DIY Alterations
2026-05-14 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Perennial, 3762 S. Broadway, Saint Louis, MO, 63118, United States
Materials saved from the landfill:
clothing
Skills you’ll learn:
hemming, fit alterations
Join this sewing workshop to learn a handful of techniques that will have your clothes fitting and feeling just right! In this demonstration-based class, we’ll cover ways to hem clothing, change the shape and fit of a garment, remove and change elements such as collars, sleeves, or buttons for a new look, and more. You’ll get step-by-step tutorials on each of these processes and we’ll have time for a class show-and-tell where we‘ll share what alteration projects we want to tackle and each get advice on the project.
Participants should have basic knowledge of how to use a sewing machine or have taken Perennial’s Sewing Machine Basics workshop.

DIY Cookbook Stand
2026-05-14 18:00 - 20:00
Skills you’ll learn:
bandsaw, select hand tools
Materials saved from the landfill:
wood
Say goodbye to losing your place in your cookbook + staining its pages! In this class you’ll learn how to use power tools to make your very own cookbook stand using reclaimed wood. This design holds standard-sized cookbooks as well as tablets. It can also be disassembled and stored flat in a drawer when not in use. Take home the perfect stand for your favorite recipes!

Herbal Salves from the Garden
2026-05-13 18:00 - 20:00
Materials saved from the landfill:
plastic packaging
Skills you’ll learn:
making salves with natural materials + common plants
Create your very own set of healing salves with plants collected from Perennial’s educational dye garden! In this workshop, Tara will demonstrate how to infuse shelf-stable oils with garden plants like mint + st. john’s wort (subject to change based on what we harvest!) to create a soothing skin salve. You’ll leave this workshop with two salves that have different practical + medicinal benefits.
Please note: we will be using beeswax in this class.

Home Repair: Wood Windows
2026-05-13 18:00 - 20:00
Materials saved from the landfill:
windows with wooden frames
Skills you’ll learn:
window anatomy, removing + replacing glazing, removing + replacing paint
Learn from our instructor Kelsey Moss of Moss Restoration how to spot damage in those classic St. Louis wood windows. In this class, you’ll learn how to repair your old wood windows yourself to maintain energy efficiency + beautiful character in your home. You’ll focus on removing and replacing cracked + crumbling window glazing, the sealant that keeps the glass in and the wind out. You’ll also learn how to remove chipping paint using eco-friendly SoyGel + other techniques. Any other questions you have about your old windows will be great discussion topics for class. Next time the wind’s howling, rest assured that it’s just a friend from beyond and not a call to a repair company!

Tools 202: Power Saws
2026-05-12 18:00 - 20:00
Please note: participants are required to have taken Tools 101: Power Saws prior to taking this class.
Materials saved from the landfill:
wood
Skills you’ll learn:
Tools 202: Power Saws goes beyond the basics of safety and operations covered in Tools 101: Power Saws. This class covers more specific operations common to band saw, circular saw, and miter saw use. Participants will get hands-on experience with more types of cuts and techniques to use the tools more efficiently. This class also covers more information about maintenance and tuning to get the best and safest long-term results from the tools.

DIY Solid Perfume
2026-05-12 18:00 - 20:00
Materials saved from the landfill:
waste from store bought perfume bottles, glass jars, essential oils
Skills you’ll learn:
developing a scent blend, melting wax and oil to properly scent your perfume
Develop your own eco-friendly solid perfume from natural and upcycled materials! In this class, we’ll walk through the difference between carrier oils and essential oils and cover the ingredients necessary to make your own blend. Learn about base, middle, and top notes in scent, and leave with a custom-scented perfume in a reclaimed container!

Intro to Papermaking
2026-05-09 13:00 - 15:00
Materials saved from the landfill:
matte board, scrap paper
Skills you’ll learn:
pulling + pressing sheets of paper using a mould and deckle
Create beautiful, handcrafted papers! In this workshop, participants will make handmade papers using discarded paper waste. The class will cover the basics of papermaking techniques, including fiber and pulp preparation, how to form sheets using a mould and deckle, and pressing and drying techniques. Each participant will make as many sheets as time allows. No papermaking experience required. Expect to get messy!

Home Repair: Electrical Level 2
2026-05-09 13:00 - 15:00
Description coming soon!
Please note: students should complete Home Repair: Electrical before attending.

Intro to Mosaics, 5/9+5/16
2026-05-09 10:00 - 12:30
Materials saved from the landfill:
Chipped plates, broken windows, and more!
Skills you’ll learn:
tile cutting, adhering tile and glass, grouting
Please note that this two-day class meets on Saturday, May 9 from 10am – 12:30pm and on Saturday, May 16 from 10am – 11:30am.
Learn the basics of mosaics while making a custom design! Using reclaimed glass and ceramic-ware, learn how to create your own mosaic from beginning to end in this two-day workshop. In the first session, Perennial staff will teach you how to cut scraps of glass and tile to create a custom colorful design. The class will cover mortars, grouts, and how to prep surfaces to hold a mosaic. After giving your designs time to dry, the class will meet again for the second session and participants will learn how to complete their mosaic by applying a grout finish.

Home Repair: Sinks
2026-05-07 18:00 - 20:30
Materials saved from the landfill:
sinks, faucets, and other parts
Skills you’ll learn:
sink problem triage, sink anatomy, addressing common sink + drain issues
Every homeowner or long-time renter has experienced an issue with a sink or faucet. Do you call in a professional or is that little drip or stuck handle something you can take on yourself? Learn the basics of kitchen + bathroom sinks, faucets, and drains in this treasured home repair class. You’ll go through the process of assembling and repairing a drain, replacing faucets, and diagnosing and repairing other common sink and drain issues. This class also covers common tools and materials you may need to tackle that next replacement or repair.

Serger Basics
2026-05-07 18:00 - 20:00
Materials saved from the landfill:
textiles
Skills you’ll learn:
serger parts, threading a serger, serging
Level up your sewing game by learning the basics of using a serger! Sergers, or overlockers, are used to create clean + strong seams and finished edges in a sewing project, often in garment making. They are a great partner to a sewing machine since they can speed up a project by sewing, trimming, and finishing the edges of fabric all at once. In class, you’ll practice using a serger to finish an edge of a reusable paper towel. After class, you can come back to use our sergers for your personal projects in Open Studio.

Intro to Crochet
2026-05-06 18:00 - 20:00
Description coming soon!

DIY Worm Bin
2026-05-06 18:00 - 19:30
Materials saved from the landfill:
plastic bins, food waste, paper + cardboard
Skills you’ll learn:
vermicomposting, how to use worm casting for plants
Have you been curious about composting with worms (AKA vermicomposting)? Do you have a garden or houseplants? Are you seeking a pet that requires very little effort? Are you looking for some way to keep your food scraps from the landfill? If you’d answer these questions with a “yes,” or even a “maybe,” then this workshop is for you! Ro, of Ro’s Wigglers will take you through a DIY Worm Bin build from start to finish using materials you’d find around your house. You’ll learn how to maintain and use your worm bin and its compost, leaving with a finished bin that includes your new wiggly pets ready to get to work creating the BEST soil for your plants.
All materials for class will be provided, but if you’ve got a plastic bin laying around that is not clear and is ideally wider than it is tall, you can bring it with you to create your worm bin!

Tools 101: Power Saws
2026-05-05 18:00 - 20:00
Skills you’ll learn:
chop saw/miter saw, band saw, jig saw, circular saw
Learn how to safely and effectively cut reclaimed wood with the power tools in Perennial’s woodshop. In this hour and a half hands-on demo, you’ll learn how to safely use the chop saw (miter saw) to make square and angled cuts. By learning the band saw and jig saw, you’ll be able to make unique cuts of virtually any shape. By completing this crash course, you will be trained to properly and safely use any of the power saws listed above for future projects at Perennial.

Make Your Own Yarn
2026-05-05 18:00 - 20:00
Materials saved from the landfill:
fabric scraps, orts (those tiny scraps of thread + yarn from sewing and textile projects!)
Skills you’ll learn:
technique for making fabric scrap twine, coiling technique for “art yarn” developed by the instructor
Ever wondered what to do with the scraps left over from your sewing + textile projects? Textile artist Kate Hargis will teach you how to give them a new life by turning those scraps into treasures that can be used in even more projects! You’ll learn two different techniques for making yarn out of scraps; the first is a technique for making twine out of fabric scraps (pictured on the left), and the second is a technique developed by Kate to make your own art yarn – multi-colored + textured yarn to be used in a variety of projects (pictured on the right).

Open Studio
2026-05-02 13:00 - 17:00
Have you learned a skill at Perennial and are ready to put it into action? Get to work in the shop and make your DIY dreams a reality! Come with your own ideas, designs, and materials (or purchase some here) and craft alongside other sustainable makers.
In order to use Perennial tools, you must be trained on safety and proper usage from taking a Perennial class. For example, to use the Chop Saw in the woodshop you should have taken Tools 101 Power Saws, to use a soldering iron in the ReUse Studio you should have taken a soldering class.
For more information about Open Studio, check out our FAQ page.
Each 2 hour session is $15.
Tools available in the Woodshop include: table saw, chop saw, jig saw, drill press, power drills, belt sander, planer, lathe, and traditional hand woodworking tools.
Tools available in the ReUse Studio include: sewing machines and sewing/quilting tools, soldering irons, upholstery tools, leather working tools, mosaic supplies, blenders, dye pots, pans and bowls, hot plates, measuring spoons, cutting mats, tapestry looms, paper-making supplies, wine bottle cutters, mark-making tools, and more!

Darning + Mending: Weaves
2026-05-02 10:00 - 12:30
Materials saved from the landfill:
clothes and other household textiles
Skills you’ll learn:
darning, repairing holes in clothing
Never worry about damaging your favorite pair of jeans again! In this class, students will learn how to repair small holes in woven, non-stretch fabric garments using traditional mending + darning techniques. Students will be provided with hole-y sample swatches to practice on, creating your own visible mending samplers to take home with you. We’ll discuss how to use the skills learned in class to repair your woven clothing yourself at home, visibly and invisibly.

Tools 101: Dremel
2026-05-02 10:00 - 11:30
Skills you’ll learn:
dremel
A dremel is a handy, small but mighty tool. Learn how to use it for repair tasks, tiny model-sized work, engraving, polishing, cutting screws, cutting tiles, and more!

Intro to Alterations: Tailoring
2026-04-30 18:00 - 20:00
Photo + description coming soon!

Home Repair: Drywall + Plaster
2026-04-30 18:00 - 20:00
Materials saved from the landfill:
Drywall, plaster
Skills you’ll learn:
Patching + repairing cracks in drywall and plaster
Join us for this demonstration class to learn how to work with walls. Participants will discuss the different materials that walls are made of and will learn proper techniques for hanging on each type. You’ll also learn about proper use of power drills, and will learn how to patch and repair sections of drywall with a variety of tools and products. This class is well-suited for new homeowners and DIY-ers interested in maintaining walls of their old St. Louis home instead of tearing them out.

DIY Rain Barrel
2026-04-29 18:00 - 20:00
Materials saved from the landfill:
hardware, barrel
Skills you’ll learn:
rain barrel tips, construction, drilling
Learn how to collect rain water in your own backyard with a rain barrel! A local gardening expert will give a talk on the importance + benefits of rainwater collection for the watershed and for your home. After the talk, Perennial staff will lead the class in altering their food-safe 55-gallon drums to transform them into rain collectors, and will instruct on ways to incorporate them into your yard, including creating a base to elevate them, and demonstrating how to connect them to your downspout. Additional hardware may be required to connect to your downspout at home or to winterize your barrel, but a basic setup will be provided. The setup and parts provided in class ONLY work with a rectangular downspout that is 2″ x 3″ or 3″ x 4″. Come to class with pictures of your home and downspout options, and the instructor will give advice on the best place to connect your rain barrel and how to alter your barrel for its new home.

Intro to Upholstery: Dining Room Chair
2026-04-29 18:00 - 20:00
Materials saved from the landfill:
chair, fabric
Skills learned:
pattern-making, webbing, upholstery
In this demo-based class, you’ll get an introduction to basic upholstery as you explore the tricks to re-covering the seat of an old dining chair and learn to create a new seat structure with webbing. Plus, you’ll learn how to make your own handmade webbing stretcher. With all this knowledge, you won’t be able to stop re-envisioning and reupholstering where you sit when you get home!

Tools 101: Router
2026-04-28 18:00 - 20:00
Skills you’ll learn:
hand router, table router, trim router
Learn how to safely and effectively shape reclaimed wood with the router tools in Perennial’s woodshop. In this 2-hour hands-on demo, you’ll learn how to safely use a handheld and table router to add appealing decorative finishes to your woodworking projects. These tools will allow you to engrave, carve, and cut wood to give your project a professional finish. Participants will leave with a small sampler of routered wood scrap.
With any woodworking project, it takes practice to master the skills necessary, but this course will introduce you to the tools and safe practices.

Copper Rings + Bracelets
2026-04-28 18:00 - 19:30
Materials saved from the landfill:
copper wire
Skills you’ll learn:
wire-stripping, wire-shaping techniques, jewelry sizing
Impress your friends with your handmade copper jewelry. In this class you’ll practice techniques to source, strip, and shape upcycled copper wire for jewelry making. Korey will share examples from her own resourceful jewelry business and demonstrate multiple designs and creative ways to size jewelry. You’ll leave class with at least one ring and bracelet of your own.

Tools 101: Drills + Sander + Planer
2026-04-23 18:00 - 19:30
Skills you’ll learn:
power drill, drill press, belt sander, planer
Learn how to safely and effectively cut your reclaimed wood with the tools in Perennial’s wood shop. In this hour and a half demo, you’ll learn how to safely use hand-held power drills and the drill press to create joinery and attach hardware to your projects. We will also learn how to smooth and shape your wood projects with the belt sander and thickness planer. By completing this crash course, you will be trained to properly and safely use the power drill, drill press, belt sander, and planer for future projects at Perennial.

Craft Club
2026-04-23 17:30 - 19:00
Join the creative folks at Perennial for Craft Club! Each month, we host this happy hour event to test out our newest craft ideas while building a sustainable, creative community. All of the materials + instruction will be provided for a surprise, bite-sized craft. Whether you have a lot or just a little experience with crafting, we welcome you! This month we’re meeting at Perennial in our ReUse Studio. Coffee, tea, + cookies will be available, but feel free to bring your own drinks and food!
Ticket options:

Perennial members that want to use their Craft Club pass should email classes@perennialstl.org to sign up (and bring their pass with them to the event).
Members attending without a pass can select the member priced ticket.
Everyone else should choose the non-member ticket option.

Tools 101: Lathe
2026-04-21 18:00 - 20:00
Skills you’ll learn:
lathe woodturning
Learn how to safely and effectively shape reclaimed wood with the lathe in Perennial’s woodshop. In this hour and a half hands-on demo, you’ll learn how to safely use the lathe to turn wood to make bowls, spindles, vessels, and more (with lots of practice!). You’ll discuss the different tools used on the lathe, including different gouges and the parting tool. By completing this crash course, you will be trained to properly and safely use the lathe for future projects at Perennial.
With any woodworking project, it takes practice to master the skills necessary, but this course will introduce you to the tools and safe practices.

Home Repair: Electrical
2026-04-18 13:00 - 15:00
Skills you’ll learn:
Basic electrical work
Quash your fears of working with electrical basics in your home! Join us for this demonstration class to learn what’s safe to do yourself and when it’s time to call in the professionals. Our instructor Joel, an electrical engineer, will take you through the steps of replacing or installing a grounded light fixture using common tools needed for the job. Along the way, he’ll help you gain an understanding of what makes an electrical system safe or unsafe and how to assess common issues yourself.

Garden Tool Sharpening + Repair
2026-04-18 13:00 - 15:00
Materials saved from the landfill:
garden tools
Skills you’ll learn:
sharpening, tightening, un-bending your tools
Bring in your garden tools with dull blades, loose wooden handles, and bent metal pieces for a tune-up! We’ll take you through these basic fixes on our own garden tools + give you the chance to work on your own.

Sewing Machines: Level 2
2026-04-18 10:00 - 12:30
Skills you’ll learn:
zippers, pattern reading, choosing fabrics, stitches
Feel confident stitching on your sewing machine, but want to take your skills to the next level? Join this Level 2 sewing class to learn all the unique features of the sewing machine that can help you tackle your next big project! We’ll cover topics ranging from sewing specialty fabrics, to following basic patterns, to getting wacky and having fun with the machine as a craft or sculpting tool. You’ll leave with knowledge about specialty sewing machine feet and how to use them, selecting the right stitch for different projects, and how to use your machine to tackle zippers, buttonholes, and more.
Please note: participants should have basic knowledge of how to use a sewing machine or have taken Perennial’s Sewing Machine Basics workshop.
