I took pattern drafting classes and Cat is a flipping genius. Cat creates a relaxed and comfortable…read moreenvironment for learning and was able to answer any of the random questions I threw out. I felt like I walked away with the knowledge to figure out how create anything I would want to make. If you're on the fence, just go for it. It's a worthwhile investment in yourself!

I had a great experience working on alterations with Kat, and I left the studio feeling a lot more…read moreknowledgeable about how to get a pattern to fit me correctly.

The studio looks great and the teachers are wonderfull. I…read morelearn a lot and it's always a pleasure to be in the studio. Students are very nice as well very friendly. PS: I am French and the teachers makes everything easy to learn so if english is not your native language don't be scared! Hope that helps.

I really enjoyed my Intro to Sewing class at MADE. You know how they say that everyone starts with…read morea range of experience? Well, I was the one that didn't even know how to thread the machine, so there's that. Suzie was our instructor and she was very friendly, cheerful, and helpful. She even helped me with an outside project on a day of pure stress and desperation. I wouldn't have "MADE" it without her. Rachel was in and out, and it was lovely to talk to her about her new non-profit initiative as well as to hear her passion for sewing cool things. My favorite part of the class was sewing the invisible zipper. I also liked the regular zipper. I'm so dang proud of the zippers.

Shop owner is incredibly kind and helpful! Nicely curated selection of yarns, especially plant…read morefiber yarns. There is a new rewards program to reward you when you buy more (which I haven't checked out yet but seems awesome!). There's embroidery floss, cross-stitching kits, and cross-stitch pattern books too! The weekly Stitch n Bitch (Thursdays, 7-9pm) is such a welcoming environment full of passionate and friendly people where you can work on your crafts and chit chat (or get help from experienced knitters/crocheters/etc when you're stuck)!! Highly recommend stopping in. :)

South Philly Yarn and Craft is a new woman-owned small business in East Passyunk selling yarn and…read moreknitting/crochet supplies, as well as embroidery kits and hosting classes! Weekend hours so far have been 11-4 Saturday and 11-3 Sundays but there are classes you can sign up for to learn how to crochet a drink coozie, make a tote bag or throw pillow out of a band tee (or any old T-shirt), and a Halloween backpack for kids! There are also "stitch and bitch" sessions on Thursday nights from 7-9 every other Thursday where you can bring your own projects and just hang. Check out their Instagram (@southphillyyarnandcraft) and website for classes, events, and updates!

I was looking for a company in the US to buy USA made yarn from for Weaving. I found this company…read moreand bought quite a few things based on the descriptions on the website. When I received the yarns, they did not live up to the expectations of using them for a warp on my rigid heddle loom. I called the company and basically the woman I spoke to argued with me. After sending me a mailing label, she emailed me to argue some more about how everybody she talked to said this yarn was perfect for warp. Wee Weavers all know that a fiber must pass the snap test in order to be used as warp. Fay Pretty much told me I didn't know what I was talking about. As much as I want to support items made in the USA, Customer Service is super important. This woman's attitude soured my experience and I will not purchase anything else from this company.

Since I'm sticking close to home during the pandemic, I'm starting to crochet. Because this yarn…read moremill is near me and all the LYSs were closed I thought I'd buy my yarn from them. Their wool is all sourced and processed in the US and I feel good about patronizing a family business. I don't believe they have a retail storefront. Generally they ship, but if you order online and let them know you want to come pick up your yarn they'll refund your shipping costs and just charge you a couple bucks for getting your order together. I'd already paid for my order online so it was one of those COVID-19 pickups where someone sticks their head out the door and hands you bags and you just keep walking. I didn't notice until I got home that they'd given me 2 big bags. I was afraid they'd given me someone else's order too until I read the note stuck to one of the bags that said "Yours for free - hope you can use it. Wayfarers sample cat skeins". Some of the yarn I bought was Wayfarer so the weight all matched. I honestly think they gave me more yarn than what I bought and in so many colors! I'm doing granny squares so SCORE! (Granny squares don't require skeins and skeins of yarn of one color - if the yarn is at least a foot long you're in business, so cat skeins are just fine.) They bill themselves as "the only traditional yarn mill and dye house in America" and they've employed generations of local workers. I'm happy to support that.

Absolutely loved my experience here. The cutting board class is a good introductory class. The…read moreinstructor was extremely educated and helpful. Quick tips: there is parking lot so you don't have to worry about street parking. They provide safety goggles and ear protection for the noise. I did get an allergic reaction to the wood (hives)- just something to look out for. Took a Benadryl and I was fine. I highly recommend this place and will def be back!

I had a two hour private instruction on sharpening hand planes and chisels. Adam was a great…read moreteacher, patient and knowledgeable. He gathered information about my needs and knowledge and started where I was in the process of learning. I was worried about walking in as a 50+ year old woman that I would feel intimidated or would not be taken seriously but it was a 10 out of 10 experience! YouTube videos are great but nothing beats in-person instruction. I will schedule private instruction if I hit another stumbling block in the future but until then I will definitely be taking some classes!

My 8-yr-old daughter has been taking sewing lessons at the Rittenhouse location for the entire…read moreschool year with her school buds. Recently, we took a parent-child sewing machine refresher course together; I was the student and she was the best teacher ever! Mali is fun, professional, and her directions are the clearest I've been given in any sewing class. The atmosphere here is light but serious, and the kids--there are boys, too!--obviously have a blast. I was amazed by my daughter's progress as she brought home progressively difficult (and totally cute and useful) finished projects. Ayla will be back for summer camp and next school year as well.

Amazing little craft studio in Old city. It was a bit hidden because it was underground. The studio…read moreCassie has is pretty small but has a lot of character. Cassie's mom taught the stain glass class I took. I really liked how much personal time this art class offered. Cassie's mom was super patient and really helped me worked through the problems I have previously had with stain glass work. I liked how it was precut pieces so you didn't feel discouraged if the piece would look bad. I learned a lot about lead soldering I never knew before. The place doesn't just offer stain glass classes, they offer water color, poetry, etc. Cassie seems to really care for her craft and doesn't seem to be in it for the money but to support local art which is pretty impressive. I can't wait to take another class at her studio.

I'm taking a break from recapping the places that made my DC adventure great to be the first to…read morereview another fantastic First Friday art destination! Before owning the Coven, Cassie had hosted art classes at Fleisher Art Memorial, Philly Typewriter, and other spots where she still teaches today. Through those partnerships, it made sense to open a spot of her own, and the Coven is equal parts art gallery featuring her and guest artists' work, and a place where you can do your own arts and crafts. On my first visit, I had a fun time checking out the monster and animal pin-up themed art on the walls while my friends did painting. During my second visit, I did a color pencil drawing that was going to be added to a collab mural at Cherry Street Pier on a future date. On First Friday, it's also one of the places that has its events start later, making it a great place to chill longer and do your own art in after you explore other galleries. Checking the website not only showcases onsite events like a stained glass star making and Gab and Glue event, but it also features other events like South Philly Drink and Draw at Fleisher Art Memorial, making it a must-visit for any arts & crafts aficionado!

I took two courses at PFW and they were well worth it. I didn't know anything about woodworking…read moreexcept for what I learned in shop class in 7th grade, basic stuff. Here, they show you how to use each tool, with safety in mind. You are explained the details about wood grain and how it warps, and you get thorough answers to questions you may have. If you are a woman considering taking a course here, you will not get that 'I don't belong here' feeling, you know what I'm talking about ladies. The two instructors are pleasant and professional. The only thing I felt a little iffy about was walking to my car in that neighborhood after class, because you have to park in the street or take public transit, I'm not familiar with the area and it seems a little shady at first glance. I'm from a different ghetto, maybe if I knew this neighborhood better it wouldn't be so bad. Look it up on street view, it's in a residential area, no restaurants in short walking distance to get lunch so bring your own, but the instructors usually have lunch for the students. Unless you're vegetarian, definitely bring your own or you'll be taking a chance. They also have a pot of coffee and a snack to munch on at breakfast.

I recently finished the Total Beginner's class. Before this, I had no woodworking experience…read morewhatsoever. After a series of evening courses, I'm now much more confident in using tools, thinking about setting up a small home woodshop, and I have a new, beautiful bookcase in my house. The class had a mix of younger and older people, men and women, folks with all sorts of backgrounds, income levels, city v. suburbs. The instructors, Mario and Alan, give a good balance between keeping the class going overall and individual attention while working on each phase of the project. I can attest that they are both very patient and personable. Both Alan and Mario love woodworking and you learn as much from talking through tools or a particular project you might be thinking about for your house as you do from the more formal elements of the course. If you're thinking about woodworking as a hobby or want to see how furniture really comes together, I highly recommend this course.