Jewellery Making Course: Learn, Create and Make It Your Own
Have you ever looked at a piece of jewellery and wondered how it was made?
Perhaps you've thought about having a go yourself, but don't really know where to start. Maybe you've been to a one-day workshop and loved it, and now you'd like to learn more. Or perhaps you're simply looking for something new to do each week, somewhere to be creative and a chance to meet people who enjoy making things too.
A jewellery making course can give you all of that.
At North West Jewellery School, our weekly term-time jewellery classes are designed for adults who want to learn practical jewellery-making skills while having the freedom to develop their own ideas. You don't need to arrive with years of experience or a finished design in your head. You can start with the basics, learn at your own pace and gradually become more confident at the bench.
And there's another part of the experience that matters just as much.
You become part of a small group of people who are there for the same reason. Over the weeks, you get to know each other, share ideas, admire each other's work and, quite often, make friends along the way.
What do you learn on a jewellery making course?
Jewellery making involves a surprising number of different skills.
You'll learn how to work safely with jewellery-making tools and materials, then start building the practical skills that allow you to turn an idea into an actual piece of jewellery.
Depending on what you're interested in and what you want to make, you might learn techniques such as sawing, filing, shaping, texturing, soldering, forming and polishing. You can also explore techniques including stone setting and silver clay!
The more you practise, the more comfortable you become.
Something that feels fiddly when you first pick up the tools can become second nature with time. You start to understand how different materials behave, how much pressure to use and how small changes can alter the finished piece.
That's one of the lovely things about learning jewellery making over a period of time. You aren't expected to master everything in one afternoon.
You get to have a go, make mistakes, ask questions, try again and gradually build your skills.
Want to see what some of our students have made? We have a student gallery showing off some of the fabulous things they’ve produced.
Do you need experience to join a jewellery making course?
Absolutely not! Our weekly jewellery classes include complete beginners alongside people who already have experience at the bench. Everyone works at their own level, with support from our tutors when they need it.
If you've never used a piercing saw or soldered a piece of metal before, that's fine. You'll be shown what to do and given the opportunity to practise.
If you've already made jewellery, you can take your skills further and start exploring techniques or projects that challenge you a little more.
There is no expectation that everyone should be at the same stage.
In fact, having people with different levels of experience in the same room can be part of what makes the classes so enjoyable. You can see what other people are working on, pick up ideas and learn from one another as well as from your tutor.
And if you're nervous about coming on your own, don't let that put you off. You don't need to know anyone before you arrive. We might be a tiny bit biased, but all of our students are fantastic - you’ll meet plenty of like minded people to chat to!
What can you make on a jewellery making course?
This is where things get interesting.
There isn't a single project that everyone has to complete. Your jewellery-making course gives you the opportunity to explore your own ideas and decide what you would like to make.
You might start with a simple ring before moving on to earrings or a pendant. Perhaps you'll become fascinated by stone setting and want to learn more. You might experiment with chains, bangles, charms or textured pieces.
You can also explore different materials and techniques, including silver clay, Delft clay casting, beadwork and sea glass.
Over time, you may find that your projects become more ambitious because your skills and confidence have grown alongside them. That's when jewellery making can become particularly exciting. You begin with an idea, work out how you might create it, and then actually make it.
Why choose a weekly jewellery making course?
A one-day workshop can be a wonderful introduction to jewellery making. You can learn a particular technique, make a finished piece and discover whether you enjoy working with your hands.
A weekly jewellery making course gives you more time to develop.
Rather than starting from scratch every time, you can pick up where you left off. You have time to practise techniques, ask your tutor about things you're finding difficult and gradually take on projects that require more skill. You also have something in your diary each week.
For many people, that's part of the appeal. Life can be busy, and it is surprisingly easy for hobbies and interests to get pushed further down the list. Having a regular class means there is a couple of hours set aside for doing something creative.
You get to switch off from whatever else has been occupying your attention and concentrate on what's happening at your bench. Then you come back the following week and carry on.
Meet people who enjoy making things too
The jewellery is only part of what happens in the studio. Our weekly classes are deliberately small, with no more than six students in each session. That gives everyone access to individual support from the tutor, but it also means the classes have a friendly, relaxed feel.
Everyone arrives with their own project and their own reasons for being there.
You might start chatting to the person next to you because you're admiring the stone they've chosen. Someone might show you how they've approached a particular technique. You could spend half the class talking about jewellery, then somehow end up discussing holidays, pets, work or what you're having for tea.
That's often how friendships start. There is no pressure to walk through the door and immediately be sociable. Having a shared interest gives you something to talk about.
Over several weeks, people become familiar faces.
You might arrive on a Monday evening knowing nobody and, a few weeks later, find yourself looking forward to seeing the same people again. For some students, that sense of community becomes one of the things they enjoy most about coming to class.
A creative hobby that gives you something to look forward to
There is something very satisfying about making things by hand. You can spend a couple of hours concentrating on something tangible. You are measuring, cutting, shaping, filing, soldering or polishing rather than staring at another screen - and while you're busy making something, there are other people around you doing the same.
It creates a nice balance. You have your own project to concentrate on, but you're part of a room full of people who are learning, experimenting and chatting.
You also get to see your progress. A piece of silver that looked like a fairly unpromising strip of metal at the start of a session can gradually become something you designed and made yourself. That's a pretty good way to spend an evening.
Learn a skill you can keep developing
One of the advantages of learning jewellery making properly is that the skills stay with you. Once you've learned how to use the tools and understand the basic techniques, you can keep experimenting. You can return to something you've made before and try a different approach. You can develop an idea that wasn't quite ready the first time around. You may also find that your interests change.
Perhaps you start out wanting to make simple silver rings and eventually become interested in stone setting. Maybe you discover that you love working with texture or become fascinated by chain making. There is always another technique to try - that's part of the fun.
What about old or sentimental jewellery?
Jewellery often carries memories with it. You might have inherited a piece that means a lot to you but isn't something you would actually wear. Perhaps you've got an old ring tucked away in a jewellery box, waiting for the right idea.
Where suitable, our students can explore ways of repurposing old jewellery and giving it a new life. It can be a lovely way to keep the connection to a sentimental piece while creating something that feels more personal to you now.
Your tutor can talk you through what is possible and what materials are suitable before you start working on a project.
How do the weekly jewellery classes work?
Our weekly jewellery making courses run during local school terms, usually over six or seven weeks depending on the term. Each session lasts two hours, and there are daytime and evening classes available from Monday to Thursday.
Classes currently run on:
Monday: 10:00–12:00, 12:30–14:30 and 19:00–21:00
Tuesday: 10:00–12:00, 12:30–14:30 and 19:00–21:00
Wednesday: 10:00–12:00, 12:30–14:30 and 19:00–21:00
Thursday: 10:00–12:00, 12:30–14:30 and19:00–21:00
Classes are for adults aged 18 and over.
You don't have to commit to term after term. You can book a term, see how you enjoy it and decide whether you'd like to continue. Each class has a maximum of six students, so there is plenty of opportunity to ask questions and get individual guidance.
Your first session includes copper to help you get started, along with information about ordering materials for your projects. Sundries such as solder, saw blades, emery paper and polishing materials are included. Your own material costs will depend on what you decide to make. Is a jewellery making course right for you?
It might be if you've always wanted to learn how jewellery is made. It might also be if you're looking for a creative hobby, want to learn something completely new or simply fancy having a regular couple of hours in the week that belong to you.
You don't need to consider yourself particularly artistic. You don't need to know exactly what you want to make. You don't even need to know anyone else in the class. You can start as a complete beginner, learn the skills gradually and see where your ideas take you. And while you're doing that, you'll be surrounded by other people who have come along for much the same reason.
Ready to try jewellery making?
Learning jewellery making is a hands-on experience. You learn by doing, and there's a real sense of satisfaction in seeing an idea become something you can actually hold and wear.
Our weekly classes give you the time to develop those skills, experiment with different techniques and work on projects that interest you. They're also a chance to meet people, become part of a small creative community and have something enjoyable to look forward to each week.
If you've been thinking about trying jewellery making for a while, perhaps this is the time to give it a go. Want more ideas and information about our weekly term time classes and jewellery making courses? Read our spotlight on weekly term time classes next!
Find out more about our weekly jewellery classes and see the current course dates.
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