After teaching sewing and patternmaking for many years, Phyllis decided that she wanted to do more creative textile work and in 2005 she completed a Diploma of Arts – Studio Stitch at Box Hill TAFE. Here she learned a variety of techniques but the one that she found most rewarding was wet felting. By making felt she could design her own fabric and turn it into garments. . She has written a book called “Felted Vests, A step by step guide.” Phyllis teaches felting around Australia and overseas.
‘I love to take the wool straight from the sheep, wet it with soapy water, work it hard to make it shrink and then turn it into a garment. This for me is a ‘magical’ process, filled with surprises. I can never really predict what the fabric will look like once it has shrunk. My inspiration for my designs in the fabric is colour and the various combinations that can be explored. I also enjoy pushing the boundaries of what can be trapped in the wool during the felting process.’ Phyllis’s work is mainly one of kind wet felted clothing from scarves and wraps to vests and jackets. Most of her garments are made with the nuno felted technique combining merino wool with silk, muslin and/or lace. Her creations have classic simple lines with bright colours and textures. |
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