3-Part Workshop Series

Dates: Thursdays, March 12, 19, 26, 2026

Time: 6pm-9pm

Description: Looking to dive deeper into needle felting? Interested in exploring wire armatures and wool to create gently posable soft sculptures?

Join fiber artist Erin Carlson of Red Cottage Fiber Studio in a detailed study of animal anatomy and needle felting techniques to create your very own needle felted Hare. Needle felting is a dry felting technique employing specialized needles to transform fluffy wool into firm, sculptable forms. Students will first craft a skeletal armature with wire and pliers before felting layers of wool to build up a base form. All coloring and facial details will be applied with surface layers of felted wool and blending techniques.

No experience is required, but please note this will be an adventurous and challenging class and we will be using fine wire, sharp needles, and repetitive, detailed hand motions.

Tuition: $170 + $30 materials fee

(if you are viewing this listing on your phone, scroll down to the bottom of the page for the class registration link)

Materials: all materials are included.

Note: We really want you to join us in the studio! Full and partial tuition scholarships are available to alleviate some of the financial burden of attending a class.

Scholarship application is found at this link. You can expect to hear from someone on the CC staff within 2 weeks.

If you have any questions, email Jamie Boyle, Fibers Program Manager, at jboyle@contemporarycraft.org, or leave a voice message for them at 412-465-1628.

Location: Contemporary Craft, TImmons Studios (5688 Butler St., Pittsburgh, PA 15201). Note, this workshop will take place in the Fleischner Family Fibers Loft, which is on the second floor of the building.

There are 2 entrances to the Timmons Studios.

• One entrance is facing Butler Street. To access the Fibers Loft from the Butler Street facing entrance, there are a total of 32 stairs to ascend.

• One entrance is facing 57th Street. This entrance is accessible by ramp, with no stairs to ascend. There is a lift inside the building to access the Fibers Loft on the second floor.

If there are accessibility accommodations we can provide, or if there is anything you would like us to know before you arrive, please feel free to call Jamie Boyle at 412-465-1628 or email jboyle@contemporarycraft.org.

About the Artist

Erin Carlson is a multidiscplinary fiber artist working and teaching in th Pittsburgh area for the last decade. She loves to help students explore their creativity through the use of fibers.