Tools 101: Lathe
2026-02-21 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Perennial, 3762 S. Broadway, Saint Louis, MO, 63118, United States
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
2026-02-21 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.

Toothbrush Rag Rug
2026-02-24 18:00 - 20:30
Materials saved from the landfill:
bedsheets, fabric
Skills you’ll learn:
buttonhole stitch, starting + finishing a circular rug, cutting fabric strips from bedsheets
Also referred to as “Amish knot” rugs, toothbrush rugs get their name from the tool used to make them. Toothbrushes, which were once wooden, had a hole in the handle giving early rag ruggers the idea to sharpen a used handle to a point creating the perfect tool for weaving scraps of fabric into a rug. In this class, you’ll learn how to begin a circular toothbrush rug, how to make the Amish knot or buttonhole stitch with a Perennial-made replica of the toothbrush needle, and how to finish off your project. You will leave class with a small rug that you can either use as a trivet or continue to build at home as large as you want it to be! We will also show you how to make fabric strips out of repurposed fabric or bedsheets for your project.

Serger Basics
2026-02-25 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.

Vintage Hardback Bookbinding
2026-02-25 18:00 - 21:00
Materials saved from the landfill:
paper, vintage books
Skills you’ll learn:
bookbinding signature sewing, paper tearing, proper gluing methods
A self-taught bookbinder, Katie will teach her personal method of upcycling vintage books. This method conserves the detailed embossing and character of hardback books while giving participants a chance to fill them with new interiors using recycled papers. In this class, participants will learn how to carefully extract the original book innards from its cover and replace it with hand sewn signatures. Participants are welcome to use their own vintage books and/or supplement the insides with their own papers, prints, or use the materials provided.

Intro to Alterations: Tailoring
2026-02-26 18:00 - 20:00
Photo + description coming soon!

Tools 101: Table Saw
2026-02-28 10:00 - 11:30
Skills you’ll learn:
table saw, circular saw
Learn how to safely and effectively cut your reclaimed wood with the tools in Perennial’s woodshop. In this hour and a half demo, you’ll learn how to safely use Perennial’s Saw Stop table saw to rip long boards and make cross cuts. You’ll learn how to identify when a circular saw would be a better fit for your cutting needs and how to safely clamp your wood and utilize this tool to make your projects come to life. By completing this crash course, you will be trained to safely and properly use the table saw and circular saw for future projects at Perennial.

Intro to Papermaking
2026-02-28 10:00 - 12:00
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!

Intro to Natural Dyeing
2026-02-28 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-03-14 13:00 - 15:00
Materials saved from the landfill:
fabric, onion skins/food waste, rusty nails
Skills you’ll learn:
processing dye materials, dye resist techniques
Natural dyes are a beautiful and sustainable way to bring color to textiles. In this workshop, natural dye artisan Erin Luna will show you how to create dye baths from locally foraged plant matter. Participants will learn how to process a few readily accessible dye materials, like black walnuts, goldenrod, and onion skins (subject to seasonal availability), to create hand-dyed fabrics in a neutral color palette including shades of yellow, olive green, brown, and black. Participants will be able to create test strips from each dye bath to keep for future reference. We will also provide a few larger pieces of fabric, such as repurposed bandanas made of 100% natural white cotton that have been prepared in a mordant. Participants will learn some dye resist techniques as well as the use of an iron modifier to change the dye color results.

Home Repair: Electrical Level 2
2026-02-28 13:00 - 15:00
Description coming soon!
Please note: students should complete Home Repair: Electrical before attending.

Mending with Embroidered Patches
2026-03-03 18:00 - 20:00
Materials saved from the landfill:
textiles
Skills you’ll learn:
embroidery stitches, securing a DIY patch
Use original embroidery designs to revive stained + hole-y clothing. You will learn several embroidery stitches and use them to create an original embroidered patch perfectly fit to your garment and personal style!

Sewing Machine Basics
2026-03-04 18:00 - 19:30
Skills you’ll learn:
overview of sewing machine parts and functions
Sewing machines can be a bit intimidating. Like any other tool, once you become familiar with its pieces and parts you will have more success (and fun!) using it to your advantage. In this introductory course, Perennial staff will cover the basic parts and functions of the sewing machine. This crash course will cover threading the machine, threading the bobbin, adjusting tension, adjusting the stitch width and length, and will introduce you to basic sewing language. This workshop is a prerequisite for other sewing classes at Perennial.

Intro to Upholstery: Dining Room Chair
2026-03-04 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!

Intro to Crochet
2026-03-05 18:00 - 20:00
Description coming soon!

Tools 101: Power Saws
2026-03-05 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.

Tools 101: Router
2026-03-07 10:00 - 12:00
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.

Intro to Chair Caning
2026-03-07 10:00 - 12:30
Materials saved from the landfill:
chairs
Skills you’ll learn:
caning, seat-weaving
Learn the art of chair caning from multidisciplinary designer and craftsperson Rob Morgan who grew up working in his parents’ antique business and has been hand-caning chairs since he was ten years old. In this class, you’ll have an opportunity to learn about different types of caning and seat-weaving as well as understand more about the history of the materials that have been used for this purpose over the years. Participants will get to practice chair caning on a small 6″ square seat that you can take home with you! The sample will help remind + guide you in restoration and repairs at home.

Open Studio
2026-03-07 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!

Tools 101: Traditional Hand Tools
2026-03-10 18:00 - 19:30
Skills you’ll learn:
back saw, hand saw, pull saw, coping saw, jack plane, block plane, wood chisels
Let’s go back to basics! Learn how to safely and effectively use a variety of hand tools in Perennial’s woodshop. In this hour and a half hands-on demo, you’ll learn the uses of traditional hand tools and gain a greater understanding of modern versions of those tools, including power tools. By completing this crash course, you will be trained to properly and safely use any of the tools listed above for future projects at Perennial.

Woven Wall Hanging
2026-03-10 18:00 - 21:00
Materials saved from the landfill:
t-shirts, bed sheets, reclaimed yarn, picture frames
Skills you’ll learn:
warping a loom, create fringe, weave stripes and shapes
Embellish your walls with your very own woven wall hanging! This introductory class will cover everything you need to know from setting up the loom to taking off your finished weaving and so many fun things in between. You’ll learn how to warp a loom, create fringe, weave stripes and shapes, and once you’ve created a masterpiece, how to take it from the loom to the wall. Class fee includes a handmade tapestry needle and frame loom to keep.

Hand Sewing 101
2026-03-11 18:00 - 20:00
Materials saved from the landfill:
fabrics, garments
Skills you’ll learn:
fabric identification, variety of stitches, button + patch attachment

Gone are the days of getting rid of a shirt because a button fell off, or having to run to a tailor because a seam ripped. In this class you’ll learn practical hand sewing skills that will allow you to mend your own clothes. You’ll learn how to thread a needle and knot the thread (that’s always the first step), sew a backstitch and a ladder stitch (for mending ripped seams), a blind hem stitch (for hemming pants), and how to reattach a button.

Reclaimed Vertical Planter
2026-03-11 18:00 - 20:30
Skills you’ll learn:
jigsaw, drilling holes, how to grow in a vertical planter
Materials saved from the landfill:
plastic food-safe barrels
Make your own vertical planter out of a reclaimed 55-gallon food-safe barrel. Perfect for apartment-balcony gardeners or gardeners with a yard that’s out of room for more plants! In class, you will cut into on your barrel, preparing it for the best growing conditions. You’ll also learn how to fill it and care for plants that grow in it, but because a full barrel is heavy and difficult to transport, you’ll take yours home empty, ready to be filled with soil and plants!

Tools 101: Drills + Sander + Planer
2026-03-12 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.

Cold Process Soapmaking
2026-03-12 18:00 - 20:30
Materials saved from the landfill:
spent cooking oil, plant materials
Skills you’ll learn:
cold process soapmaking
Learn the cold process soapmaking technique with a few natural + sustainable tips! In this class, we’ll demonstrate how to clean + repurpose old cooking oil as the basis for your soap. We’ll also discuss way to incorporate natural materials into your soap like infusing color and scents from plants, or using dried botanicals. Participants will learn to use upcycled milk cartons and yogurt containers to create their own soap.
Please note, cold-process soaps take around 6 weeks to cure before they can be used.

DIY Alterations
2026-03-14 10:00 - 12:00
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 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.

Home Repair: Wood Windows
2026-03-14 10:00 - 12:00
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!

Home Repair: Small Appliances
2026-03-14 13:00 - 15:00
Materials saved from the landfill:
small appliances
Skills you’ll learn:
assessing a repair job, desoldering + soldering, multimeter, safely opening an appliance
Learn to triage your small appliance’s wounds yourself! Electrical engineer Joel Schad will take you through a simple repair (and what to do when a repair becomes not-so-simple) on a common household small electrical appliance. You’ll get hands-on learning with small appliance surgery from opening up an appliance, to soldering + dressing its wires, to using a multimeter to read its pulse.

Home Repair: Drywall + Plaster
2026-03-17 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.

Thrift Flip: Button Downs
2026-03-17 18:00 - 21:00
Materials saved from the landfill:
textiles
Give secondhand shirts a fresh start! In this workshop, you’ll learn how to tailor and rework thrifted button-downs into new, wearable garments that reflect your personal style. Using basic sewing techniques and creative design choices, you’ll transform everyday finds into something completely your own — and keep perfectly good clothes out of the landfill.
We’ll provide shirts for you to work with, but if you have one in your size that could use a refresh, you’re encouraged to bring it along!
