes her craft, shares her journey from teacher to needle felting artist. She elaborates on the ecological and artistic inspirations behind her ambitious 50 Bees project, which raises awareness about bee conservation. The episode highlights the vital role artists play in addressing global challenges through unique perspectives and collaborative efforts, emphasizing the power of informal, creative education in fostering change. To find out more about the Fifty Bees project, check out @fiftybeescic and @lydianeedle https://www.fibreartstaketwo.com/articles/lydia-needle

Season 3 Episode 1 The Blueprint of Art: Cyanotype Meets Felt

Felt Matters hosts, Vivienne Morpeth and Heather Potten examine the dynamic of collaboration in their latest podcast episode, marking the start of the third season. As they recount their journey to becoming podcasters, they highlight the spontaneity and joy of unscripted dialogue. The episode further explores the creative synergy between Vivienne and artist Alun Kirby, who together embarked on a project merging cyanotype prints with nuno felt. Listeners are treated to an engaging discussion about the trial-and-error process, artistic exploration, and the interplay between established techniques and modern art forms.

Season 2 Episode 4 The Joy of Creative Felting

Join Heather and Vivienne in their virtual studio for a peek into the creative process of felting. Listen to their three guests, Liz Riley, Wendy Bailye and Ellen Silberlicht as each offers an insight into their process. Be inspired by tips on three-dimensional sampling with Liz, sampling, mixed media and the creative process with Wendy and the joy Ellen found through working with clay and felt. Ellen was the cover star of Issue 130 of our journal, Felt Matters and was interviewed by Louise Curnin in Hungary. Members of the International Feltmakers Association have full access to all our journals here: https://www.feltmakers.com/journal-archive/ Members can also watch Wendy's talk, commissioned for our 2022 online AGM, (along with all our other commissioned videos and talks) here: https://www.feltmakers.com/talks/

Season 2 Episode 3 The Wellness Episode

It's no secret to us that feltmaking helps promote a sense of wellbeing and connection. Vivienne and Heather talk about the benefits of making (and teaching) feltmaking with examples from their lives and those of their three guests. Louise Curnin talks to Tasmanian feltmaker Mary Brake, about a felting project she and her family did for the arrival of a new baby. Heather talks to Niamh Britton about her autistic mind and what feltmaking means to her. Rounding up the episode, Louise talks to US feltmaker, Ellen Silberlicht about the volunteering she does with local prisoners.

Season 2 Episode 2 Perfect Slippers, Feltmaking in Hungary, and Gotland Seat Covers

In this 3-part episode of Felt Matters, Vivienne chats to feltmaker, Olga Exley, about her top tips for making the perfect slipper. Louise Curnin and fellow feltmaker, Jackie Stringer, discuss their impressions of the West Hungary Felt Tour run by Flóra Carlile-Kovács. And finally, Heather shares with us the fabulous workshop she attended with Janna Turner; working with Gotland fleece to make a luxurious seat cover.

Season 2 Episode 1 | Back with a New Season and New Insights

Heather and Vivienne return to the studio, sharing their reflections on the completion of the first season of their podcast, 'Felt Matters.' The episode centres around Vivienne's honest and heartfelt account of her health journey, giving listeners a glimpse into the emotional and physical challenges she faces. Their conversation navigates the complexities of living with cancer while remaining passionate about creative pursuits. As they look forward to Season Two, both hosts are inspired by the feedback and support from their listeners. The episode underscores the duo's dedication to creating authentic content and fostering community connections through their shared love of feltmaking.

Unlocking the Secrets of Perfect Feltmaking

In this episode of Felt Matters, hosts Vivienne Morpeth and Heather Potten welcome Louise Curnin, a key figure behind the International Feltmakers Association's Discovering Feltmaking courses. Louise explains the rationale behind focusing on foundational skills instead of solely project-based learning. She highlights the critical aspects of fibre variability, shrinkage rates, and the importance of sampling. This episode offers valuable advice for both novice and experienced felt makers, emphasizing how structured sampling and warm-up exercises can significantly improve one's felting technique and overall artistic output. For more information on our online courses, Discovering Feltmaking, go to https://www.feltmakers.com/discovering-feltmaking-course/

From Echoes to Felt Matters and other Stories

Join Heather Potten as she dips into the archives of the journal of the International Feltmakers Association. From the journal's origins in 1986 as 'Echoes' to its current form, 'Felt Matters,' the archive features a rich history of global feltmaking innovation. Heather shares inspiring stories, including the revival of feltmaking in Armenia and international collaborations. The episode also covers the creation of the association's first online feltmaking courses and the ongoing influence of the journal, offering a treasure trove of resources and inspiration for felt enthusiasts. In another feature of the podcast, Vivienne Morpeth continues to explore The British Wool for Feltmaking book published by Crowood Press. It highlights the different wool structures, from fine to coarse, and the practical applications for feltmakers. The book includes both wet and needle felting techniques, emphasizing local and natural fleeces. Listeners are invited to visit this fascinating world of wool types, their uses, and creative projects, ensuring a comprehensive resource for both new and seasoned feltmakers.

Midnight Felting and other Stories

In this engaging podcast episode, hosts Vivienne Morpeth and Heather Potten of the International Feltmakers Association share their passion for felt making. They discuss the significance of their felting tables as Vivienne recounts her serendipitous acquisition of a perfect felting table, adding a personal touch to her crafting space. The discussion moves onto sourcing and dyeing silk and the joy of felting with raw fleece. Vivienne introduces her Felt on the Shelf section before looking more closely at the British Wool for Feltmaking book published by Crowood Press. This book provides listeners with a wealth of inspiration and practical tips. And finally, Vivienne shares her Top Tip for dyeing wool fibres.

The Art of Feltmaking: Conversations with Vivienne and Heather

Heather Potten and Vivienne Morpeth take listeners on a journey through the vibrant world of feltmaking. They talk about their inspiration for starting the podcast and how their love for felting drives their creative processes. Heather shares her experiences from attending the felt school in Wales and the joy of interacting with other feltmakers. The episode also delves into practical tips for feltmakers, such as Heather’s technique for upcycling old felting projects into beautiful new creations, ensuring a blend of practical advice and personal anecdotes.

Discover the World of Felting with Vivienne and Heather

Hosted by Vivienne Morpeth and Heather Potten, the Felt Matters podcast is a new and exciting addition to the felting world. The podcast aims to provide a platform for conversations about all things felting. Both avid felt makers themselves, our hosts share their experiences, tips, and inspiration, while also featuring conversations with other feltmakers. Listeners can expect to explore the art of felting from different perspectives, learn new techniques, and find resources and inspiration to fuel their own felting journey. Whether you're a seasoned feltmaker or just starting out, Felt Matters is a must-listen podcast for any felting enthusiast.