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Get Crafty

From painting your own dog-portrait to binding your own books, here are nine places offering creative gift-making workshops this season.


DIY ornaments at CraftJam.  

Downtown Yarns
45 Avenue A, nr. 3rd St., 212-995-5991
This East Village yarn shop offers project-based classes in the run-up to Christmas. Keep your loved ones warm this winter with handmade mittens, hats or sweaters.
Price: $50 to $125
Dates: Select dates throughout December, check downtownyarns.com for further details.

Young & Able
2 Rivington St., nr. Bowery, info@shopyoungandable.com
This season, online store Young & Able has opened pop-ups around the city to host a number of eclectic arts-and-crafts workshops. Head to the Rivington Street location on December 19 to take part in a pet-portrait class, led by Brooklyn-based illustrator Danielle Kroll. Because pets (and their adoring people) deserve presents too.
Price: Limited early-bird tickets available for $60; $75 for standard
Dates: December 19, 7 p.m.; shopyoungandable.com

Textile Arts Center
26 W. 8th St., nr. Macdougal St., 646-225-6554
505 Carroll St., nr. Whitwell Pl., Gowanus; 718-369-0222

If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, the Textile Arts Center (with studios in the West Village and Gowanus) offers a wide range of highly specialized workshops. From fabric marbling to Japanese stab bookbinding, these classes will satisfy even the most sophisticated of tastes.
Price: $75 to $350
Dates: Select dates throughout December, check textileartscenter.com for further details.

Choplet Ceramic Studio
238 Grand St., nr. Roebling St., Williamsburg; 917-547-8316
This December, Choplet Ceramic Studio is offering intensive one-day workshops that cover basic pottery skills. No prior experience is necessary and you get to keep the bowl or cylinder you created. (Special note: Items take three weeks to be glazed and fired, so book an early class in order to meet your Christmas deadline!)
Price: $72
Dates: Select dates throughout December, check choplet.com for further details.

CraftJam
33 W. 17th St., 5th fl., nr. Sixth Ave., 917-830-3496
If your usual decorations are feeling a little drab, CraftJam is offering Christmas-themed ornament, card, and wrapping-paper classes alongside their usual December schedule. Put a personal touch on your store-bought gifts or create unique tchotchkes to keep or give.
Price: $50
Dates: Select dates throughout December, check craftjam.co for further details.

Craftsman Avenue
117 11th St., nr. Second Ave., Gowanus; hello@craftsmanave.com
For the highly ambitious out there, this chic Brooklyn studio prides itself on giving students the opportunity to “bring ideas to life.” This December, they're offering an array of creative workshops to up your gift game, including wood working, floral arrangement, and even motorcycle design theory (though you probably have to wait till next year to give that custom bike).
Price: $75 to $150
Dates: Select dates throughout December, check craftsmanave.com for further details.

Brooklyn Charm
145 Bedford Ave., at N. 9th St., Williamsburg; 347-689-2492
It’s always difficult to find the jewelry that feels exactly right. At Brooklyn Charm, you can customize and create a necklace, ring, bracelet, or pair of earrings to perfectly suit the person you’re giving it to. (Special note: Some classes are two-part.)
Price: $40
Dates: Select dates throughout December, check brooklyncharm.com for further details.

Make Workshop
256 Third Ave., nr. Union St., Boerum Hill; 347-529-5627
Depending on how ambitious you’re feeling, Make Workshop is offering holiday classes that range from knitting 101 to shoemaking and tapestry weaving. There are also a number of kids’ fiber arts classes, where little ones can sew, weave, or embroider their gifts for the grandparents.
Price: $60-$375
Dates: December 10 and 11, 11 a.m.; makeworkshop.com

Paint Along
129 E. 27th St., nr. Lexington Ave.; 917-474-5587
Paint Along’s two-hour classes will guarantee that you leave with a gift in tow. In the run-up to Christmas, the Kips Bay studio is offering holiday-themed classes, focusing on Central Park’s wintry scenes. As an added bonus, all classes are BYOB — so feel free to sip some Pinot noir while discovering your inner Picasso.
Price: $40 to $45
Dates: December 3, 7 p.m.; December 12, 4 p.m.; paintalongnyc.com


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