Best Crafty Classes In San Francisco

By Melanie Graysmith

Craft classes encompass a wide range of skill offerings, many with professional career potential ahead. San Francisco has a multitude of classes and workshops to happily satisfy people who enjoy learning and increasing their creative skills. Read on for five top places for some of the best crafty classes around.

Workshop
1798 McAllister St.
San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 874-9186
www.workshopsf.org

Workshop, a local crafts and art venue in the city's Western Addition neighborhood, offers affordable DIY classes for adults in a range of nifty-crafty things. From painting, leatherwork, cooking specialties like kimchi and sauerkraut, calligraphy, sewing basics, candle making, and simple ceramics, to an intro to home brewing beer and more, you will find a wealth of interesting, useful and fun day or evening classes at Workshop. Classes are taught by a talented group of teachers, artists, craft makers, and foodies, working with Workshop to offer adults just what they want and need. To that end, Workshop also offers private parties and events, and corporate or team building classes off-site too. Visit the website for additional information.

Pinckney Clay Workshop
3417 Mission St.
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 525-4574
www.bypinckney.com

Pinckney Clay Workshop is a clay and ceramics studio in the Bernal Heights neighborhood. With its heart set as a space to "create, gather, and support artists," Pinckney Clay welcomes visitors to take a clay class to build or hone your skills and watch artists at work. The wonderfully creative classes fall into two categories and curricula: Hand Building and Wheel Throwing, and classes run for a few hours one or two days or 5, 6 or 8 weeks, depending on the clay skill focus. Here is an amazing learning environment for working with clay and creating ceramics – just like you've always wanted to do. Check the website for upcoming classes and all the details.

Craft Haven Collective
853 Fell St.
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 358-0739
www.crafthaven.org

The art and practicality of sewing remains alive and well at Craft Haven Collective, where sewing, pattern making, apparel and accessory making all come together for the eager-to-learn sewing enthusiast. Knowing how to sew, and how to sew well is a wonderful skill to have, and a tremendous affirmation of the creative spirit. Sewing is fun and for many, a relaxing way to create a personal project and have something beautiful and functional in the end. Sewing has gotten renewed interest lately although Craft Haven opened in 2008 and has been going strong since. Craft Haven offers three levels of sewing classes, from beginner to intermediate, plus has basic quilting classes too, geared to making baby items and placemats for the table. Classes are three hours per session and many are one session, with other classes up to three sessions, plus project sessions run longer. Class fees are reasonable, starting at $62 for the "Uber Basics" one-session class. Visit the website for complete information.

Related: Best Ceramics Classes In The Bay Area

Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts
785 Market St., Suite 900
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 391-4179
www.revereacademy.com

If you have ever wondered how and where jewelry designers and technicians learn their craft, or if you would like a career in the Jewelry Arts or simply learn more about the jewelry you love, Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts in the heart of downtown welcomes you. It's a lovely surprise to many that San Francisco is home to this amazing, professional, state-of-the-arts school that is a leader in teaching jewelry arts, whether you are interested in making jewelry or want to go into the Jewelry Technician (JI), Jewelry Technician Intensive (JTI), or onto the Graduate Jeweler (GJ) programs. Revere Academy is an outstanding educational spot to let you meet your goals, as you train with master craftspeople and experts in the field. Even if you are simply interested in taking one class to learn more about jewelry making you can do that too, with an essential jewelry fabrication class. Revere Academy grants diplomas upon completion, and courses are generally two-months long, but individual classes may be taken separately to fit your schedule. Visit the website to learn all about the classes, programs and diplomas offered, tuition, and Jewelers of America certification information.

Root Division
1131 Mission St.
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 863-7668
www.rootdivision.org

Root Division is an awesome visual arts organization with a mission to empower artists and connect community with creativity. With studio art classes for youth and adults, Root Division serves the community in significant ways through the art classes it offers, including various painting, drawing, sculpture, and calligraphy classes (2 to 6 class meetings, $100 - $260). Root Division also recruits and trains its studio artists, volunteers, and interns to give back by teaching free art classes at its eight partner educational sites, therefore fostering a link between artists and the school community. Visit the website to learn about all that Root Division offers, its talented instructors, and art class schedule.

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