• Knitting

• The Point

  37A Bedford St., nr. Leroy St.; 212-929-0800; $100

  In a pair of two-hour sessions, you’ll learn the two basic stitches (knit and purl). By the finish, you’ll be ready to crank out all the scarves you could ever want. Graduates get 10 percent off the shop’s impressive selection of specialty yarns.

• Sewing

• Make Workshop

  195 Chrystie St., nr. Stanton St., Studio 402; 212-533-9995; $80

  Diana Rupp’s two-hour Intro to Sewing Machine is perfect for Project Runway aspirants—or for those who just want to hem their own jeans. Advanced classes include “Lingerie Making: Panty Workshop” or “Sewing 1: Naughty Secretary Skirt.”

• Woodworking

• 3rd Ward

  195 Morgan Ave., nr. Stagg St., Bushwick; 718-715-4961; $450

  After four sessions at this artists’ workspace, everyone leaves having made a mallet or bookend plus a table, and with the know-how to fashion simple items like bookcases. If students like what they’ve seen, they can join 3rd Ward for full shop privileges at $300 per month.

• Glassblowing

• Urban Glass

  647 Fulton St., nr. Rockwell Pl., Dumbo; 718-625-3685; $425 for two days

  Aspiring artists can start with a semester-long class or a two-day workshop where they make their own paperweights and cups. Open houses are on some Sundays, for a preview or just an interesting tour.

• Beermaking

• Institute of Culinary Education

  50 W. 23rd St., nr. Sixth Ave. 800-522-4610; $65

  In a recession, what’s one step beyond learning how to tend bar? Learning how to brew your own. ICE’s options include Beer 101, taught by Samuel Merritt, the former brand manager of Brooklyn Brewery.

From the 2009 Best of New York issue of New York Magazine