The Handwork Studio in Narberth, PA 19072

The Handwork Studio, the winner of our 2008 Parents' Picks quest to find the Best Artsy Class for Big Kids in Philadelphia, is a needle arts and fashion community, offering classes, birthday parties, and camp programs. The studio teaches practical arts such as knitting, crocheting, hand sewing, embroidery, quilting, rug hooking, machine sewing, and more.

Kids taking classes at the studio are taught various age-appropriate handwork skills, and get to personalize each project through color selection, technique, and embellishments. The studio offers two types of doll making classes, Knitted Doll Making and Cloth Doll Making. In the yearlong doll making classes, kids make a keepsake doll in their own likeness, including hair color, skin tone selection, clothing and accessory design. Parent/child classes, as well as Passion for Fashion workshops for kids in grades six through 11, are also offered.

Drop in the first and third Friday of every month for Kids' Community Service, when children ages six and older can learn to work on the latest project that will be donated to local charities; no experience necessary.

The Handwork Studio offers 12 weeks of Summer Day Camp for kids in grades kindergarten through six. Fashion Boot Camp is available in the summer for kids in grades seven through 11, and Machine Sewing Camp is offered for students in grades five through 10. Kids' school holiday camps are also available.

Handwork Studio birthday parties are 1 1/2 hours of craft-making where children (minimum of 10 - maximum of 20) can make belts, headbands, purses, scarves, or design their own project. The cost is $20 per child - the birthday child is free if currently enrolled in class at the studio - and goodie bags are included.

The Handwork Studio also offers troop visits to local area Girl Scout, Boy Scout, and Brownie troops. Each workshop lasts approximately one hour and costs $5 per child; additional time may be needed when completing a badge. Call 610.660.9600 to schedule an event.