Felted Sculptural Tomte

Create your own hand-felted tomte just in time for the holidays! In this class, students will learn two felting techniques—wet felting and needle felting—while crafting a sculptural tomte that can stand on a shelf or mantel. Starting with a birch log base, you’ll design your own pattern for wet felting the body and hat.

Wet felting involves using unspun wool, water, soap, and agitation to create fabric. In this class, you’ll use the resist felting technique to form a hollow shape that will become your tomte’s body and hat. Once the body is felted, you’ll stuff it with dry wool to give it dimension and character, then attach it to the birch base. Finally, you’ll complete your tomte by needle felting a beard and tassel for the hat, and wet felting a small (or large!) nose.

By the end of the course, you’ll have the skills to create tomtar of all sizes and shapes. This wet felting class requires good hand strength and the ability to stand for extended periods. Suitable for ages 16+.

A $25 materials fee is payable to Judy McDowell in class for all the materials for this project. Students are also encouraged to bring 2-3 old bath towels, a bag to take home wet projects in, and an apron.