Discover the Best Crafting Classes Near Me
Crafting is the process of using skill and creativity to make something by hand. People who craft use a wide range of different materials including wood, metal, textiles, and even food. They use these materials to create many different things such as jewelry, furniture, and clothing. For some people, crafting is a hobby, while for others it is a profession.
The tools and materials used in crafting vary, depending on the specific craft. Some people work with things like paper, yarn, paints, or food, which are relatively cheap and easy to find. Other crafts involve more specialized materials like metal, wax, and clay. In addition, some types of crafting require specialized tools and equipment.
Why You Should Learn Crafting
There are many different reasons to learn crafting. One is practical; you can save money by making your own clothing, home decor, or other items. You can also reduce waste by repurposing or upcycling old items. In addition, the items that you create can not only save you money and help you live more sustainably, but they will be one-of-a-kind pieces, unlike anything you can buy.
Crafting is also a creative activity, and lots of people learn it because they get a sense of achievement and satisfaction from making something beautiful with their own hands. With many types of crafts, you are only limited by your imagination, and you can experiment with different styles to create something unique.
Finally, crafting can be good for your mental health. Many people say that they forget about their worries, and relax when they are focused on the process of crafting. In addition, the sense of accomplishment that comes from creating something with your own hands can boost your mood and self-esteem.
5 Ways to Learn Crafting
There are many different ways to learn crafting.
- A lot of people start with free online resources like YouTube. Free resources can give you an overview of your chosen craft, including how hard it is to learn, and what supplies you’ll need. This can be a great way to start any type of crafting, and it will help you decide whether that craft is really for you, and what type of class you might want to take to learn more. Free resources can also be helpful for more experienced crafters who are troubleshooting a problem, or looking for an answer to a specific question.
- If you’re serious about learning crafting, you’ll probably want to go beyond free resources, and sign up for a paid class. In a paid class, you’ll get guidance from an expert and won’t be left to learn by yourself, through trial and error. If you opt for an in-person class, you’ll typically have access to equipment and materials too.
- You can also learn crafting virtually. With this format, you won’t have to deal with a commute. You’ll also be able to choose from a greater number of classes; you could even learn from a teacher on the other side of the country.
- On-demand classes are another popular format. These are generally the cheapest type of class option, and also the most flexible. With an on-demand crafting class, you can work through the material at your own pace, stopping and starting whenever you need to.
- You can also learn crafting through an apprenticeship. This is a popular way to learn many different types of crafts, and involves shadowing an expert. Apprentices get training and experience in their chosen field and are typically paid for their time. If you’re looking for something less formal, you could do an internship, which is usually unpaid and involves a lesser time commitment.
In-Person Crafting Classes
If you want to take an in-person crafting class, you’ll find many different options. Major metropolitan areas, in particular, are great places to find in-person crafting classes. For instance, New York City, with its diverse art scene, has a variety of different choices. The Back Porch Soap Company, which is located in the Upper West Side, runs both soap- and candle-making classes. Candle Making Class NYC is a two-and-a-half-hour class where students create custom container candles. They make two candles in total–one soy wax and one coconut wax–and customize them by adding their own color and essential oils. Students also receive a handout to take home, with detailed instructions and formulas. Tuition is $248.
Back Porch Soap Company also offers a class called Cold Process Soap Making Class. In this class, students use the cold process method to make soap from scratch. They personalize their soaps by adding essential oils, colorants, and botanicals. The instructor also goes over how to work safely with lye, and where to buy cold process supplies. Each participant takes home their own batch of soap. The class runs for two and a half hours and costs $248.
Brooklyn Craft Company is located in Brooklyn, which is less than five miles from Manhattan, and offers a number of different types of sewing-related classes. Its Beginner Embroidery Workshop is $45, and runs for three hours. Students in this class learn embroidery basics, and complete a peace-sign hoop. The instructor covers transferring a printed image to fabric, basic outline stitch, filler stitch, framing a finished piece, and different types of fabric, embroidery floss, and needles.
Students interested in candle making will find a candle-making class in Los Angeles, at Los Angeles City College, which is less than five miles from downtown Los Angeles. In Candle Making, students learn how to make different types of candles, how to use molds, how to add fragrance and color, and how to source supplies. They will complete a number of candles of their own, and leave with the skills they need to make more at home. This class is three hours long, and costs $70. There is also a $25 materials fee. Los Angeles City College is one of the oldest community colleges in Los Angeles, and works to empower students from diverse communities.
Los Angeles-based students can also learn knitting at the Knitting Tree. Beginning Knitting Fridays is $80, and has four sessions. Students work on a scarf, a hat, and a shawl, learning how to cast on, how to knit and purl, how to read a pattern, how to work on circular and double pointed needles, and how to read a yarn label. This class will leave participants prepared to knit more difficult items such as socks and garments. The Knitting Tree is in Inglewood, which is about 12 miles southwest of Los Angeles. The store sells yarns and handcrafted items, and also offers classes and project ideas.
Another craft class in Los Angeles takes place at El Camino College, which is a public community college in Torrance. In Soap Making–Cold Process Method, participants learn to make soap using the cold process method. The class is appropriate for both beginners and more experienced soap makers. Participants should dress for a hands-on experience. The class costs $79, and is three hours long. There is also a $35 materials fee. El Camino College is about 15 miles south of downtown Los Angeles.
In Chicago, the Evanston Art Center offers a class called Cardboard and Paper Assemblage, which is $130 and three hours long. This class is focused on using cardboard, recycled paper, and other overlooked materials to create something beautiful. Students make 3D works of art with these materials. The Evanston Art Center is about 15 miles north of downtown Chicago. It is dedicated to fostering appreciation and expression of the arts, and is one of the oldest arts centers in Illinois.
Also in Chicago, the Chicago Botanic Garden offers an eight-session class called Rejuvenated Jewelry. In this class, students combine old and new elements to create unique and beautiful jewelry. Students receive a supply list on the first day of class. They should also bring special and sentimental keepsakes to work with such as single earrings, charms, buttons, family photos, and chains. The Chicago Botanic Garden opened 50 years ago. It is located on 385 acres, around nine islands, and with six miles of lake shoreline. It offers a number of different crafting classes.
Houston residents can attend a Bath Bomb Workshop at Love & Make, and learn to make custom bath bombs. This two-hour workshop costs $55, which includes all supplies. Participants make four to eight bath bombs, adding a variety of colors, and essential and natural oils. Love & Make holds craft workshops in its studio in the Rice Village area, which is about five miles out of downtown Houston.
In the Washington, D.C. area, Artistic Artifacts offers a sewing workshop called Garden Stories. For this class, students use a variety of presser feet to create a nature-themed accordion-style book inside a Triptych trifold cover. They also learn a variety of stitching skills including couching, ruffles, free-motion, and edge-stitching. The class is $95 and is six hours long. Artistic Artifacts sells fabric, fiber, and mixed media art products, and also runs sewing workshops and events. It is located in Alexandria, VA, which is about 15 miles south of.
