Community Connect: Chennai embraces felting as the new mindful art trend

From soft wool tufts to soulful creations, a felting workshop held recently in Nungambakkam drew craft lovers, curious minds, and wellness seekers alike. The event showed how Chennai is slowly embracing mindful art forms as both therapy and community-building practice.“Chennaiites have always shown great interest in exploring new mediums and are genuinely curious to learn. That makes them a wonderful audience for workshops like felting,” shares Reha Mutha, the curator of the workshop and an artist. The participants are usually “a mix of everyone,” she says and adds, “Some people join to incorporate felting into their professional work, while others come simply to enjoy a creative weekend with loved ones.

We also see participants who are eager to meet likeminded individuals. Overall, it’s a fun yet calming activity that many choose to unwind and recharge over the weekend”What is felting?Felting is a textile art technique where wool fibres are matted and pressed together using heat, moisture, and agitation to create a dense fabric. It’s a creative, hands-on activity that is said to encourage mindfulness, reduce stress, and promote fine motor skills and artistic expression.

The felting essentials“A good felting needle, merino wool, and felt paper are the essentials. We often use felt bags as the base, which work really well for the artwork,” says Reha. She adds that material costs typically range from Rs 800–1,000, depending on the type of materials chosen.‘Felting is storytelling through texture’“From purely technical or professional skill sessions to mindful, hobby-based ones, Chennai’s workshop culture is evolving. Felting is unique because it doesn’t just stimulate creativity — it relaxes your mind and builds patience. It’s a rare combination of art and mindfulness,” says Suhasini, a school teacher. “Chennai has always had a rich cultural fabric, and now, it’s weaving wellness into that tapestry through such creative workshops,” says Ananya, an architecture student.

“Felting is like storytelling through texture. It brings people of all ages together to share, create, and heal,” she adds.