I sit in front of a computer screen 8-10 hours a day, writing, reading, coding, editing, and email. My career relies heavily on my brain and I will never complain about that. But because I spend so much time online and in one stationary position most days, I love working with my hands in my free time.
I love creating beautiful things with thread and needle, wood and screws, and brush and canvas. D-I-Y are my three favorite letters in the alphabet and Boulder has a number of excellent, locally owned businesses to feed my (and hopefully your) creative needs.
Read on to find a store that caters to your favorite crafting activity in Boulder.
Shuttle, Spindles & Skeins
If you’re at all into knitting and crocheting, the name of this shop is enough to give you chills of anticipation. This shop is a one-stop-shop for “fiber arts,” which is a fancy name for knitting, spinning yarn, or crocheting. They not only have a massive selection of yarn, they have books and classes as well.
Two Hands Paperie
I have a “thing” for decorative paper. I love the texture, I love the smell, and I love the colors. I can go in to Two Hands and just browse their handmade paper for hours. So, yes, they have decorative paper, but they also have so much more than that. You can take classes on book arts, calligraphy, paper arts, and more. If you see a weird girl spending too much time in the paper section, just ignore her and continue enjoying your time in the store.
Elfriede’s Fine Fabrics
For those of you into sewing, this store is the bee’s knees! Of course, they have sewing classes for all experience levels, but they also have an extensive selection of fabric types including Japanese fabrics, silks, and, my personal favorite, velvet. Why not learn to make your own clothes this year?
Hoi Polloi Pottery Workshop
Want to get hands-deep into clay in your spare time? This workshop is dedicated to bringing pottery and ceramic arts to the masses and you could be one of the lucky people creating in their space. They have wheel throwing classes (think Ghost, minus sexy Patrick Swayze) and work on a membership basis for drop in use.
Simple Spoon
Real talk: I have never made a pot of rice without it being over or undercooked. I’m not what you would call “culinarily inclined” but I’ve been trying to get a little bit better about it this year. While Simple Spoon is a caterer, it also offers cooking classes for those looking to learn to be a little more adept in their own kitchen.
These are just a smattering of DIY and crafting stores in Boulder. What are some of your favorites?
