Teachers always know where to get the free stuff. Good teachers do at any rate. Teachers of all subjects collect freebies because we are cheap! because we are broke! because we know that learning anything new costs money and its smart to save wherever you can. Also… because we are cheap.

This post contains affiliate links. I’m an affiliate of Craftsy and I’ve taken some of their classes. I like ’em and happily recommend them all the time. 

Free Classes You can Take Through the Internet

Craftsy has made on-line classes in craft-y topics the centerpiece of their business. They offer supplies and patterns too (some of my patterns sell over there). But at its heart, Craftsy is about learning on-line. When you “buy” a class, you are buying a set of HD videos you can access on your computer and/or mobile device anytime, anytime, anywhere, forever. You are also buying access to sample patterns, charts, and the ability to ask the instructor questions. But some of these classes you don’t have to buy at all because they are free. Sign up for a Craftsy account (which means give them your email), and you’ll have access to what they call free “mini-classes”. And there are 44 of them.

(Yeah. I’m telling ya, teachers know where the free stuff is.)

Now Craftsy has free mini-classes for knitting, crochet, spinning, sewing, quilting, cake decorating, woodworking and we are getting into subject areas I know absolutely nothing about. I will never be a woodworker. But you might be so here is the big list of all 44 Craftsy free mini-classes. You might want to bookmark that. (UPDATE: Its up to 46 free mini-classes now. They keep adding.)

Here is a short list of what I feel are the “good ones”. Starting with a little class that even die-hard Craftsy users may not have heard of because its hidden away in the section for handspinners.

Know Your Wool with Deborah Robson

This class isn’t really about handspinning, its about wool and how different types of wool, from different breeds of sheep will give you different result when you knit, crochet, and even weave with them. The class is taught by Deborah Robson, co-author of that fabulous book Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook. In this class she shares

“her secrets to effective swatching and tips on tracking down breed-specific yarns. The educational experience isn’t confined to the classroom; you’ll tag along with Deborah as she explores a wool market, meeting shepherds, vendors and sheep along the way.”

In my opinion this is the best Craftsy freebie for us yarn-obsessed types and most don’t even know its there. So I put it at the top of my list!

Ins & Outs of Grafting with Anne Hanson

This is more than using the Kitchener Stitch. This class delves into grafting seed stitch, garter, ribbing. You’ll graft motifs together and attach edgings. This is a knit-tech kind of class. Grafting might not be a skill you need everyday, but when you need it, you NEED it. And since when you “buy” a Craftsy class you have it forever, you should probably “buy” this one soon.

Creative Cabled Necklines with Fiona Ellis

This one also looks to be a knit-tech kind of class. I haven’t watched it yet, but its on my list. It promises to teach “how to design or modify existing patterns to make your cables run into or around the neckline.” That caught my interest.

Amazing Crochet Textures with Drew Emborsky

Drew Emborsky, aka The Crochet Dude, has more than just fancy textured stitches to show off in this class. Those stitches are in there. But there are also some great blocking tips, how to crochet with beads, and how to join up squares. There is advice for reading charts and for getting gauge. Yeah, this class is sold as a “make fancy stitches” class but it good for all-around crochet knowledge.

And just one more…For anyone who is getting, giving, or has a family member getting their first sewing machine this Christmas, there is Sew Ready: Machine Basics with Amy Alan. I should probably watch that one. I probably won’t. But I should.

That ought to keep you busy and out of trouble this holiday season. If you find yourself with any free time at all (I envy you) then go back to class! And be on your best behavior young lady/young man. Don’t be passing notes texting your friends when the teacher is talking. Be sure to remember your pencil your double pointed needles. And if you want to suck up to the teacher bring them a nice apple ball of cashmere yarn.