Heritage crafts never totally disappeared in Utah—but now, they’re more popular than ever.
If you want proof of Utahns’ dedication to keeping heritage crafts alive, look no further than Heindselman’s Yarn & Needlework in Provo. A third-generation business, it’s considered the country’s oldest knitting store (it opened in 1904).
But “heritage crafts” implies a lot more than “pioneer granny skills”—Utah also has a rich tradition of Native American arts, including basketry, weaving, pottery, and sandpainting. You can learn more about sandpainting this November at the Chase Home Museum in Liberty Park, which brings in teaching artists every second Saturday.
This is just a small sampling of what’s available (we found nearly a half-dozen blacksmith schools alone!). In addition to classes offered by shops, studios, and adult learning programs, historic sites like the John Jarvie Historical Ranch and This Is the Place Heritage Park host demonstrations that are true to historic, traditional craft techniques.
Folk Art Workshops at Chase Home Museum
Address: 600 E. 900 S., Salt Lake City, UT 84105
Phone: 801-245-7285
Classes: First Saturday of every month, 2 p.m.
Cost: $10, registration required
Chase Home Museum of Utah Folk Arts, located right next to Tracy Aviary in Liberty Park, has been open for nearly 40 years. Operated by the Utah Division of Arts & Museums, it’s the only institution in the country that maintains collections of folk art and heritage crafts produced by local residents. Every month, it hosts workshops by teaching artists. Past classes have included Native American beadworking, miniature piñata construction, mini-moccasin workshops, classes on making your own Hawaiian utility knife, and more.
On Nov. 7, the museum hosts Diné artist Lapita Frewin, who will lead a workshop on Navajo sandpainting, or iikááh, which translates to “place where gods come and go.” Used in healing ceremonies, iikááh are made from sand, colored minerals, and pollen. Frewin will teach participants the history of iikááh, and then lead them through creating their own versions using non-sacred symbols, stencils, and prepared matted sandpaper.
Needle Arts at Heindselman’s Yarn & Needlework
Address: 176 W Center St, Provo, UT 84601
Phone: 801-373-5193
Classes: Visit website for prices, dates, and times
Perhaps the only yarn store to be featured on Atlas Obscura, Heindselman’s Yarn and Needlework in Provo has been open for 122 years—and initially, it was just a side hustle for the optical shop next door (which went out of business long ago).
Heindselman’s offers a robust schedule of both free and paid classes, including bobbin-lace weaving for beginners, basic embroidery, crochet, tatting/lacemaking, and specialty knitting classes like “Mary’s Magic Sweater Knit-Along.” They even have a fiber-arts book club. Plus, it’s a one-stop for any supplies, including a rainbow of embroidery threads, hand-spun yarn, and any size or type of needle you could want.
Leatherworking and saddlemaking
Though leatherwork—including making cowboy boots and saddles—is a significant heritage craft in Utah, classes can be tough to find.
If you’d like to learn how to carve and stamp simple items like wallets and belts, the best place to start is at one of Tandy Leather’s many locations. You can pick up beginner leatherworking kits and other tools and supplies; they offer workshops as well. The University of Utah’s Continuing Education department also offers classes from time to time.
For those who are serious about learning leatherwork, particularly saddle-making, apprenticeships are available throughout the Intermountain West, along with weekend workshops and educational seminars. Reach out to the American Saddlemakers Association for advice and assistance.
Sewing and quilting
Salt Lake Sewciety
Location: 1185 S. 300 W., Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Phone: 385-270-5987
There may be no other heritage craft more commonly associated with Utah than quilting (maybe because group quilt sews are known as “bees?”).
If you lack basic sewing skills, start at Salt Lake Sewciety, where you can take classes to learn how to use a sewing machine, then move to classes that teach you to sew one project at a time. The shop also has a robust selection of fabrics, and operates a fabric swap.
For those with more advanced sewing skills who want to learn how to quilt, there are tons of options, including The Quilters’ Lodge in Draper, The Quilters’ Crossing in American Fork, and Quilters’ Attic in Bountiful.
Swedish Weaving Utah
Location: 405 S. 100 E., #12, Pleasant Grove, UT 84062
Phone: 801-769-6092
Email: swedish.weaving.utah@gmail.com
Billed as “traditional Swedish technique, in a Utah basement,” Swedish Weaving Utah offers the chance learn how to use a traditional Swedish floor loom through the creation of specific projects, such as weaving a traditional kukkoladräll table runner (the pattern was created by artist Elsa Kerttu in 1926 in honor of her hometown, Kukkola, Sweden).
For general instruction in the art of weaving, check out Salt Lake Weaving Studio, which offers classes for beginners and experienced weavers looking to perfect their technique.
Blacksmithing 101
University of Utah Lifelong Learning
Location: Wasatch Forge, 3747 Parkway Boulevard, Unit 106 A, West Valley City, UT, 84120
Cost: $445 (includes materials)
Blacksmithing is a hobby you have to commit to—it’s not cheap, and it requires physical stamina. A good way to see if it’s for you is to take Intro to Blacksmithing through the University of Utah’s Lifelong Learning program.
For safety, students must wear closed-toe shoes and natural-fiber clothing and bring their own above-the-wrist leather work gloves and safety glasses. They are also advised to bring a large water bottle or sports drink, since the heat of the forge can be dehydrating.
You can also take classes directly through commercial forges, which are located all over the state, including Wasatch Forge, Bear Den Forge, and Hobble Creek Forge.
Marriott Library Book Arts Workshops
Location: 295 S. 1500 E., Salt Lake City, UT 84112
Phone: 801-581-8558
The University of Utah is renowned for its book arts program. Housed in the Marriott Library, the program offers access to an archive of rare and unusual artist-made books, along with well-equipped studios and traditional printing equipment. The general public can also take advantage of these tools and facilities through the program’s public workshops, which include classes in bookbinding, papermaking, and letterpress printing.
You can check the website for new offerings, though classes are very popular and tend to fill up quickly. Your best bet is to sign up for the Book Arts Program newsletter, and smash that “register” button as soon as courses are announced.
Utah Center for the Ceramic Arts
Address: 48 S. 1000 W., Provo, UT 84601
Phone: 385-392-7571
Because many crafts require fine motor skills (and some, like blacksmithing, can be physically dangerous), there aren’t always a lot of kids’ classes available. So it’s notable that The Utah Center for the Ceramic Arts offers a whole calendar of classes just for kids. It also offers A-to-Z courses for adult learners, from basic wheel-throwing techniques to private sessions with ceramic artists.
For those outside Utah County, Salt Lake Pottery Studio holds four- and five-week courses for adults, as well as one-off workshops. Workshop SLC teaches simple beginning pottery classes, as does ArtHaus SLC,
Woodcarving
Wheeler Historic Farm
Location: 6351 S 900 E, Murray, UT 84121
When: Meets every Tuesday, 5 p.m.
Cost: Free
The Great Salt Lake Woodcarvers have been in residence at Wheeler Historic Farm for several years, and the club offers not only a chance to learn woodworking, but also a community ready to teach and support you. The club does move from building to building depending on availability, so sign up for the newsletter for the latest information on projects and meeting location. GLSW focuses on more traditional forms of woodcarving, including chip carving, bird carving, and caricature carving.
Several local shops and studios offer beginner woodcarving, including Woodcraft of Salt Lake City / South Valley, Community Woodshop SLC, Make Salt Lake; the U of U’s Lifelong Learning program offers classes, too.
