The Joy of Creating Together — Guild Hall’s Art Social Brings Holiday Felting to Life

It’s easy to get swept up in the rush of the holiday season and feel like you need to shop till you drop. But Guild Hall offers a workshop that invites you to slow down, connect with your neighbors, learn a new skill, and create something special for yourself or a loved one.

“Guild Hall’s Art Social: Holiday Sweater Felting,” led by artist Laurie Lambrecht, takes place Monday, December 15 — just in time for the gift-giving season.

From 6 to 8 p.m., Lambrecht will guide participants in felting — repairing or adding flair to sweaters and knit items using wool and embroidery floss. Felting involves repeatedly poking a needle through fibers to bind them into any design you choose.

“All you need to bring is the sweater or knit item you want to work on and an open mind,” Lambrecht said.

“This is not something that requires technical skills or designing ahead of time, though people often come with really clear ideas,” she added. “The workshop at Guild Hall is very informal. People show up with enthusiasm and an openness to create.”

From colorfully adorned buttonholes to polka dots and floral motifs, Art Socialers use their imaginations to bring new life and texture to their clothes. Lambrecht, who led the inaugural Art Social in February, observed that simply being in a room with other creative people sparks inspiration: “Things start to flow, and people learn from each other as much as from me.”

Beyond creativity, the workshop teaches practical skills, introduces new materials, and encourages upcycling — transforming old or overlooked items into something new.

“Sometimes, for one reason or another, you overlook pieces in your closet,” Lambrecht said. “Any item, whether thrifted or tucked away, can be reimagined rather than thrown out. I really believe in recycling, mending, and reusing. It’s eye-opening to see how inventive and innovative people can be.”

Amy Kirwin, Guild Hall’s chief public engagement & impact officer and creator of the Art Social program, said it was designed to offer “an accessible opportunity for community members to socialize in a nonjudgmental artistic environment.”

“The goal was to build personal connections and inspire imagination, and I’m thrilled it has achieved that,” Kirwin said. “Many regular attendees have forged new relationships and had fun unleashing their inner creative geniuses. And I’m always astounded by the impressive works produced at the end of each session.”

Art Socials cover a range of workshops. Past sessions have included wet felting, collage, crewelwork, nonfunctional sculpture, Shrinky Dinks, shell decoupage, tiny painting, and more — led by experts and artists. In November, Michael A. Butler, top honors winner of the 85th Artist Members Exhibition, led a tiny painting workshop.

Lambrecht, a Bridgehampton native, has been creating art — including embroidery, knitting, and crochet — since childhood and began her career as a sweater designer. Her fiber arts and photography have been showcased at venues including the Madoo Garden Conservancy, Parrish Art Museum’s Road Show, the Watermill Center, Sylvester Manor, the Leiber Collection Garden, the Nassau County Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Art, and Guild Hall. She has an upcoming exhibit at the Bridgehampton Museum next fall and is publishing a book of her works with Radius Books.

Despite her acclaim, Lambrecht finds joy in teaching others to upcycle and work with natural materials.

“I love helping people see things from a new perspective,” she said. “Mending things gives you a sense of pride. There’s something special about creating or decorating an item yourself.”

Registration starts at $31.50 and includes a complimentary glass of wine or beverage and snacks from Harbor Market & Kitchen. December’s Art Social at Guild Hall, 158 Main Street in East Hampton, begins at 6 p.m. on December 15 and runs for two hours. Visit guildhall.org for more information.