'Needle Felted Portrait of "The Highland Cow" with Helen Hammond

Needle Felted Portraits . . 'The Highland Cow' with Helen Hammond

Spend a lovely day being guided through how to make this very popular breed 'The Highland Cow' using the needle felting process. The piece will have a slightly sculpted low relief appearance, subtly enhancing the natural features and once mounted, will give the appearance of almost escaping from the frame.  If you like the idea of something a bit different, Helen wil show you have to add a long curly tongue aswell!

You will be using a variety of natural wool fibres and Helen will teach you all about needle felting and how to blend your fibre colours. You will be using specialist needle felting needles (not sewing needles) for this purpose. These specialist tools/ needles are designed to entangle, compact, control and shape the soft carded wool fibres into firm felted pieces. It is a slow and very therapeutic process.

Helen will provide suitable images to encourage individual observational skills to support  your creation of this beautiful sheep portrait for you to take home displayed in a supplied deep box frame. Helen loves to inspire and shares her passion for both needlefelting and Cumbria.

All reference images will be provided and will form an important part of your working process.  This course is suitable for all abilities including beginners. This is a dry felted process and a 'clean' method of working. No aprons or gloves are required.  However, please bring plasters!  

9.45am – 5.00pm
£80 inc. fresh coffee, a tasty home lunch, and a cream tea.
Material Charges: £25

Dates for this course - see the table below to book:

Friday 13th March 2026

Note: Typically this course runs with around 9-10 students.  Suitable for Beginners & intermediates.

Please bring: A supply of plasters (needle felting can often result in several tiny nicks) and also your £25 materials money for Helen on the day. This covers the various dyed wool fibres, needles & stabbing cushion, along with your box frame etc. and you'll be able to take all these home at the end. Thus, you'll be able to continue with your needle felting beyond the workshop, and embellish your piece further if you wish once you get home. 

About the Artist "My interest in needlefelting has developed a real interest in the difference in sheep breeds and quality of the wool fibres/ curls. Wool isn't just one generic type - each sheep breed has different personalities along and accordingly the fleece and wool fibres also have their own unique characteristics. All wool is different!  The farmers I am friends with locally in Cumbria are passionate about their flocks. I see their love and dedication, literally blood,sweat and tears. I love teaching and sharing my passion for needlefelting and hold huge respect for local farmers here in Cumbria . Needlefelting has become part of my love for A Cumbrian life".

With a degree in Fine Art and a lifetime of teaching in mainstream education, aswell as charities and the Youth sector, Helen is bursting with creative skills,  alongside an ability to share them. She discovered Needle Felting just some 3 years ago, here at Quirky Workshops, when she attended Annis' Needle Felt Hares course, and was totally inspired :) .  Since, she is entirely self taught and has done private commission and is currently a sponsored artist for a needle felting company.