Are your hands tingling and you finally want to make something yourself again? Berlin is the perfect place to do just that! The city is bursting with ideas, workshops, studios and open studios where you can get creative - whether you want to make pottery, sew, saw or ferment. Between shops in the neighbourhood and large creative centres, you will find courses that show you step by step how to create your own personal works from raw materials. The best thing about it is that you not only take home something beautiful, but also a new skillset, lots of inspiration - and maybe even a dose of relaxation.
Please note: It's best to find out in advance in which language a DIY course is taking place!
Tip 1: Ceramics and pottery courses
Ceramics are a perennial favourite in the DIY world. It's hardly surprising, as we have had an insatiable fascination for mouldable masses since we were small children. Working ceramics and making pottery simply has something grounding about it. And you can create completely individual pieces for your interior, your kitchen or to give as gifts!
Pottery courses in Berlin:
Do-It-Yourself-Workshops by P. & C. | STUDIO CERAMICS, Mitte
Ceramics workshops at the CorA-Art workshop shop, Pankow
Ceramics and pottery courses at juuli Keramikdesign, Kreuzberg
Open workshop at Color Your Day, Schöneberg - every Monday from 6 pm (registration required)
Paint your own finished blanks:
Paint Your Style, several times in Berlin
Tip 2: Upcycling and repair
Repairing broken things is a skill that many people no longer have. Not only can you save money, but you also avoid producing unnecessary waste. There are numerous repair courses in Berlin, with bicycle repair and electrical appliances being the most popular topics. But upcycling courses are also very popular. For example, you can learn how to refurbish old furniture or become a fashion designer yourself.
Repair and upcycling courses in Berlin:
Events at NochMall, Reinickendorf
Haus der Materialisierung, Mitte
Repair Cafés in Berlin, various locations
TechLab of the German Museum of Technology, Kreuzberg
Tip 3: Urban Gardening
Just in time for spring, you can once again take part in courses in Berlin that will get your green fingers in gear. For example, learn how to best plant your balcony or which herbs there are to discover in nature. Alternatively, you can get involved in one of Berlin's urban gardening projects and regularly water, weed and - if the hard work has paid off - perhaps even harvest.
Suitable courses and workshops in Berlin:
Wild herb hikes, various locations
Open gardening days in the Prinzessinnengärten, Neukölln
Plant something! Workshops by Berliner Energie und Wärme, Mitte
Urban Gardening in Berlin
Tip 4: Craft courses and DIY programmes for children
Creative activities are an important building block for children's development. Discovering different materials, learning techniques and making suitable handicrafts all year round is one of the greatest joys of childhood. Fortunately, there are many programmes in Berlin that allow little ones to express themselves artistically or through crafts.
Courses for children:
Young Arts Neukölln
Creative workshops from the National Museums in Berlin
Egg colouring and Easter crafts at the Ökowerk, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf
Making paper at the German Museum of Technology, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
Tip 5: Colour, draw and print
Whether you are a beginner or have been painting for a while - there is a suitable painting course for everyone in Berlin. From classic oil and watercolour techniques to experimental mixed-media workshops. Many Berlin art schools and studios also offer courses for urban sketching, portrait drawing or nude drawing. Drawing sessions in museums such as the Alte Nationalgalerie are particularly exciting, where you can sketch directly in front of the originals of famous artists. And printing techniques should not be missing from the repertoire of a budding hobby artist. Try it out!
Creative courses for adults:
Workshops at MalSalon, Pankow
Workshops at the Printmaking Studio, Pankow
Creative workshops for adults at the Staatliche Museen Berlin
Tip 6: Discover DIY trends
Are you always up to date with the latest DIY trends and do you occasionally enjoy trying them out? Then you should take a look at the workshops on offer at Grimms Garten. In addition to the classics, you will also find unusual courses such as making vegan scented candles, jewellery design using the lost wax technique or your own organic face serum.
Tip 7: Sewing, knitting and more
Have you always wanted to tailor your own clothes, repair damaged clothing or know how to turn a ball of wool into a cosy scarf? Then immerse yourself in the creative world of sewing and knitting courses in Berlin! You'll find lovingly run studios, cosy needlework shops and professional workshops all over the city, where beginners and advanced sewers alike are welcome.
Sewing courses in Berlin:
Textilwerkstatt Fetzen & Flicken in the House of Materialisation, Mitte
Smilla Berlin, Schöneberg
Sew it yourself, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
Wieder und wider, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
Textile repair at the German Museum of Technology, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
Knitting courses in Berlin:
KNIT KNIT Berlin, Mitte
Alice im Wolleland, Tempelhof-Schöneberg
Tip 8: Creative supplies
To make sure you are suitably equipped for your new DIY projects, we have a few recommendations for shops where you can find artists' and creative supplies. There are both large specialist shops such as Modulor am Moritzplatz, which almost forms its own universe with its huge range, as well as small, lovingly curated shops in the neighbourhood that will help you with materials, inspiration and expert advice.
Some ideas for suitable shops:
Modulor, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
Frau Tulpe Stoffe, Mitte
Hobbyshop Rüther, Tempelhof-Schöneberg and Pankow
Knopf und Schnalle, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf
Tip 9: Unusual materials
When it comes to finding materials, it's worth going to flea markets and material exchanges. You might find an old piece of furniture that motivates you to start your next upcycling project or discover fabric remnants that are perfect for sewing. What other people call rubbish can turn out to be a real treasure trove for you. What's more, you can get the materials very cheaply or even for free and do something sustainable at the same time.
Material exchanges in Berlin:
Materialpool im Textilhafen, Pankow
MaterialMafia, House of Materialisation, Mitte
Flea markets in Berlin
Tip 10: Photography
If you want to immerse yourself in the world of photography, Berlin offers you a veritable Eldorado of photography workshops - all year round, indoors and outdoors, for beginners or advanced photographers.
It is always worth looking out for the accompanying programme of exhibitions in the city, for example from C/O Berlin, which specialises in photography as an exhibition venue, from the Helmut Newton Foundation or from the German Museum of Technology. The wonderful thing about photography is the combination of creativity and technology, which - in the case of analogue photography, for example - you can master with the help of a course.
Photo workshops in Berlin:
Workshops at C/O Berlin, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf
Photoworkshop at Teufelsberg, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf
Portrait photography at Haus Bastian, Mitte
Tip 11: Sourdough, fermentation & DIY cooking
Do-it-yourself doesn't stop at crafting - it can also be really tasty! DIY cooking is currently experiencing a real hype in Berlin, and rightly so. Because making things like sourdough bread, kombucha, kimchi or pickled vegetables yourself is not only healthier and more sustainable, it's also a lot of fun. In various workshops, you will learn the basics of fermentation, how to maintain a sourdough starter or what you need to consider when making your own apple cider vinegar.
Culinary DIY courses:
Sourdough course from KEIT, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
Workshops by Fermentation Ninja, Tempelhof-Schöneberg
Cooking courses by Goldhahn and Sampson , Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, Pankow, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
