Jackie Hansen
Fiber Arts - Felting Artist
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My name is Jackie Hansen, but my fiber friends know me as “Jackrabbit Felts.” My family and I moved to Whidbey Island in 2020 from Ketchikan, Alaska. In 2022, I bought my very first bag of wool roving from the Uncommon Threads Sale at the Nordic Hall in Coupeville, and from that moment I became obsessed with wool. I taught myself how to needle felt by watching YouTube videos and by checking out all the books I could find on the subject from the public library. Art, and creating things, has been a passion of mine since I was a child.
I am a member of the Whidbey Weavers Guild. Through the encouragement of that amazing group of ladies, I also began my journey with spinning wool. In April 2024, I attended a spin-in event at Oak Harbor High School and spun my very first yarn using locally dyed and milled wool from Skagit Woolen Works. The more you learn about wool and artisan fibers, the more aware you become of the amazing fiber community and the people behind their creations.
Whenever possible, I prefer to source my spinning wool from local PNW farms. It is of the utmost importance to me that I use domestically raised and processed wool in my needle felted creations. I am passionate about supporting American farms and the shepherds and shepherdesses who raise their own sheep. When you purchase something from me, you are also supporting the small businesses I buy my wool from.
Wool has gotten a bad reputation over the years as being scratchy and unusable. This is simply not true! Some wool is on the coarser side but that makes it ideal for use as a rug that will see a lot of use. Even the ickier parts of wool can be used as mulch in the garden. With wool, there is very little waste. If I wind up not liking something I have made I can reuse the fibers as the core of a new project. Even the smallest scraps of felt or leftover yarn can be used for something.
If you want next to skin-soft wool for wearables try Merino or (my new favorite) Ratatouille wool. There are hundreds of breeds of sheep and each produces a unique fiber with special qualities. Wool is an Eco-friendly choice compared to synthetic fibers which are made from plastics. Wool is better for you and it’s gentler on the environment. I have made a commitment to ditch “fast fashion” and will only buy new clothes if they are 100% wool. What we choose to buy makes a difference. As you can tell, I’m passionate about wool and I would love to share that passion with you! Who knows… perhaps you’ll try felting for yourself and find your very own love for this magnificent fiber.
I am a member of the Whidbey Weavers Guild. Through the encouragement of that amazing group of ladies, I also began my journey with spinning wool. In April 2024, I attended a spin-in event at Oak Harbor High School and spun my very first yarn using locally dyed and milled wool from Skagit Woolen Works. The more you learn about wool and artisan fibers, the more aware you become of the amazing fiber community and the people behind their creations.
Whenever possible, I prefer to source my spinning wool from local PNW farms. It is of the utmost importance to me that I use domestically raised and processed wool in my needle felted creations. I am passionate about supporting American farms and the shepherds and shepherdesses who raise their own sheep. When you purchase something from me, you are also supporting the small businesses I buy my wool from.
Wool has gotten a bad reputation over the years as being scratchy and unusable. This is simply not true! Some wool is on the coarser side but that makes it ideal for use as a rug that will see a lot of use. Even the ickier parts of wool can be used as mulch in the garden. With wool, there is very little waste. If I wind up not liking something I have made I can reuse the fibers as the core of a new project. Even the smallest scraps of felt or leftover yarn can be used for something.
If you want next to skin-soft wool for wearables try Merino or (my new favorite) Ratatouille wool. There are hundreds of breeds of sheep and each produces a unique fiber with special qualities. Wool is an Eco-friendly choice compared to synthetic fibers which are made from plastics. Wool is better for you and it’s gentler on the environment. I have made a commitment to ditch “fast fashion” and will only buy new clothes if they are 100% wool. What we choose to buy makes a difference. As you can tell, I’m passionate about wool and I would love to share that passion with you! Who knows… perhaps you’ll try felting for yourself and find your very own love for this magnificent fiber.
