In this workshop, participants will learn the fundamentals of working with pine needles, from how to responsibly collect and clean them to the basics of dyeing them with natural and vibrant colors. We’ll also explore the biology and uses of pine trees, along with the rich cultural traditions of coiled basketry practiced around the world.
Participants will learn how to start their basket base, build the walls, and shape their piece using only pine needles. We’ll go over how to close a basket smoothly and how to choose the best finishing coat to protect and preserve their work.
This is a hands-on, meditative class that invites participants to slow down, weave with intention, and connect with a craft rooted in tradition and creativity.
This program is open to all experience levels.
All supplies will be provided.
This program meets in person at the Arboretum.
Instructor: Abeni Pierson, folk artist and creator of Where the Pines Grow
Age: 16 and older; 10 and older when accompanied by an adult
Course number: A285
Instructor
Abeni Pierson, folk artist
Abeni Pierson is a Chicagoland native, fiber artist, educator, and the founder of Where the Pines Grow. She studied fashion design at Columbia College Chicago, but over time felt pulled away from the fashion industry and toward a more sustainable way of making.
Now living in Northern California, Abeni works with plant fibers she forages, cleans, and dyes by hand. Through her workshops, she’s committed to keeping the language of American folk arts alive by teaching around the U.S. She instructs pine needle weaving, gourd carving, cattail weaving, and broom corn weaving workshops. Her classes are welcoming and grounding, encouraging people to slow down, create with their hands, and reconnect with the natural world.
What to Know
This program meets indoors.
This program is open to all experience levels.
All supplies will be provided.
Please bring water and lunch.
Program Schedule
Saturday, May 9, 2026, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Thornhill Education Center (parking lot P-21), West Side
