Dye a wool or silk scarf with color pulled from plants in one of the most memorable creative team building activities in the Bay Area. In this natural dyeing workshop your group learns the ancient method of extracting dyes from locally foraged plants and uses them to dye a scarf each guest takes home.
The private workshop runs two and a half hours and is priced at $105 per adult guest for groups of 4 to 12 guests. Kids 12 and up are welcome when they attend with an adult who holds a separate ticket. No experience with textiles or dyes is needed, because your teacher is on hand to help at every step.
What's Included
- Two and a half hours of hands-on natural dyeing instruction
- A high quality wool or silk scarf for
Dye a wool or silk scarf with color pulled from plants in one of the most memorable creative team building activities in the Bay Area. In this natural dyeing workshop your group learns the ancient method of extracting dyes from locally foraged plants and uses them to dye a scarf each guest takes home.
The private workshop runs two and a half hours and is priced at $105 per adult guest for groups of 4 to 12 guests. Kids 12 and up are welcome when they attend with an adult who holds a separate ticket. No experience with textiles or dyes is needed, because your teacher is on hand to help at every step.
What's Included
- Two and a half hours of hands-on natural dyeing instruction
- A high quality wool or silk scarf for every guest
- A selection of more than 20 natural dyes, from local plants to traditional plant and insect dyes
- A personal working station with protective clothing and gloves
- All materials, plus a how-to packet with dye formulas and tips for trying it again at home
- Your finished naturally dyed scarf to keep or give
What You Will Learn
The workshop is a creative way to discover where colors came from before chemical dyes. Guests do every step of the process, from extracting dye from plant material to a finished scarf. Local wild plants such as acorn, eucalyptus and coffee berry sit alongside some of the most well-known traditional natural dyes from around the world, and past guests have dyed scarves with red onion skins and flowers from the studio garden.
Along the way your teacher explains how each color is made and how it can be changed, and showcases the range of colors and techniques used to create different designs. The dyeing process takes time, so the session is paced so that one batch heats while the group moves on to the next step. Guests leave with a one-of-a-kind scarf and the confidence to experiment on their own.
Why It Works for Groups
Small, unhurried and easy for anyone to join, this is one of the more relaxing team building activities a group can book. With 4 to 12 guests per private workshop, it is a natural fit among team building activities for small groups, and every person leaves with something they made with their own hands.
The workshop takes place outdoors in a peaceful garden area beside the studio, so it also counts among the more distinctive outdoor team building activities close to San Francisco, with canopy tents to keep the group covered in rainy weather. It suits a team outing, a birthday or a bachelorette party, and a scarf dyed together makes a thoughtful keepsake for the season.
About Your Teacher
Your teacher taught children and adults in textile crafts and art for almost thirty years in Finland and trained teachers in that field at the University of Helsinki. After moving to California she opened a fiber art studio where she teaches workshops on natural dyeing, weaving and kids' fiber arts, and weaves rugs from recycled materials. She is committed to environmentally sustainable crafts, works with natural dyes from local plants to create unique wool and silk scarves, and blends traditional methods with modern materials and skills.
How the Session Runs
- Arrive at the garden studio and settle in at your working station
- Learn how plant and insect dyes are extracted and how colors can be changed
- Choose your scarf and your dyes from the selection of more than 20
- Start the dye pots heating and work through each dyeing step with your teacher
- Reveal your finished scarf and take it home with your how-to packet
Good to Know
- Beginner-friendly; no prior textile or dyeing experience required
- Adults and kids 12 and up are welcome; kids must attend with an adult who holds a separate ticket
- Wear layers and clothing suitable for working outdoors in changing weather
- Bring sun protection
- The workshop is held outdoors, with canopy tents for rain
Plan Your Dyeing Workshop
Share your preferred date and group size to check availability. At $105 per adult guest with all materials included and a finished scarf for everyone, this is one of the most hands on team building activities in the area and one of the more unique team building events for groups who want to slow down and make something beautiful together.
