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I first wrote how to style a plain dress for Melanie's Brummer online magazine, One More Time Around.
My name is Lena Archbold, and I’m a feltmaker and textile artist who specializes in creating wearable art. I also have the privilege of teaching feltmaking to students around the world. Designing and making garments and accessories is my passion, and I particularly enjoy transforming leftover materials from larger projects into unique, smaller pieces. I keep a “magic basket” full of colorful wool, differnet fibers, and silk cut-offs that fuel my creativity. This basket is where my imagination comes alive, and I always encourage my students to do the same—save your project leftovers and use them to craft something special, without constantly buying more materials. It's amazing what you can create with what you already have.
Today, I’m excited to present my latest creation: a reversible felted dress. This dress was made using fine merino wool, silk fabric, and a variety of other fibers. When I design my garments, I always start by taking stock of the materials I have on hand. My basket of leftovers often contains intriguing scraps, which inspire me to incorporate them into new designs. For this particular dress, I focused on its shape and the vibrant yellow color, deliberately avoiding any additional embellishments. This minimalist approach leaves room to accessorize with bright pieces, allowing for a fresh and unique look each time.
Creating this yellow dress was an exercise in letting the material guide the design. I wanted the dress to have a beautiful shape and a cheerful color, which could then be complemented by various accessories. The idea was to keep the dress itself simple, creating a canvas for further creativity. To that end, I made a few collars and matching cuffs from leftover scraps, experimenting with different shapes and textures. These small accessories often serve as samples for larger projects, allowing me to explore new ideas on a smaller scale before committing to a full-sized garment.
Feltmaking requires wool as the primary material, usually in the form of roving or batts. There are many types of wool, but I primarily use merino wool for my wearable art because of its softness and silky texture. To add depth and interest, I combine the wool with other materials like silk fabric and various fibers, which create a beautiful interplay of colors and textures. I also enjoy the challenge of exploring charity shops for garments and fabrics that can be repurposed into incredible textures through felting. Although it’s becoming more difficult to find silk garments in charity shops these days, I’ve started experimenting with non-natural fabrics to create new and interesting effects.
Silk is a staple in my work, especially Margilan silk from Uzbekistan. I dye the silk myself using acid dyes, often with a microwave dedicated solely to this purpose. For my yellow dress, I used Margilan gauze silk, which I dyed a bright yellow using acid dyes. The process was simple but transformative. The dress features a vibrant yellow on one side and a softer, gentler yellow on the other, offering versatility in how it can be styled. For example, I can pair it with scarves of various colors, or wear it with a blazer to change the look.
If you have a plain dress or outfit, I recommend styling it with scarves, collars, or a blazer to elevate the look. Dyeing your own silk scarves is easy—all you need is a white blank scarf, acid dyes, vinegar, and a microwave. If you’re passionate about feltmaking, I encourage you to experiment with different fabrics and fibers to create something truly unique. Accessories have the power to transform even the simplest outfit into something extraordinary.
Check my latest online class and create beautiful accessories.
Best Wishes
Lena
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