Two women makings crafts

The SIU Craft Shop is holding its annual fall arts and crafts workshop series Sept. 11 through Nov. 17. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and is now open for those interested in participating. (Photo by Amber Eswani)

September 04, 2026

Registration open for SIU’s fall arts and crafts workshops, open to the public

by Brooke Keltner

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois University Carbondale invites artists of all skill levels—from beginners to experts—to express their creativity at the Craft Shop’s annual fall workshop series.

Running from Sept. 11 through Nov. 17, the series offers a wide variety of hands-on arts, including pottery, crochet, fused glass, sewing and more. Workshops are open to SIU students, faculty, staff, and members of the local community.

Registration is open now, and organizers encourage early signup because many classes have limited space on a first-come, first-served basis.

Fall workshop line up

  • Saluki Tie-Dye Family Weekend Drop In  - In celebration of Family Weekend, join the Craft Shop for the Saluki Tie-Dye Drop In. The Craft Shop will have maroon and black dyes along with a full range of colors and a limited supply of pre-screen-printed Saluki-patterned t-shirts designed by student worker Kai Malinski. Demos on screen-printing and tie-dye in various patterns will occur at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. each day. Feel free to bring additional items to tie dye. Sept. 11 and Sept. 12, noon-4 p.m.
  • Pottery Night: Wheel Throwing Session one  - This one-day wheel-throwing workshop is perfect for beginners and those wanting a refresher. Learn to throw pottery from start to finish using the pottery wheel to make a simple cup. Sept. 22, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
  • Fiber Art: Block Printing on Fabric  - Create your own linoleum block print to stamp on fabric. Participants will print on a cotton item of their choice but can bring additional items to stamp. Sept. 26, 1- 4 p.m.
  • Mosaic Stepping Stone - Create a mosaic steppingstone for your garden using glass pieces. During the class, participants will learn to cut and shape glass to their design. Oct. 1, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
  • Clay: Pumpkins - Embrace all that autumn has to offer and make a clay pumpkin using pinch and coil techniques. Oct. 6, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
  • Intro to Wheel Throwing (four weeks) - Learn how to throw clay on the potter's wheel. Each week will focus on how to make a different form on the wheel from cups, bowls and plates. The final class will focus on glazing and finishing. Oct. 8, 15, 22, 29, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
  • Beginners Crochet  - In this class, participants will become familiar with a few stitches to create a simple potholder or granny square. 10, 1-3 p.m.
  • Fused Glass: Jewelry - Get to know the basics of how to cut, layer, and melt fused glass to create a fused glass earring and pendants. Oct. 20, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
  • Clay: Patterned Slab Built Tray - Utilize Gretchen Roberts’ pottery forms or hand-built pottery forms to make a cute slab-built tray. Participants will make their own textured rolling pin with a personalized pattern, fun embellishments and colored with underglaze. Oct. 27, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
  • Pottery Night: Wheel Thrown Pottery Session two - This one-day wheel-throwing workshop is perfect for beginners and those wanting a refresher. Throw pottery from start to finish using the pottery wheel to make a simple cup. Nov. 3, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
  • Fiber Art: Indigo Shibori - The workshop will demonstrate basic Shibori dyeing techniques and patterns. Shibori is a Japanese dyeing technique using folding, stitching, twisting, or bunching cloth and binding it. Items are then submerged in an indigo dye bath. Nov. 3, 5:30-8:00 p.m.
  • Sewing: Patchwork Throw Pillow - A great project for sewing beginners, create a throw pillowcase with a sewing machine. Nov. 7, 1:00-3:30 p.m.
  • Fused Glass: Ornaments - Make and take home a series of fused glass ornaments with sheet glass and glass frits. Perfect for a hand-made holiday gift. Nov. 12, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
  • Fused Glass: Snowflake - Add a personal touch to holiday decorations at home and create a fused glass snowflake to hang in the window or on the tree. Nov. 17, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
  • Sewing: Holiday Stocking - This sewing workshop will teach participants how to make a custom holiday stocking. The workshop will cover how to layout your pattern, use the machine to sew, and add finishing details. Nov. 14, 1-3:30 p.m.
  • Fiber Art: Batik - Create a custom batik tea towel. Batik is a "resist" process for making designs on fabrics. The class will use soy wax and draw wax onto the fabric leaving "blank" areas in the dyed fabric. Nov. 17, 5:30-8:00 p.m.

Additional registration details

Costs for the workshops vary, with discount pricing for SIU students. Some classes require the purchase of additional materials or returning to campus to pick up the finished craft. The Craft Shop reserves the right to cancel or reschedule any workshop if necessary. Liability waivers must be signed by all participants prior to activities.

All workshop registrations will close one week before the workshop. Call the Craft Shop for space availability at 618-453-3636 after registration closes. 

For more information about the SIU Craft Shop or any of its workshops or options, email craftshop@siu.edu or call the phone number above.