Years 9 & 10 Textile Art

The end of semester marked the completion of our Year 9/10 Textile Art students’ collaborative felting project, where they designed and created colourful play mats for our Kinder and Prep classes. This hands-on project developed their technical skills in both wet and needle felting, while embodying our biblical signpost: Binding the Fibres of Community. 

The process began with students brainstorming playful themes and researching the needs of young children. They sketched plans, created mood boards, and thoughtfully considered how little hands would interact with each mat. Students then pitched their concepts to their 'clients'—the Kinder director Gill Birkett and each of our three Prep classes—before refining their ideas into a design brief. 

To bring their designs to life, students used both wet and needle felting techniques. Wet felting involved layering wool fibres, applying warm soapy water, and agitating the fibres by hand—a slow, physical process that at one point required rolling the mats over 1,000 times! Needle felting was used to add detail and dimension, using barbed needles to shape and secure wool into vibrant features and accessories. 

Throughout the making process, students collaborated closely—sharing techniques, solving problems, and encouraging one another. Their final pieces were joyful, imaginative, and crafted with care for early childhood learning and play. 

The highlight came during the handover. Students personally delivered their mats to the Kinder and Prep rooms and were greeted with wide eyes, excited hands, and spontaneous play. It was a deeply rewarding moment as they witnessed the impact of their efforts.

Through this project, students experienced how creativity can foster connection, spark joy, and reflect God’s heart for service and community. 

Alyce Vanderjagt 

​Secondary Teacher