By Dan WardFused glass offers the light-catching, joy-sparking appeal of stained glass windows in a smaller, more accessible form. It’s used in everything from coasters and Christmas decorations to chunky jewellery - and you can have a go at it yourself.
If you’ve been on staycation during the summer and glimpsed some of the impressive stained glass windows across the country, or if you’ve been keeping up with Blown Away on Netflix, you might have already glimpsed some of the wonders of glass art.
So what exactly is fused glass, and what makes it a brilliant craft for beginners? Here’s the lowdown…
First things first: what even is glass fusing, anyway?
Put simply, fused glass is two or more pieces of coloured glass that have been heated in a kiln until they melt together. This results in a kind of artistic alchemy that transforms glass pieces into gorgeous, stained glass-like designs. Depending on the time and heat you use, you can achieve an impressive array of different effects, from a full fuse (where the glass is melted completely flat) to a tack fuse (where the glass is only melted together at the edges).
Why you'll be obsessed with these gorgeous glassy designs
There’s plenty to love about this eye-catching craft. It’s a true artisan craft which can be used to create beautifully traditional or uniquely modern designs. It’s also a very forgiving medium — even if your pieces don’t line up perfectly, or you don’t quite achieve the effect you’re going for, you can simply melt the glass down and start again — glass is 100% recyclable!
Speaking of which, glass fusing is a great way to upcycle old glassware or salvaged stained glass windows. If you have any broken plates, bottles or glasses, or even any little glass treasures you’ve found on your travels, you can give them a beautiful new life by fusing them into something fresh.
And to put the icing on the cake, your gorgeous glass will look incredible wherever you display it. The transparent nature of the medium means that it catches the light in a way that few other materials can, and the range of colours and effects that can be achieved are sure to ignite your spark and open your eyes to a world of creative possibilities.
Sound like something you could get into? An in-person class is a fantastic way of learning the ropes in a relaxed, supportive environment. Here are three of our favourites to get you started:
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Glass Fusing Workshop by Craft My Day. Brilliant for beginners, this class in Greater London will give you all the essential skills, from cutting glass to adding various decorative elements.
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Fused Glass Bowl Making Class from E3 Glass Studio. Ideal if you’re looking for something big and impactful, this London glass fusing class will see you making a large bowl of your own design.
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Make Your Own Fused Glass Dish by Lappelli Craft Studio. If you fancy crafting from home, this live-streaming class gives you everything you need to make a lovely little trinket bowl in your own space.
See what you can create!
Keen for some inspo? Here are a few ideas to get you started!
Glass fusing can be used to create all kinds of things. From eye-catching homewares that’ll bring a burst of colour to any surface to festive decorations that’ll touch your holidays with magic, there’s so much you can make with fused glass. The only limit is your imagination!
If you’re a fan of home decor and want to fill your space with colour, fused glass homewares are where it’s at. From swirling psychedelic vases to chic, geometric coasters, there are plenty of ways to add some shimmering colour to your kitchen, living room or bathroom — this class in London makes a great place to start. The uneven, rustic nature of glass means that it can be used to create stunning, light-catching pieces that are sure to fill you with joy.
Glass fusing can be used to create some super useful pieces for your home but it doesn’t all have to be purely practical — you can use fused glass to make decorative panels in all kinds of patterns and shapes. They’re a lovely, light-catching alternative to a printed canvas, and making your own is a brilliant way to create lasting memories together with your friends or loved ones.
Is glass fusing easy?
Yes! It’s a great craft for beginners, especially if you want to make something that’s a bit more decorative than purely functional (though it’s great for that too!). A far cry from traditional glassblowing, which needs a lot of attention, patience and manual dexterity (not to mention a glassblowing studio!), glass fusing offers a more sedate pace.
You can do a lot of pre-planning of your chosen design beforehand, even sketching it out on paper to help you visualise what the final piece will look like before it heads into the kiln.
Bring the joy home with you with a glass fusing kit
While glass fusing usually needs a kiln, some of our clever teachers have come up with an ingenious solution to help you enjoy the fun at home: glass fusing kits! You’ll conjure up your design at home — either freehand or by tuning in to a teacher’s Zoom class — before packaging the whole thing up and sending it away to be fired in a professional kiln. It’ll then be returned to you to enjoy and admire for years to come.
So no matter where you are in the UK, give glass fusing a try before the year is out and experience the magic for yourself.
