Frances Barker is an artisan felt maker and exhibiting textile artist living and working within a mile of Assington Mill.

She has experience of using both traditional and innovative felt making techniques, and often combines her felt with small amounts of restrained machine embroidery executed on an antique Singer sewing machine.

Frances attended Missenden Abbey to complete her City and Guilds certificate in Felt making and Design. She is a member of the International Felt makers Association and the Eastern Region Textile Forum.

Frances is best known for her bespoke soft felt hats, and for being a felt maker who likes to prepare wool sourced from British flocks, taking it from the raw fleece to the finished felted article.