Craft with pride at NFPL

By Riley Fontana

Weekly reporter’s hometown

The Needham Free Public Library (NFPL) partnered with the Pop-Up Art School to introduce a needle felting workshop as part of its children’s programming. During this event, children learned the basics of needle felting and created their own rainbow pins.

Pop-Up Art School, led by art teachers Janelle Scannell and Lisa Walker, travels to libraries and schools to teach children and adults crafts. At NFPL, Scannell mentored a dedicated group of young artisans, emphasizing needle safety with rubber finger caps and needle handles before starting the project.

Scannell demonstrated the needle felting process and emphasized the importance of using small amounts of colored wool to build shapes. Once the basics were mastered, the children eagerly began making their rainbows, and many turned their creations into wearable pins.

Supplies for a second round of needle felting were available so participants could further explore their creativity. Participants could take home extra wool, needles and a foam block to continue practicing. Each needle card included a guide to making a needle felted frog, encouraging skill progression.

This Pop-Up Art School session successfully introduced children to an unusual craft, leaving them with smiles and new creations. Pop-Up Art School continues to provide educational opportunities to libraries and schools throughout Massachusetts.