Experience Gift Ideas for the Curious DIYer

If you’re looking for gifts for a craft lover or creative friend, these experience gift ideas in Chicago are perfect for them! Rather than opting for a material item or something you’re not sure they’ll love they can join a creative workshop where they can learn a new skill or advance their DIY repertoire. We offer everything from fiber arts to ceramics classes to inspire them.

The great thing about these workshops is that they are perfect for beginners, so they can try something new with ease. If you’re looking for Mother’s Day gift ideas, your mom will love the opportunity to spend time with you while learning how to knit or by creating matching macrame plant hangers. You and your partner could have an exciting date night in a pottery workshop as an anniversary present. You can even treat your BFF to a fun friend craft date and learn how to upcycle your thrifted clothes with custom embroidery!

Keep reading for more information about these awesome DIY experience gift ideas!

Three students in a macrame workshop learn how to make macrame plant hangers with colorful cord.

Upgrade your DIY decor with macrame projects

Macrame has had another resurgence since its peak in the 1960s, and for a good reason. The calming process of knot tying allows you to relax with a hands-on project. Macrame is easy to learn, and with an expert guide, you can make stunning macrame designs!

You can learn how to make macrame wall hangings that will bring a relaxed vibe to your home, or you can learn how to make more useful items like a DIY plant hanger or even a fruit hammock. Macrame classes in Chicago make for perfect gifts for DIY-lovers as they will allow you to instantly upgrade your home decor with handmade items. Not to mention, it’s fun to do!

A pottery student uses a knife tool to trim their pot on the wheel in a wheel throwing class.

Pottery classes make the best creative dates

Pottery workshops make some of the most popular craft classes in Chicago. This is because it is a fun activity and you can even leave with handmade ceramics you made yourself. The ceramics process can be a long journey, but with an expert potter by your side, they can help you to make something you’ll love in just one session.

Pottery classes make for great date ideas whether with a friend or partner. You can try something new and embark on a creative challenge together. There is no doubt that there will be many laughs as you learn to master the art.

You can gift hand-building workshops, wheel throwing workshops, pottery painting classes, kintsugi, and more! This class is great for craft lovers because you can learn how to DIY your own homewares. Learn how to make custom ceramics that will fit seamlessly into your home decor and that will impress your friends and family!

Two crochet students in a crocheting workshop help each other with their projects.

Knitting classes for beginners to advanced

If you’re looking for gift ideas for a DIY queen, we suggest a knitting class in Chicago! Knitting is a great skill for DIY-ers to learn because it’s easy and versatile. You can learn how to knit blankets, sweaters, scarves, and more in a basic knitting workshop!

These knitting classes also make great gifts for intermediate knitters to learn new knitting stitches and techniques to advance their skills. Or if they’ve mastered every knitting pattern in the books, treat them to a crocheting class where they can start from square one! Soon they’ll be knitting handmade blankets and scarves as gift ideas for you!

A student in a terrarium building workshop reaches into their glass bowl container to position a plant.

Terrarium building for the nature lover

If your friend or family member is both a plant lover and a DIY enthusiast, they would love a terrarium building workshop as an experience gift idea. In a terrarium workshop in Chicago, they can combine their two loves by crafting a miniature garden to add to their home or office space.

These adorable terrariums are made up of layered soil and rocks, small plants, and a glass container. These terrariums are low maintenance and sometimes even self-sustaining, so there’s no big commitment when you decide to bring one into your life! They will instantly brighten up your space bringing positive energy into your life.

Someone ties a lot with thread in an embroidery workshop.

Learn how to upcycle clothes with embroidery

If you’re looking for gift ideas for your most stylish friend, the avid thrift shopper in your life, or an upcycling pro, they’ll benefit from learning embroidery! Embroidery is a great way to personalize your wardrobe and bring some life into second-hand goods.

When you give this creative gift experience to a friend, they’ll have the opportunity to learn easy embroidery stitches and techniques from a friendly and passionate instructor. You don’t need any sewing skills beforehand, you’ll learn everything you need to know in class! Hopefully, after an embroidery workshop, you’ll be inspired to upcycle more clothes with your new skills, which will allow you to live a more colorful and sustainable life!

These classes will delight a DIY lover in your life. They make the perfect gifts for moms, her, him, or them! A DIY lover probably knows the positive benefits crafting has on their mental well-being, so gift them the excuse to enjoy some special me-time doing something they love with one of these creative workshops in Chicago!