Search Makers
Portland is a bustling hub for artists, entrepreneurs and makers of all stripes.
The Rose City is a haven for makers, with a seemingly endless supply of community studios, warehouses and makerspaces that let you DIY your way around town. Whether you make it yourself or buy it from a local artist, finding a made-in-Portland souvenir should always be on your to-do list. Read on for our guide to the city’s maker scene, then check out our events calendar for upcoming maker events in Portland.
Local Makers
The Rose City's maker community crafts an endless array of unique, handcrafted goods.
Makerspaces to Visit
Behind the doors of warehouses and studios across the city, highly skilled locals craft everything from candles to clothing to custom furniture. The best part? These makers not only create and sell their goods but also offer workshops and tours. Discover your inner DIY-er and see the creative process up close at the city’s most celebrated makerspaces.
Maker Events
Visit with local artists and find inspiration for your own next project at these events.
Portland Open Studios
For two weekends every October, Portland Open Studios invites visitors to explore the houses and offices of artists across the city.
Crafty Wonderland
Portland’s biannual art and craft fair boasts unique handmade wares from 225+ local vendors.
Portland Saturday Market
Open every Saturday from March–December, Portland Saturday Market is the largest arts-and-crafts fair in the U.S.
Classes & Workshops
Modern Domestic
Settle in at one of the premium sewing machines at Northeast Alberta sewing studio Modern Domestic and take part in classes of all levels for crafting apparel, quilts, bags and accessories. This sewing studio is also a retail store, so if you run out of buttons or batting mid-project, they’ve got you covered.
Bridgetown Forge
“My biggest joy is hand forging,” says Arnon Kartmazov, founder of North Portland’s Bridgetown Forge. Trained in Israel and Japan, the blacksmith shares his joy — and his exemplary skills — by teaching classes such as basic smithing, tool making and knife making. Beginners welcome.
Independent Publishing Resource Center (IPRC)
Offering classes on letterpress printing, bookbinding, screen printing and graphic design, the Independent Publishing Resource Center is geared to lovers of books and creative expression. A mix of workshops, kids’ classes and free events like Open Collage Night make this Southeast Portland resource center a progressive space for literary crafters of all stripes.
Klum House
Klum House is a one-stop bag making shop and school offering bag making kits, patterns, tools, supplies, and workshops to help makers like you create heavy-duty bags on a home sewing machine.
Make & Mary
Make & Mary provides arts and crafts classes for the “highly inspired.” Their calendar of cannabis-themed workshops includes painting, macrame, wood burning, embroidery and a self-care series where students make their own CBD-infused massage oils, tinctures and bath salts. BYOW (weed) is strongly encouraged.
PDX Hackerspace
In North Portland’s Kenton neighborhood PDX Hackerspace is open to the general public every Thursday evening and offers a variety of classes and events, including security and lock-picking workshops and hackathons.
Learn a Craft
Tours
Spooltown
Get behind the scenes at sewing factory Spooltown, the production force behind handbags and accessories for brands big and small. Book a tour for up to 25 people at info@spooltown.com to check out this Central Eastside makerspace, their robotic cutting table and their team at work cutting leather, skiving (slicing fabric) and sewing.
Grovemade
Crafting wood and leather accessories for home, office and lifestyle (think planters, laptop stands and minimalist wallets), Grovemade does everything from product conception, design and manufacturing to photography and marketing at their Southeast Portland headquarters. See their production process, milling machines, industrial lasers and woodshop; tours for up to seven people can be booked at hello@grovemade.com.
PSAA
Portland Street Art Alliance offers interpretative tours of Portland street art, via biking, walking, or driving tours. This volunteer-run organization sends expert tour guide leaders who have experience in community art making, public policy, urban and public space studies. Learn about the history of Portland street art while exploring all of the neighborhoods.
Upcoming Maker Events
Explore the city's vibrant maker scene these upcoming events.
Unordinary Makers Market
Unordinary Makers Collective will transform the Commonwealth Building into a hub for social wellness. Shop locally and intentionally this holiday season at this supportive space surrounded by opportunities to engage with small and local businesses. Explore local vendors and makers such as: Birds and Bees NurseryVeeVee Victoria SkincareR&Arie Quality Life GoodsIshq Ancestral Healing for Skin…
Winter Wool & Paper Market
An annual series of micro-markets featuring handmade gift items crafted by local makers. Hosted in a small, independently owned book and yarn shop with a robust cookbook section, this event highlights artisans crafting with wool and paper and creating beautiful kitchenware.
Crafty Wonderland Holiday Art + Craft Market
Portland’s biannual art and craft fair boasts unique handmade wares from 225+ local vendors.
Ankeny Alleyway Makers Market
The Crow Moon Markets and the Ankeny Alleyway Association are hosting the Ankeny Alleyway Makers Market every Saturday. Visitors can shop a rotating selection of local artists and makers in Portland’s historic Old Town neighborhood every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Makers Market was created to help support local artists and makers…
The Makers Fair Holiday Market
Looking for ways to keep your holiday spending local while supporting small businesses? Hammer & Stitch Brewing Co and ASSEMBLAGE are teaming up again to showcase Greater Portland’s outstanding maker network while making holiday shopping fun, festive and meaningful. The Makers Fair returns as several small-scale Holiday Markets held inside Hammer & Stitch Brewing Company….
Spectrum Holigay Art Market
Join in for the first market of the winter series, which features 15 LGBTQ2SIA+ artists from the Portland Metro area and resident ADX artists. You will find print art, jewelry, accessories, apparel, ceramics, and so much more. Free to the public Masks are required Follow Spectrum Art Market on Instagram to learn more about the…
Last Thursday
Art Walk on Alberta This boisterous street fair attracts independent artists, performers, local bands, troupes of acrobats, buskers, makers and more to celebrate their art on Northeast Alberta Street. Held year-round, the event is biggest from June through August, when the street is closed to traffic during the festivities from 15th Avenue to 30th Avenue….
Quilt, Craft & Sewing Festival
At the Quilt, Craft & Sewing Festival, you will find a wide variety of sewing, quilting, needle-art and craft supply exhibits from many quality companies, along with make ‘n’ takes, free demos, daily door prize drawings and more.
Crafty Wonderland Art + Craft Market
Meet the makers. Over 250 artists will be selling their goods at the Crafty Wonderland Spring Art + Craft Market. Crafty Wonderland is excited to be back in person for the Spring Art + Craft Market Pre-Show Ticketed Shopping Event on Friday General Admission – Timed Entry Tickets on Saturday
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