feltverk

Feltverk is a term used in textile and design communities to describe the practice of working with felt as a primary material, and it is also used as a proper name for studios, courses, and events that focus on feltmaking and design. The term combines felt with a Germanic- and Scandinavian-influenced word such as verk or werk, meaning work or workshop, reflecting its use in several European contexts.

Historically, felting is an ancient technique found in multiple cultures, and in contemporary usage feltverk refers both to the craft process and to artistic practices that explore felt for sculpture, fashion, and interior design. Techniques commonly associated with feltverk include wet felting, dry needle felting, and mixed-media approaches that blend felt with textiles, leather, or plastics. Materials typically include wool fibers, sometimes cotton or synthetic blends, along with soaps, water, and agitation to induce felting.

In modern contexts, Feltverk appears as the name of small studios and collectives in Europe and North America, offering workshops and residencies. Exhibitions and design collaborations centered on felt provide platforms for artists and designers to explore texture, form, and sustainability associated with natural fibers. There is no single governing body or universal canon for Feltverk, reflecting its varied use across regions and practices.

See also: Felt (textile), Felting, Textile art, Fiber art.