10 Affordable Craft Workshops to Acquire Fun New Skills This Summer

This story is part of How We Get By, a KQED series exploring how people are coping with rising costs in the Bay Area and California. Find the full series here.

Last year, KQED Forum did a show about “hobby inflation,” in which Mina Kim and her guests explored the increasing difficulty for many people to afford creative activities in their spare time.

In the interest of making sure more of us can nurture our artistic impulses, we’ve tracked down 10 crafty Bay Area summer classes that cost less than $100 each. All of them offer opportunities to learn fun new skills without breaking the bank.

Embroidering postcards

San Francisco Center for the Book
Online workshop
$75

Artist and writer Hope Amico has been operating a pen pal postcard subscription service since 2008. Not only is Amico passionate about sending physical mail, they’ve invested in making it as beautiful as possible. Makes sense, then, that they’re running this class at the San Francisco Center for the Book that teaches participants how to embellish their mail with embroidery — an art form that has been around since the Victorian era.

Amico will provide PDF instructions, teach the basics of sewing on paper, demonstrate different kinds of stitches and guide a practice session. Students are asked to arrive armed with two embroidery needles, three colors of embroidery thread, an awl, two postcards, scissors, a ruler and a pencil. Happy stitching, everyone!

Candle making

Nova Studio
223 2nd St., Los Altos
$65

These 90-minute classes — taking place on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays all summer — don’t just teach the basics of candle pouring. They also provide a space where students can make something entirely to their own tastes.

Nova instructors teach participants how to blend natural soy wax from scratch, and also provide crystals, dried flowers, charms and scents so that each candle is unique to its creator. There are even a wide variety of candle vessels to choose from. Given the high cost of store-bought scented candles, your new skills may come in handy when birthdays and holidays roll around.

Quilting

Napa Valley College
1088 College Ave., St. Helena
$51

In 2026, environmentally minded humans are constantly looking for sustainable solutions to fast fashion and rampant consumerism. As upcycling old clothes into other usable forms becomes increasingly popular, quilting offers a creative but accessible way to reduce fabric waste.

This summer, expert quilter Julie Bolander is offering guidance to beginners (and other quilters who need assistance) with regular afternoon gatherings at Napa Valley College. These sessions take place between June 15 and Aug. 3; quilters are asked to bring their own tools and materials, and pre-registration is required. If nothing else, you’ll probably meet some other lovely folks who are trying to save the world, one discarded pillowcase at a time.

Jewelry making

Bead Inspirations
1544 Park St., Alameda
Free/$60

Whether you want to make beaded jewelry as a creative outlet, or start selling your designs as a side hustle, Alameda’s Bead Inspirations is a one-stop shop designed to get you started. The store holds free, two-hour workshops every Friday at 3 p.m., but one-on-one instruction is available by booking a private one-hour lesson for $60.

The makers at Bead Inspirations teach the basics of stringing and beading, earring construction, wrap bracelet-making, filigree wrapping, crimping necklaces, as well as the best ways to attach clasps and jump rings. Participants don’t need to bring anything with them to class, but anyone who feels they’ve found their new calling can get a same-day 10% discount on tools and materials in the store.

Mosaic Lamp Workshop

Art Studio SoMa
360 Ritch St. #205, San Francisco
$89

If, like me, you feel intimidated at the prospect of mosaicking an entire Turkish lamp competently in the span of two hours, keep in mind that this class is open to anyone aged 7 and over. If the kids can do it, so can we! (Probably?)

This Art Workshops class provides everything you need, including tools, 16 colors of glass, step-by-step guidance and light refreshments. Keep in mind that the lamp that you ultimately make is yours to take home and stare at forever, so you might want to hit Pinterest and come up with a vague design goal before you go.

Collage

The Exchange
617 Marin St., Vallejo
$40

The Cut and Paste Society is a monthly gathering of paper-cutting maniacs on a mission to remix existing forms into thought-provoking new ones. The group welcomes experienced creatives and the collage-curious alike, and provides everything you need to get started. This includes old printed materials, paints and other decorations, cutting tools and — should you be a beginner — helpful tips. Attendees are encouraged to bring any images they feel like working with.

The Cut and Paste Society’s summer meeting dates are June 4, July 2, Aug. 6 and Sept. 3. This welcoming bunch especially wants to meet visual storytellers and those who love to experiment. Book early — these sessions often sell out.

Rug tufting

San Jose Art and Craft Studio
255 N. Market St., Suite 270, San Jose
$89

You might be wondering what on Earth rug tufting is and whether or not it has anything to do with those unruly shag carpets that continue to haunt the dreams of Gen X-ers everywhere. Fear not, for this is altogether cuter — and a lot more fun on account of the fact that there’s a yarn gun involved.

This oh-so-wholesome class provides all tools and materials, then walks fluff enthusiasts, step-by-step, through the tricks of creating their own miniature rug or tactile wallhanging. Advice is provided about realistic designs for beginners and the best methods to put yarn to canvas safely and effectively. After a couple of hours of practice and tufting fun, makers then move onto the gluing, backing and shaving work that will leave them with a polished final piece. Extra bonus? Free tea and refreshments are served throughout.

Clay throwing

Nimbus Arts
649 Main St., St. Helena
$70

If you’re not trying to get addicted to an expensive hobby, this is a risky one to start! That being said, this hand-building and wheel-throwing class is a very therapeutic way to spend three hours on a Monday or Wednesday evening.

Instructor Amanda Wright is a stoneware artist who creates thoroughly modern pieces. While she’ll be teaching the basics of pottery — how to shape bowls, bottles, vases and more — we expect she’ll also encourage boundary-pushing expression, should inspiration take over. There are only six wheels in the class, so don’t forget to pre-register!

Fermentation

Oakland Library, Piedmont Avenue Branch
80 Echo Ave., Oakland
Free

In the course of her career, chef Alia Fakhry has created dishes in every conceivable venue: fancy hotels, Hornblower cruises, brewpubs, Facebook HQ and, right now, her own Turnip That Beet custom meal prep service, based out of Oakland. Now that the former Ivory Coast resident has tried everything, she’s landed on her greatest passion: seasonal, organic, small-batch culinary creations.

For her two-hour event at the Oakland Library on June 9 (starting at 4 p.m.), Fakhry plans to share her know-how and enthusiasm about DIY fermentation, enabling individuals to preserve their own food deliciously. The class is, fittingly enough, presented by Oakland Bloom, an organization whose mission is economic equity in the food industry. You’re one class away from making your own kimchi and sauerkraut — and becoming the most intriguing person at this summer’s cookout.

Portuguese tile painting

Jiaren Cafe
1171 Homestead Rd. #140B, Santa Clara
$60

This June, the artisans of Alzuleycha will be spending every Monday evening (starting at 7 p.m.) helming classes in tile-painting at the Jiaren Cafe. Alzuleycha, inspired by Portuguese architecture, will briefly teach the class about the aesthetic history of this art form before painting commences.

Two tiles will be provided per student, as well as painting supplies, stencils and expert guidance throughout the process. Beginners (starting from 8 years old!) are as welcome as experienced painters. Get ready for homework though: after you’ve painted your tiles, they must be left to dry for 24 hours, then baked for 30 minutes in an oven at 350°F. Saúde!