Discover the Best Jewelry Making Classes Near You
Jewelry making is a craft that involves the creation of any type of decorative item that is intended to be worn. This may include brooches, necklaces, rings, earrings, bracelets, and cufflinks, among many other items. There are various techniques and materials involved in making jewelry. While you might jump to thinking of precious metals and stones and necessary materials for jewelry, jewelry can in fact be made out of nearly any material. And while complicated processes and tools exist, making jewelry doesn’t need to be a convoluted process. If you’ve always wanted to try jewelry making but worried it would be too difficult or too expensive, beginner classes are a great place to start!
Why You Should Learn Jewelry Making
There are several benefits to learning how to make jewelry. Getting into the flow of a craft can also have a meditative effect that relieves stress. Spending time in an artistic endeavor that you genuinely enjoy releases dopamine. Studies have shown that this release of stress and increase in happy brain chemicals can even temporarily boost your immune system. Overall, investing in a hobby can improve mental health.
Starting a hobby can help you plug into a larger community. Turning to other people for guidance can increase your skills and help you overcome roadblocks. It also provides you with a group in which to share accomplishments and celebrate milestones. Engaging with like-minded people can also help you find and make new long-life friends.
Some people find when starting a new hobby that they unlock a previously unknown passion. This passion and drive to work on and improve their craft can turn into extra income. For many people, this may accumulate in a side hustle where the income made is enough to cover small expenses, such as paying for the cost of supplies and tools necessary for engaging in the hobby itself. Others excel enough to create jewelry as a part or full time job.
5 Ways to Learn Jewelry Making
There are various ways to learn jewelry making. Which method you choose to pursue is largely dependent on your personal schedule, budget, and learning goals.
In Person Classes
In-person classes are considered the most engaging learning method because students learn directly from an instructor through hands-on projects. Many students find that learning in an environment specifically designed around education can help them find focus and motivation. The downside of physical classrooms includes the need to commute in order to attend. They also commonly feature inflexible schedules.
Live Online Classes
Live online courses strive to replicate the interactivity found in in-person classes. Students and instructors are able to interact in real time over chat or video. Projects are hands-on and instructors can, with permission, view or take control of a student’s computer screen to assist with tasks. Students can take online classes from anywhere, without a commute. And online classes often feature flexible schedule options.
On-Demand Classes
On-demand classes include free resources that allow students to study a topic at their own pace. Such classes can be found through skill-sharing websites, such as YouTube, Udemy, or Courses. This method of learning is best for students who can’t commit to consistent class schedules. The downside of such classes is they often only teach beginning techniques. They also lack an instructor for students to reach out to for assistance. Students are required to rely on their own motivation to progress through a course.
Apprenticeships
Prospective students can also seek out apprenticeships where they will learn how to make jewelry under the guidance of a professional jeweler. This method provides the benefits of learning from a master craftsman. However, it is best suited for students with the intent to make jewelry making as a business. Apprentices will learn business practices in addition to jewelry making. They’ll also have duties involved with caring for the shop, such as cleaning equipment, tending to customers, and possible administrative work. Apprentices are often promoted to permanent staff roles within the same company they worked for after their training is complete.
Fine Arts Degree
While it’s not necessary to earn a degree in order to learn how to make jewelry, jewelry making degrees do exist. Degrees are best undergone but students who wish to become apprentices and seek a way to hone their skills and stand out among the competition. Degrees in jewelry making will often cover other topics, such as art design, metalworking, and sculpture. The idea of these courses is to give students the skills necessary to create professional art, but they are far more rigorous than needed for individuals simply looking to pick up a hobby.
In-Person Jewelry Making Classes
In-person jewelry making classes can be found virtually anywhere, though they may be easier to find in larger populated cities. While this list covers six major metropolitan areas, don’t be discouraged from searching for jewelry making classes near you wherever you live.
New York City, NY
There are a plethora of jewelry making classes in New York City. Jewelers of every level will find classes tailored to their skills. There are classes for a variety of materials, such as metal, glass, enamel, clay, and beads, among others.
The Art of Metalsmithing Jewelry Design is open to students of all levels. The class teaches not only how to work with metal and set gemstones but also the basics of jewelry design and how to use the tools and equipment within a Jeweler’s studio. Class sizes are small, the course lasts over multiple sessions for comprehensive learning. Necessary materials are only provided for the first session, after which students are provided a list to purchase their own supplies.
Hobbyists looking to start with the basics may be more interested in Jewelry Making – Silver Package. This class is intended for beginners and lasts a single session. Students learn how to make jewelry using wire and beading for necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. The course provides all the tools and materials required.
Los Angeles, CA
Beginners and students of all levels can find jewelry making classes in Los Angeles.
Basic Beading is a course for beginners that teaches the use of basic tools and how to make bracelets, necklaces, and earrings with beads. The course lasts for a single session – perfect for new hobbyists – and the average class size is usually small.
Students of all levels looking to step outside the norm of metal work might be interested in Glass Fusing: Big Ideas for Small Projects. The class teaches how to fuse glass not only for jewelry but also for other small projects such as ornaments. The class includes an additional fee that covers the use of materials.
Chicago, IL
Rejuvenated jewelry is a popular subject of jewelry making classes in Chicago. Students of all levels are welcome to attend Rejuvenated Jewelry while advanced students may enroll in Advanced Rejuvenated Jewelry for more difficult techniques working with more delicate items. In both courses, students learn to make jewelry by upscaling old pieces with new materials. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own pieces for rejuvenation. In the all-levels course, students learn how to solder, wire wrap, and string pieces. Hobbyists looking to start with all new materials (rather than upscale) can learn similar skills in the Basic Jewelry Techniques course. All three courses last for multiple sessions and provide a supply list for purchasing materials on the first day of class.
Houston, TX
Hobbyists will discover how to make specific pieces through jewelry making classes in Houston. Beginners can learn how to craft a Simple Bangle Bracelet or Simple Sterling Silver Stacking Rings. In both classes, students will be guided on how to measure metal and use a mandrel as well as how to solder, file, and polish their creations. Class sizes are small.
Students of all levels can learn how to create earrings by wrapping metal and creating patterns for various designs, including Beaded Hoop Earrings, Doodle Earrings, and Dangle Stack Rings. Intermediate classes for making rings and pendants are also available.
Washington, D.C.
Metals are the material of choice in jewelry making classes in Washington, D.C.. Beginners and intermediate learners can attend two different levels of metal making classes in Metals I and Metals II. In the first class, students learn how to work with sterling silver and are guided through the processes of sawing, forging, soldering, and basic stone setting. In the second class, students learn advanced techniques, such as fusing, creating hollow forms, and flush stone settings. Students in both classes are encouraged to create their own designs.
While not strictly jewelry making, hobbyists may be interested in Soldering like a professional. Soldering is a necessary part of working with metal jewelry. In this class, students learn different methods of soldering, safety techniques, and how to keep their work protected.
San Francisco, CA
Hobbyists looking to learn the basics will find what they need through jewelry making classes in San Francisco.
The Silver Dream course lasts multiple sessions and is open to students of beginner to intermediate skill levels. Attendees will learn how to work with silver through sawing and soldering. The course has additional fees for both materials and working with studio tools.
Virtual Jewelry Making Classes
Online classes have many advantages over in-person classes. Students are able to learn in whatever environment they find to be the most comfortable. This might be their home office, a coffee shop, or another favorite study area. Students also have more course options when attending online classes since they aren’t limited to only locally available classes. Online classes also don’t feature the costly commute prevalent of in-person classes, and they often offer more flexible scheduling.
Online classes aren’t perfect options for everyone. With online classes, students often must supply their own materials or equipment. Students without a reliable computer or laptop would be best served through attending an in-person class with a computer lab. Some students also prefer the environment of in-person classes over online as they are more able to directly interact with their instructor and they encounter fewer distractions than learning from home. Some hands-on topics don’t translate as well to online learning as they do for in-person classes.
Students from anywhere in the country may attend online jewelry making classes such as the virtual Hammered Earring course. Students will learn how to make earrings by viewing a live demonstration that includes how to forge, solder, and finish pieces. Time is allotted for questions and a materials list is provided. Class sizes are usually small. A reliable internet correction is required.
Private Group Jewelry Making Classes
Private jewelry making classes are available for your business or organization. Jewelry making as team building events can improve communication and planning skills within your team. Engaging in a fun activity also boosts employee motivation, creativity, and productivity. If you’re looking for a fun corporate team-building event, CourseHorse has live online group classes that they can deliver to you.
Virtual Polymer Clay Jewelry is one such private group jewelry making course. The class teaches basic techniques for working with polymer clay. Participants can create a variety of jewelry pieces, including earrings, brooches, and keychains. Materials are provided.
Though not specifically jewelry, the Virtual Clay Marbling Workshop is a related course for pure beginners looking for a fun and approachable activity. Participants are taught basic techniques for working with polymer clay to create decorative bowls and plates. The skills taught in this class could be translated to crafting decorative jewelry pieces. Materials are provided.
CourseHorse confirms your reservation within 24 hours of booking and does not charge booking fees. Group sizes can also be changed after booking if needed, and events can be canceled without a fee if given more than two weeks notice. Multiple platforms are supported beyond Zoom, so your team can learn over whichever application they are familiar with. Courses are customizable for an additional fee and demos are available if you are unsure if an event is right for your group.
What Will I Need to Learn Jewelry Making?
Many types of jewelry making involve working with wire metal. For this practice, you will need a jeweler's saw for cutting the metal, a flush cutter for making even cuts, and various pliers for wrapping and shaping the metal. A jeweler’s hammer may also be useful for securing the metal. Beads and premade pendants may be purchased to embellish jewelry.
However, the specific type of jewelry you wish to create may include additional or completely different materials. For example, clay jewelry commonly involves metal wire for making pieces such as earrings. Other tools required include craft knives for cutting the clay, a stylus for adding textures, a rolling pin suitable for clay, and of course polymer clay.
Jewelry can be made out of many different materials, including plastic, wood, glass, fabric, and many others. Each unique craft will require its own specific tools. If you’re uncertain which type of jewelry interests you most, attending a jewelry making class can help you identify your passions without the upfront cost of splurging for all the necessary materials and tools on your own.
For many jewelry making classes, materials are provided for each student. For classes that run multiple sessions, materials are usually provided for the first class and students are given a materials list to gather for subsequent sessions. Multiple session classes are perhaps best suited for students who have already decided on the type of jewelry making that interests them most.
Is it Difficult to Learn Jewelry Making?
While becoming a professional jeweler and creating a successful and profitable business can take years, anyone can pick up the craft of jewelry making. There are many accessible avenues for beginners with simple projects such as stringing beads, shaping clay, or wrapping wire. Those who are devoted to the craft can quickly advance to more intricate and difficult techniques. Overall, jewelry making is a craft that is readily approachable for all skill levels.
