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Zart Extra Term 2 2010

Methodist Ladies' College: Felt Dolls

Felt Dolls

Methodist Ladies' College

The Grade Six girls at Methodist Ladies’ College in Kew, made dolls dressed in hand made felt. Paula Rose shares her thoughts on this process.

Not felt again! – but wait, it’s all about process
It seems that everywhere you look, students are making felt, either wet or dry. They have fun laying down the fluffy fibres, relishing the vibrant colours and then having more fun wetting and applying soap which they rub into a thick lather. The energy generated when they throw the felt could light up a school for a week! Some teachers think felt making is a gimmick, too much trouble or a waste of time. Think again…

It’s more about what you do with the felt that makes the experience more creative and memorable. Students at MLC Junior School have worked with Elizabeth Armstrong, a felt maker and textile artist, for a number of years and when they are told of her next visit they enthusiastically respond in the same way – “remember we made the felt flowers?” … “we did the felt masks”,…“I still have my felt bird”.

Not only can a visiting artist transform the abstract notion of process into a concrete and memorable experience, they can assist students in understanding what a process is all about. But any lesson you do in the Art room or classroom can.

When discussing the next felt making project with the students, I used an adapted version of the technology process from Helen Clayfield and Robyn Hyatt’s book Designs on Technology – A Primary Program, 1993. In the centre of this cyclic process we have the need – what to do with the felt we have made? The students work on the idea and design brief which is “To make a doll which has a decorative body/dress, head, arms and legs and in the case of the Year Six students – a hat.

They draw out several thumbnail sketches in their Visual Diaries, often talking about or brainstorming their ideas with each other. Many facial expressions and dress shapes are designed and discussed. The making and doing phase is the place where their understanding of the materials, equipment and their skills come into play. The students employ various construction techniques to make the head and the dress. This may involve painting the head and decorating the felt dress with decorative stitches and beads. Their understanding and knowledge of the elements of art, the equipment, materials and the skills they need to use is essential.

Whilst making the felt dolls, the main questions students need to focus on are “Is it working?” “Why are the beads falling off?”, “Why can’t I push my needle through the felt?”. These types of questions lead to the stage of modifying their ideas which may require the student to take risks, look for alternatives, or persevere with the task or even doing something differently. The problem solving may involve consultation with another student or the teacher. Finally the doll is complete and the assessment of their response to the design brief is accompanied by sharing their success and knowledge with their peers.

The technology process can be modified and adapted to many areas of the school curriculum, not only Art or Design Technology. In Art, by making the process visible to students, it gives them a direction and an understanding of why we do certain things. It makes Art more tangible and creative for them.

Paula Rose
Art Teacher
Methodist Ladies’ College Junior School – Art

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