Fine Craft and Art Shows at Chautauqua July 11–13 & August 8 –10, 2025
Felting is the process of matting wool by subjecting it to moisture, heat, and pressure to create a dense fabric. Felting has been known to man for thousands of years and has origins from around the world. Today, this ancient process is used to create modern hats for the contemporary women. They are hand knitted, then washed in hot water, and air dried for several days to create a hat that is naturally windproof and waterproof. Hand weaving is another ancient form of textile making that traces back to Neolithic times. The aid of a floor loom allows for the combination of contemporary fibers such as Tencel, an eco-friendly, light weight yarn made from Eucalyptus Trees, and Bamboo, another plant based eco-fiber, with historic luxury fibers such as Merino, Alpaca, and Cashmere to create scarves that are both functional and beautiful.