Fiber Arts Family Day Drop-in Event

Skilled craftspeople from local guilds will demonstrate the tools and techniques for carding and combing fibers such as cotton and linen, spinning the fibers into yarn or thread, weaving, and making natural dyes using herbs and other plant materials.

In addition to these demonstrations, stop by one or all of our three family drop-in artmaking activities for all ages, where you can try your hand at indigo dyeing, cochineal pigment-making, and friendship bracelet weaving.

• Make your own uniquely patterned bandana to take home in one of our natural indigo vats located in the Shakespeare Garden. The more your bandana is dipped, the more vibrant your bluish-purple indigo will be, and the patterns are endless! One per visitor, please.
  
• Have a seat in the Scott Loggia and choose your friendship bracelet pattern and colors, then start weaving!  Don't have time to finish?  No problem! Once you've gotten the hang of it, take your unfinished bracelet home with step-by-step instructions for completing it.  One per visitor, please.
  
• Visit our teen volunteers near the entrance to the Rose Garden and learn how some special small insects who live on certain cacti have been used for centuries to create a wide range of red colors from pale pinks to deep reds in paints, inks, cosmetics, fabric and tapestry dyes, and even food products! You may want to visit the art gallery when you're done to see cochineal used in some paintings and tapestries in our collection.