Detroit for the DIY Lover

Detroit Dye House, located in the historic Corktown neighborhood, specializes in hands-on tie dye experiences.

Their classic “Dye Class 101” is an hour-long session where you’ll learn all the basics of tie dyeing. You’ll dye three items – two for yourself and one to give back to the community.

They also frequently offer special edition workshops around holidays and events, so be sure to check their schedule before your visit to Detroit.

Detroit Wick is a sensory marketing agency that specializes in creating branded scents for hotels and other companies. The good news for crafty visitors to Detroit? They also offer a bookable Scent Lab, where you can join in the experience of creating a premium scented candle including the wax melting, wicking, scent creation, mixing, and pouring.

For the most part, scent labs are privately booked for groups of 10-100. Occasionally, Detroit Wick also offers publicly bookable scent labs for special events – such as Mother’s Day.

Painting with a Twist is the perfect fun activity for a date or night out with friends or family in Detroit.

Bring your own bottle of wine (or other beverage of choice) and a creative attitude. Painting with a Twist offers a huge range of two or three hour classes Tuesdays through Sundays. Check their schedule to see the painting subject each day. You can also book private classes for special events.

Pewabic Pottery is a Detroit icon. This ceramic studio was founded back in 1903, which makes it not only the oldest pottery studio in Detroit, but one of the longest continually operating pottery studios in the United States.

In addition to browsing and purchasing ceramics handmade by Detroit artists, visitors can also sign up for pottery workshops, classes, and studio tours.

Visitors with a short amount of time in Detroit will want to sign up for Pewabic’s one-hour tile glazing workshop, offered every Saturday. Detroit locals should check out their education studio for multi-week pottery courses.

Head to Creative Arts Studio in Royal Oak for pottery painting, mosaic-making, and glass fusing workshops – offered every day of the week and available for walk ins!

Detroit locals can also sign up for longer term courses – such as their extremely popular six week wheel throwing course, or crafty summer camps for kids.

AR Workshop is a boutique DIY studio with 125 locations across the country, including Metro Detroit locations in Ferndale, Northville, Rochester Hills, and Macomb.

Check their online schedule for current workshops, but expect a range of mixed-media DIY projects perfect for home decorating. Upcoming workshops include beginner crochet, wooden sign making, chunky blanket knitting, hat burning, and more.

Castalia is an experimental cocktail bar in Midtown with a unique spin: each cocktail is paired with a signature scent.

In addition to walk-ins and reservations at the cocktail bar, Castalia also offers small group classes. Try their “Fragrance Creation Class” where you’ll learn the science of scent, create your own custom scent, and sip cocktails throughout!

Signal Return is a nonprofit print shop in Detroit, all about preserving the art of traditional letterpress printing.

They regularly offer workshops for the public to learn about letterpress and try their own hand at it. Upcoming workshops include making your own letterpress coasters, printing your own set of posters, linoleum printing, and more.

Mirepoix is a cooking school in Metro Detroit, perfect for any foodies looking to book a hands-on cooking class from an experienced chef during their visit (or as a great Detroit date night).

Multiple cooking classes are scheduled per week, although they frequently sell out so it’s recommended to book a month or more in advance. Upcoming classes including A Night in India, Date Night in Havana, Sushi, Chinese Takeout, My Big Fat Greek Cooking Class, Fresh Pasta, and more!

Bath Savvy Naturals, located in Ferndale, is a bath and body product shop, specializing in personalized handcrafted experiences.

Their “Scent Experience” workshop is offered Tuesdays through Sundays with prior reservation, where guests create their own unique scents to add to sugar scrubs, body oils, or bath soaks.

POST by Mutual Adoration is a homeware shop in Detroit, where you can find handcrafted furniture, frames, and other items.

They also offer a huge range of craft workshops, including ceramics, printmaking, woodworking, fiber arts, poetry, jewelry making, sewing, and more. Visit their online schedule to see what workshops are offered during your visit.

City Knits is the place for yarn and knitting in Metro Detroit. For over 20 years, they have been offering knitting lessons and social gatherings to bring together fellow stitchers.

Social gatherings are held on Wednesday afternoons and Friday nights. Six-week courses for knitters of all skill levels are also offered.

Speckles and Splatter is a colorful and welcoming art and pottery studio in Dearborn that is ideal for visitors to Detroit due to their one-off classes and drop in studio hours.

Visit the studio to paint ceramics, wood signs, mosaics, paint canvases, and more. You can also book their “Try it Once Pottery Wheel Class” where you’ll learn how to throw clay on a pottery wheel – without the long term commitment.

In the mood for something really unique? Book a “Splatter Session” where you’ll have an entire room for yourself (and any friends) to splatter paint a 16 x 20 inch canvas (don’t’ worry, poncho and shoe covers are provided).

Valentine Distilling is another one for the craft cocktail lovers among you. Founded in 2007, Valentine Distilling is from Detroit’s (and the country’s) first wave of craft distilleries.

Visit their bar and tasting room for cocktails (made from their own spirits, of course) or schedule a craft cocktail class if you’re looking for something a bit more hands on. The interactive experience involves learning how to make two cocktails, as well as a souvenir Valentine Distilling copper jigger to take home.

The Painted Pot is an art studio in Rochester where you can paint your own pottery. In addition to a large range of ceramics to paint (think: mugs, plates, and even teapots!), you can also try your hand at a mosaic, glass, or clay project.

Walk ins are welcome at this studio, and they also offer private events for parties or businesses.

Don’t worry, we didn’t forget the photographers… If you’re more camera-inclined, take a photo tour with the Detroit Bus Company!

The three-hour photo tour will take you across Detroit to some of the more interesting landmarks and locations to photograph. You’ll be joined by a professional photographer instructor, and the tour can be tailored to any skill level or subject interest.

Finally, we have another option for a fun cooking class in Detroit: The Kitchen by Cooking with Que.

Head to downtown Detroit for the city’s only demonstration kitchen. At night, the shared space café turns into an event space where you can take part in health-focused cooking classes (think: juicing for beginners, 30-minute meals, plant-based meal prepping, make your own pasta, and more).