LEARN

LEARN

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Courses &
workshops

ABOUT

Designed for a variety of skill levels, our courses, workshops, and bespoke trainings are led by professional makers – and are tailored to give you the confidence and skill to start any project you imagine.

Person in CNC Area
Person working in wood area of workshop
Person in protective mask using sander
Person in protective gear in workshop area
Person organising planks of timber
Person in protective gear in workshop area
Person organising planks of timber

FUNDING

EOW runs a discretionary hardship fund – because we believe nothing should keep people from creating.

If you are in need of a concessionary rate, scholarship, or would like to start a payment plan for any of our courses or workshops, simply fill out the Bursary/Support Application form and we can help get you started.

LEVELS

Learning by Edinburgh
Open Workshop

To help choose the best course for you, we’ve tiered our courses into four levels:

Beginner:

Beginner covers the basics of a skill/craft, and are practice oriented rather than project oriented (materials always provided)

Novice:

Novice applies the basics of a skill/craft to a small, pre-designed project with hands on instruction provided by an instructor (materials often provided)

Intermediate:

Intermediate offers development of a skill/craft around a customisable pre-designed project with guidance and support provided by an instructor (basic consumables provided, project materials purchased by student)

Advanced:

Advanced encourages confidence of a skill/craft with a fully student designed project, with advice and support available by and instructor (all materials supplied entirely by student)

Person working closely with fabric measurements Person using pencil and ruler to mark wood for cutting Person measures up and marks wood with chalk Two people laugh while working in wood area of Edinburgh Open workshop Screen printing tools on shelf Sparks fly as person in protective mask welds metal

Summer Series

Introduction to Furniture Design & Making

Beginner

Person measures up and marks wood with chalk
Person using a sander on sheet of wood
Computer rendering of small wooden table
Person using measuring tape on electrical saw machine

Introduction to Furniture Design & Making

Beginner

Week Long Course

Mornings, 9:00 – 13:00

£475

Have a little extra time this summer, and a good amount of interest in scaling up your woodworking skills?

Then come join our new woodworking week-long workshop! Specially tailored for those who have completed any introductory EOW woodworking course, or those with prior woodworking experience – this week-long workshop will see you sharpen your design and woodworking skills working alongside designer/maker James, of Birbeck’s Woodwork.

Participants will work from a custom design to create a small table all while gaining confidence in workshop machinery and tools, and the ability to plan future projects solo.

Handmake a Garden Bench

Beginner

Small completed garden bench
Person in protective gear saws wood on machine
Person using pencil and ruler to mark wood for cutting

Build a handmade bench for your garden or yard. A simple, elegant design with curved legs.

Learn with fine furniture maker, Anna of Aln Furniture. This course is designed for beginners or those with a grip on the basics looking to improve their craft. Participants will learn basic furniture design, tool, and machine use, and traditional/modern woodworking skills. At the end of the course, Anna is on hand to offer advice on your next project so that you can keep making even after the course has finished. All materials for the stool are included.

Mixed Media Courses

Craft a Stool – with welding and woodwork

Beginner

Small finished stool made from wood and metal
Person using welding machine
Person sanding wood

Craft a Stool – with welding and woodwork

Beginner

Wednesday Evenings, 6 weeks

18:00 – 20:00

£350

Try your hand at welding AND woodworking as you learn to build your own short stool.

In the first 4 weeks of the course, you will get a get an introduction to MIG welding theory and practice as they learn typical welding cutting and joining techniques as they construct the steal frame of their stool.

In the final 2 weeks, you will learn about cutting, planing, and crafting a wooden seat to complete you project. Working with experienced makers and furniture designers, Gavin of Models and Props and James of Birbeck’s Woodwork, participants will gain confidence with wood and metal tool and machine use, and learn about the design potential of mixing mediums. All materials for the stool are included.

Introduction to ‘DIY’

Beginner

Smiling instructor in workshop bay
Person working in woodwork area
Selection of DIY tools
Person taking notes in woodworking area

Introduction to ‘DIY’

Beginner

Choose from

Tuesday OR Thursday Evenings, 4 weeks | 18:00 – 20:00

Saturdays, 4 weeks | 11:00 – 13:00

Saturdays Intensive Session, 2 weeks | 11:00 – 15:00

£250

Want to tackle your next home improvement project yourself? Join experienced carpenter & maker, Stuart Nairn, and learn how to use hand and power tools.

This course is aimed at those keen to fix, build and finish small projects, and unearth the secrets of basic woodworking and repair for DIY. Learn how to make a set of shelves, and use wall plugs to fit them, and the importance of finding the right tool for the job. Participants will leave with their own handmade simple plywood toolbox, and the confidence to begin their own projects at home, and at EOW.

Furniture Upcycling Workshop

Beginner

4 multi-coloured hand painted tables
3 small painted decorated tables
People working on hand painted furniture in workshop
3 small multi-coloured painted tables

Furniture Upcycling Workshop

Beginner

Saturday Workshop

10:00 – 17:00

£175

Have a piece of furniture that could be perfect for your home but needs a bit of decorative love?

Join Jen of Happy Retro Furniture for a full day workshop where you learn how to choose the right pieces for upcycling, preparing your furniture for painting, designing, and functional finishing methods. Experiment with colours and pattern, while creating your own unique design and walk away with a new small vintage table. No previous experience of furniture painting is necessary. All materials are provided.

Painting Wooden Wall Art

Beginner

Colourful painted wall art with sun ray design
Circular wall art with geometric triangle design
Person carefully paints pattern on circular wall art
A piece of hand painted wall art in progress

Painting Wooden Wall Art

Beginner

Saturday Workshop

11:00 – 15:00

£70

Learn how to plan a geometric design, experiment with different masking tape techniques, mark making and paint application!

Join Jen of Happy Retro Furniture for a half day workshop to explore your creativity while you play with colours and pattern, while creating your own unique design and walk away with a new piece of art for your (or a friends) wall. All materials are provided. No previous experience painting is necessary.

Welding
Courses

The 2 day crash-course is designed to give the beginner a good grounding in welding theory and practice, typical welding joints and application.

Lots of practical training using the MIG welding process, with overview of alternative systems such as TIG, Stick (arc) welding and Gas welding. The course takes you through various welding techniques, from preparation, though cutting, angle grinder use, safety to giving you the basic skills to be flexible and competent in building welded structures, whether artistic and decorative or repair based projects.

Introduction to Welding

Beginner

Sparks fly as person uses metal grinder
Finished metal plant holder
Finished metal plant holder project with plant inside
Close up of finished metal plant holder

Introduction to Welding

Beginner

Mondays OR Wednesday Evenings, 4 weeks

18:00 – 20:00

£280

This 4 week course is designed to give the beginner a good grounding in MIG welding theory and practice, typical welding joints and application.

The course takes you through various welding techniques, from preparation, though cutting, angle grinder use, and safety to giving you the basic skills to be flexible and competent in building welded structures, whether artistic and decorative or repair based projects.

Woodworking Courses

Ready for your first date with woodworking? Learn the basics of woodworking, as you practice your new skills on a simple box, charcuterie board, or blanket ladder.

This course is designed to be an introduction to woodworking for those that have always wanted to give it a try, and not had the time or space. Participants will get an introduction to using woodworking tools, carpentry techniques and gain skills and confidence in a workshop setting.

Handcraft a Double Step Stool

Beginner

Instructor speaks in workshop
Various woodworking tools laid out on a workbench
Person smiling as they measure up wood in the workshop

Handcraft a Double Step Stool

Beginner

Tuesday Evenings, 4 weeks

18:00 – 21:00

£330

Build a double step stool designed to allow you to reach higher heights in your home.

Its simple, elegant curves are designed to help you learn how to use a router to shape the sides from a template as part of the course. As part of making fine furniture courses, you will work with Anna of Aln Furniture as you learn basic furniture design, tool, and machine use, and traditional/modern woodworking skills. At the end of the course, Anna is on hand to offer advice on your next project so that you can keep making even after the course has finished.

Handcraft a Shaker Design Drying Stand

Beginner

Pile of wood shavings
Instructor talks to student in workshop

Handcraft a Shaker Design Drying Stand

Beginner

Tuesday Evenings, 4 weeks

18:00 – 21:00

£330

Build a hardwood shaker design drying stand with sustainability in mind.

Rather than buying a plastic/metal dryer make your own that will last a lifetime in timber. A simple, elegant design with curved feet and a removable top drying section for extra family members towels. Learn with fine furniture maker, Anna of Aln Furniture. Participants will learn basic furniture design, tool, and machine use, and traditional/modern woodworking skills. At the end of the course, Anna is on hand to offer advice on your next project so that you can keep making even after the course has finished.

Introduction to Fine Woodworking

Beginner

Close up of finished wooden step stool
Student carefully measures out legs of wooden step stool project
Clamps hold wooden project in place

Introduction to Fine Woodworking

Beginner

Wednesday Evenings, 6 weeks

18:00 – 21:00

£400

Build a handmade stool with a carved seat based on simple, elegant Japanese design while working with fine furniture maker, Anna of Aln Furniture.

This course is designed for beginners or those with a grip on the basics looking to improve their craft. Participants will learn basic furniture design, tool, and machine use, and traditional woodworking skills. At the end of the course, Anna is on hand to offer advice on your next project so that you can keep making even after the course has finished. All materials for the stool are included.

Make Your Own Multi-Functional Table

Beginner

Hands measures up wood with chalk
Close up of finished multi-functional table project
Close up looking down on finished multi-functional table project
Close up of hands cutting wood with electrical blade

Make Your Own Multi-Functional Table

Beginner

Tuesday Evenings, 4 Weeks

18:00 – 21:00

£330

New to woodworking and keen to try your hand at making your own furniture?

Designed for beginners, this course takes you through the first steps of furniture design and construction while working with designer/maker James of Birbeck’s Woodwork. Participants will work from a custom design to create multifunctional piece of furniture that can be used as an indoor/outdoor table or stool for your home while you gain confidence around woodworking techniques, tools and machinery – all which you can use to plan your next project solo. All materials for the table are included.

Learn to Make Your Own Furniture

Beginner

Finished side table wooden project
Person using electrical equipment to cut wood in workshop
Close up of hands carefully measuring out piece of wood

Learn to Make Your Own Furniture

Beginner

Thursday Evenings, 6 Weeks

18:00 – 21:00

£400

New to woodworking and keen to try your hand at making your own furniture?

Designed for novices, this course takes you through the beginning steps of furniture design and construction while working with designer/maker James of Birbeck’s Woodwork. Participants will work from a custom design to create a side table OR telephone table (each course has a project focus, please choose a course with your desired project) for your home and gain confidence around woodworking techniques, tools and machinery – all which you can use to plan your next project solo. All materials for the table are included.

Gift
Vouchers

In search of the perfect gift?

Give the gift of Making with an EOW Gift Voucher.

Our vouchers are valid for a year and can be redeemed for courses, workshops, memberships, inductions, or space bookings.

Vouchers can be bought, and delivered to yourself, or straight to your recipient by email in an instant for the perfect last minute present.

Gift of making
package

£150

Give the gift of Making to someone special in your life with a voucher that gets someone nicely ready to start their next (or first!) project with a Standard Membership, and 4 Half Day Bookings. All they will need to do is set up a free online account with us, book a tour, and come ready to make!

EOW gift
voucher

CHOOSE

You can buy multiple vouchers to send to one person, or several people.

Vouchers are emailed directly to your recipient. Deliver them straight away or on a date in the future – perfect for both the well planned, and last-minute gift.

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