Crafting can be a good outlet to learn a new skill, reduce screentime, and improve your mental health. With winter just around the corner, picking up a new hobby is the perfect way to pass the time indoors. But if you don’t want to beat the winter blues by yourself, here are some local craft clubs, workshops, and social nights bringing Philly together stitch by stitch.
Beginning as a Facebook group to connect Philadelphians to arts and fine crafts, the Craft Coven has since evolved to regularly hosting free and low-cost workshops. From poetry writing to open clay studios to casual “Gab and Glue” nights, the coven is helping others try a new craft (and maybe hex a nemesis along the way).
Created as an intentional space bringing crafters of color together, Craft Collective hosts free scrapbooking, junk journaling, and collage events at various partner locations in the city. Workshops like acrylic bookmark-making and bag charm-making are paid events, with prices varying.
If you’ve gone to Washington Square Park one Sunday afternoon to find it surprisingly packed, you may have run into Dessert Before Dinner’s Bring Your Own Craft event. The hobby meetup has expanded to a social club with regular programming including bouquet-making, combined yoga /clothing swaps, and of course, its craft cafes.
We’ve established that you can get more than just books at the Free Library, but the system also hosts a variety of craft activities as part of its daily programming. You can participate in the Guilt-Free Fiber Club at Northeast Regional Library, Crafternoons at Andorra Library, or Sew What? at the Parkway Central Library’s Arts Department. Find upcoming activities across its 54 branches on its events calendar.
Try your hand at crocheting, printmaking, or vision boarding with the Let Me Know Club. Beyond crafts, the group also organizes volunteer opportunities, book clubs, and other hobbies. Read more about Let Me Know Club’s origins and offerings here.
You may recognize the Drunken Knitwits’ handiwork from their display at the Singing Fountain. This group of self-proclaimed “knit-aholics” meets every Wednesday evening in Center City or University City to knit or crotchet. Participation costs $30 for a full-time membership and $15 for members who can only participate once a month. If interested, you can swing by for a month for free before officially deciding to join.
Don’t toss those old magazines just yet. Philly Scraps Club collaborates with local artists and venues to host collage and craft events throughout the city. Whether you’re collaging bookmarks, journals, or tarot cards, you can turn your scraps into something new. Find upcoming events on the group’s page or join its Geneva chat.
This cozy craft store tucked away in East Passyunk is a go-to resource for embroidery floss, yarn, and stick-on stencils. In addition to its crafting merchandise and workshops, the shop hosts a “Stitch and Bitch” every Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. Come with a project you’re working on and chat away.
