Felting studio in Royal Oak revives ancient craft

By Jeremy Carroll
C & G Staff Writer

ROYAL OAK — Two hands, some colorful wool and warm soapy water. That’s all that is needed to become an artist, constructing scarves, slippers, hats or other items through the art of felting.

“It’s a beautiful process,” said Yvonne Stefani, the owner of a new fiber arts studio in Royal Oak called Wool & Water. “There’s no knitting or sewing, because I’m not really a knitter or sewer. So it’s just your own hands, manipulating the fibers.”

Stefani opened the store, located at 1210 Catalpa, in April, and has had children’s classes all summer long.

She learned the ancient craft from a mother of one her son’s classmates about three years ago.

“I started doing it in my basement and just loved it,” Stefani said.

Stefani, a former cook, put down her chef’s hat for felting after seeing the location on Catalpa up for lease.

“I love coming here every day, and it makes me very happy,” she said. “If I can do what I love doing and pay the bills, why not? Life is short.”

Stefani, 39, said felting and cooking are similar in that they are both art forms.

“I’ve always considered cooking an art form, and it really is,” she said. “They’re both an art form in their own way.”

Trish Oliver, a Royal Oak resident who took a class at the store along with her two kids, said felting is easily picked up and is relaxing.

“It’s very unique,” she said. “It’s an art form that makes everyone look like a genius.”

Those felting first lay out their patterns with various wools, before adding warm water. The friction from one’s hands forms a strong bond on the wool, making it into felt.

“It’s a great experience. It’s just very relaxing,” Oliver said. “It’s hard to be in a bad mood to do this. And at the end, you have something that is very practical.”

She said in a week’s time, her children, 10 and 6 years old, each made a hat, a scarf, sushi items and a picture out of felt.

Oliver said felting was very simple.

“I made a silk shawl, and it took me a couple of hours to get the pattern right,” she said. “My daughter did the same thing in 10 minutes and it looks just as nice.”

Stefani said they’ve had 4-year-old kids do felting.

“If they can do it, anyone can do it,” she said.

Stefani lives in Ferndale with her husband Jeff and their 5-year-old son Jake.

A single children’s class is $45, and an intro in wet felting is $75. For more information on classes or felting, visit them online at www.woolandwater.com, or call (248) 548-9665.

You can reach Staff Writer Jeremy Carroll at jcarroll@candgnews.com or at (586) 279-1110.