Felting wool is an ancient technique that has evolved over the years. All you need is wool, soap, water, and a pair of hands.

In the workshop, you’ll learn the first steps of felting wool using the layering technique. We work with the wet felting technique, which involves working with wool, water, and soap. Once you master this technique, you can create any animal. After making the basic shape—the body and head—the arms and legs are attached. Then the real work begins: felting the wool. Once the frog is sufficiently felted, the eyes are added using a felting needle. During this workshop, you will make one frog.

Jolanda Smit: “I discovered felting about 20 years ago. From that moment on, it became the only material I wanted to work with. The possibilities are endless, and they continue to fascinate me to this day. I love working with basic materials, and I find it wonderful that you only need wool, water, soap, and hands to create the most beautiful shapes. Through ‘De Vrolijke Kikker’ (The Happy Frog), I teach workshops and sell my work at markets. I enjoy passing on the technique; it’s really exciting to see what others do with what I teach them. The animals I create are usually made from Tyrolean mountain sheep wool, sometimes from merino wool. They each have their own character but are all cheerful.”