Emily Girolamo
With summer ending and cold months approaching, finding indoor activities is a must! Lucky for us, amongst the many reasons the North Shore of Chicago is a fantastic place to live, there’s also a thriving creative scene with opportunities for newbie crafters and professional artisans alike. The Rogers Park and the Gold Coast neighborhoods have an array of studios, small businesses, and schools that offer do-it-yourself classes to the public. Here are five places where you can learn to craft and create close to home:
Best Places for Crafting, Creating, and DIYing in Chicago
Nodd Pottery School – Nodd Pottery School provides classes for all ages and all levels. You can start with a beginner class, host a pottery-themed children’s birthday party, sign-up for a one-night learning event, or even take a private lesson. The school also offers intermediate-level classes, artist residencies, and kiln rentals. No matter what experience you choose, you’ll learn the practice of turning clay into art and have a keepsake (or several) to take home.
7067 N Glenwood Ave
Indigo & Violet Studio – Indigo & Violet Studio is a Gold Coast area small business that celebrates the joy of the creative process and features BYOB classes in a relaxed but social setting. You can learn to embroider, macrame, draw and more, and leave with a personally hand-crafted piece. The studio is also available for private events, including parties and team-building activities.
1411 W Irving Park Rd (open by appointment only)
Edgewater Candles – While you can buy a wide variety of candles, soaps, and other scented gifts at Edgewater Candles, you can also learn DIY candle-making in one of its two-hour workshops. Classes are BYO to encourage friends and family to enjoy the activity together (beer, wine, non-alcoholic drinks, and snacks are permitted, but no hard liquor is allowed). The shop also hosts frequent private classes and parties.
1050 W Bryn Mawr Ave
Sew Crafty Studio – Adults and children can learn to sew at Sew Crafty Studio, from sewing machine basics to advanced sewing techniques like designing and constructing. You can bring your sewing machine or use the ones available onsite. Sew Crafty hosts Open Studio nights for people who want to work on their own projects – you simply bring the fabric and the studio will provide tools like pins, cutting mats, thread, and machines.
3845 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago Industrial Arts & Design Center – Learn DIY industrial design with a variety of classes
at Chicago Industrial Arts & Design Center (CIADC). The center’s classes fall into four categories: woodworking, technology and design, casting and molding, and metalwork and forging. Students can take 5-week, 10-week, or immersion classes and build artistic designs or practical household items like dressers and chairs.
6433 N Ravenswood
Honorable mention: the Rogers Park branch of the Chicago Public Library hosts a “Wednesday in Stitches” needlecraft circle for already-crafty knitters, crocheters, and embroiderers.
6907 N Clark St
We hope you enjoy learning some new skills and letting your inner artist shine!
