Traditional Turkish Felt – Kece Making Class
Our guests from Canada – April 2016 / Sultanahmet – ISTANBUL
Traditional Turkish Wool Art in Istanbul
Felt is a non-woven cloth that is produced by matting, condensing and pressing woollen fibres. While some types of felt are very soft, some are tough enough to form construction materials. Felt can be of any colour, and made into any shape or size.
Many cultures have legends as to the origins of feltmaking. Sumerian legend claims that the secret of feltmaking was discovered by Urnamman of Lagash. The story of Saint Clement and Saint Christopher relates that while fleeing from persecution, the men packed their sandals with wool to prevent blisters. At the end of their journey, the movement and sweat had turned the wool into felt socks.
Feltmaking is still practised by nomadic peoples in Central Asia and northern parts of East Asia, where rugs, tents and clothing are regularly made. Some of these are traditional items, such as the classic yurt, while others are designed for the tourist market, such as decorated slippers. In the Western world, felt is widely used as a medium for expression in textile art as well as design, where it has significance as an ecological textile.
Traditional Turkish Felt Workshop by Mehmet Girgic
Mehmet Girgic is a master Craftmen in Felt Making in Istanbul and we make our workshops in his Studio by himself or his assistants. The workshop is a Full day activity starting app. 09:30 until 17:00.
In the lesson you will make the whole stages of a Felt making process and by the evening, you will be able to finish 1 item like a hat, bag, shoe, a scarf or a design that you choose.. In the workshop, we provide a lunch for our students.
