POSTED: Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008
Profile: Weaver Linda Sue Hoofnagle
E-Mail
Print
tool name
closeItchy, heavy and dull are all words that could easily describe wool.
Linda Sue Hoofnagle would prefer to think of it as silly. Instead of knitting sweaters, she pounds wool and felts it into colorful flowers, dolls, pillows and more.
Her work, and the work of many other local weavers, will be on display and on sale for the Whatcom Weavers Guild's annual Fibers & Beyond on sale Friday, Oct. 17, and Saturday, Oct. 18.
The Bellingham felter, 61, speaks to The Herald about felt therapy.
Question: What exactly is needle felting?
Answer: (You use) a long needle with barbs on the end. You just pound the (heck) out of wool, and as you go in and out zillions of times it compacts the wool so it's sculptural. It was very good to start needle-felting during the Bush elections because I could vent my frustrations. It's very therapeutic. I highly recommend it.
Q: How do you describe your work?
A: Totally impractical, pretty whimsical, colorful, which is unusual for felted wool sometimes. Felters tend to be more natural and go for more natural color. But I like a lot of color, just total silliness. We need more silly and less gravity.
Q: What are some of your favorite things to make?
A: People, just because I'm good at it and it's very rewarding because you never know how it's going to turn out. It has a mind of its own. It's a surprise every time. The cool thing about needle felting is you can add and subtract the wool if you make a mistake. It's forgiving and it's physical.
Q: Tell me about the Whatcom Weavers Guild show?
A: I've only been a member for less than a year, and I'm blown away by the talent in that group. People weave everything: baskets out of irises and grasses and things found in the yard and tree bark. There are people weaving handspun paper. It's amazing. There are so many talented women in there and they're so modest. Expect a lot of color, a lot of weavings that are incredible. Shawls, scarves, knitting: it'll just blow your socks off.
-
Contracts Assistant, Financial Services
WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY -
Fiscal Analyst 1
WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY -
Open Positions
SKAGIT VALLEY HOSPITAL -
LPNs and MAs
Interfaith Community Health Center -
Purchasing Agent
McNett Corp.
@Nyx.CommentBody@