Katey Ghersini loves textiles, fashion and funishings – especially those with a retro flavour. She creates beautiful and quirky felted garments and homewares which have a distinct  vintage  flavour , recycling old clothing, embellishments  and woollens to create her unique pieces. From embellished felted hats to old-fashioned tea cosies; from funky felted handbags to very cute glasses cases, all of her hand crafted creations show her love of colour and everything vintage.

“Eight years ago a washing disaster led me down the path of felting and recycling beautiful vintage garments and embellishments,” says Katey. “We all know the feeling of taking a beautiful woollen garment out of the washing machine only to find it has matted and shrunk.  Well this is the basis of felting.”

Katey’s work process is laborious. She knits or crochets the basic shape of the intended piece she is going to create – but these shapes are oversized.  Then, they are washed and as long as they are pure wool they shrink and become matted.  She then sets to work creating a masterpiece from this felted shape of wool working it into a tea cosy or a hat or a handbag.

“The best part is embellishing,” says Katey whose loves trailing around op shops looking for vintage buttons, handbags, garments or buckles.  An old handbag may be past its prime but if the handle is interesting Katey will use this for a newly created felted bag.  Silk linings from old dresses become handbag linings, buttons become decorations or fixings for purses – everthing old becomes new again!

“With so many knitted garments being made from synthetic products like acrylic, it is becoming more and more difficult to find pure wool anymore which is essential for felting,” says Katey.

Katey  does not limit her creations to the use of sheep’s wool. Alpaca, rabbit, camel and even poodle wool can all be used.  “ As long as the wool is natural it can be felted,”  says Katey.

Contact – 0438 016188