Do you know someone who’s crafty? Or wants to be? Encourage the urge (hey, they might make you something as a thank you!) and give them the gift of lessons. For sewing, I recommend The Sewing Studio. I met the owner at a party once, and she’s lovely. I haven’t taken lessons there myself, but my sister did the Introductory Sewing class last year and loved it.
For knitting classes, I recommend Leslieville’s own Purple Purl. This is my favourite knitting shop in the city, and not just because it’s around the corner. The owners, Jen and Miko, are so lovely. They are kind and patient with advice and tips, and have created a wonderful sense of community in their shop. They run classes in knitting, crochet, and spinning, for a variety of different skill sets, so even the most experienced stitcher can learn something new.
[image of the Purple Purl care of A Quarter To. Doesn’t that look like a nice place to spend some time learning?]