Join us at Fibershed Learning Center, for a community dye bath with the last of this season’s fresh-leaf indigo! Have a look in your closet for some pale protein fibers (ivory, white, gray, yellow) — your old wool hat or gloves, silk ties, an old silk scarf or handkerchief, or your little ball of wool yarn. Together, we will hand-pick fresh leaf indigo and make a cold indigo dye bath for protein fibers. Everyone will go home with newly dyed materials and you will learn how to make your own cold indigo bath at home. There will also be information on how/where to source your indigo plants for spring 2024.

List of fibers that will work with this indigo process: alpaca, angora, llama, silk, wool, etc. (any animal-based fiber)

What to bring: Please bring personal snacks, lunch, and your water bottle (a selection of teas will be served). Fresh indigo leaves will be provided, and you are encouraged to look through your closet for old silk scarves, handkerchiefs, etc. We ask that people limit items to 3-4 small items per person. Tip: Most secondhand shops have old silk handkerchiefs, mini-skeins, and scarves which are light and perfect for dyeing! If you have a portable and clean blender we can borrow for the event, please bring it. We will have a soapy bath for cleaning protein fibers when you arrive but pre-washing your fibers is best.

Youth participants are welcome (see youth ticket) so long as they are accompanied by their parent/guardian during the event. Please note this process will not work on cellulose fibers (cotton, linen, hemp) but stay tuned for other events that focus on cellulose (plant-based) fibers.

Suggestions for where to source a variety of secondhand silk, wool, and other protein fibers: The Legacy Thriftstore (Santa Rosa), Through the Decades (San Francisco), and other local stores.