Have you ever turned unwanted objects or waste materials into completely new products? Upcycling is the perfect way to combine creative ideas with a passion for sustainability and entrepreneurship.
This article contains a list of free and paid online upcycling courses that clearly explain s the concept of upcycling and its practice across many areas. It’s time to learn practical methods!
15 Online Upcycling Courses In 2024 | Free & Paid
If you’ve been searching for the keywords, ‘upcycling courses near me’, you’re just at the right stop. Here are our top 15 free and paid online upcycling courses in 2024. All you need to get started with each of the courses is internet access and perhaps, the fee for the paid courses.
1. Upcycling: From Green Ideas to Starting a Business – Futurelearn (Paid)
Have you ever turned unwanted objects or waste materials into entirely new products? Upcycling is the perfect way to combine creative ideas with a passion for sustainability and entrepreneurship.
In this course, you will learn how to apply the key concepts of upcycling to real-life practice. You will explore how to start upcycling, the link between upcycling and the Sustainable Development Goals, and learn about successful case study examples.
At the end of this course, you will explore how to evaluate upcycling in the context of global and local environmental problems.
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2. Natural Dyeing – Upcycling Fabrics with Kitchen Waste – Udemy (Paid)
Duration: 1hr
If you’re interested in learning how to level up your wardrobe and revive your love for old clothes you haven’t worn in ages by coloring them using natural pigments extracted from kitchen “waste”… then this online upcycling course will teach you exactly how to do it.
At the end of this online upcycling course, you will learn the following:
You will learn:
- Why natural color is not only beautiful but also good for you!
- How to extract vibrant colors from leftover kitchen materials (you will be surprised what we will make out of old avocado pits)
- How to prepare your fabric in a way that the natural color pigments will strongly bond to the fibers
- A simple hack used by women in all (ancient) cultures around the globe to imprint stunning patterns into the fabric
- Why every dyed piece is like opening a present from mother nature
3. How to refresh your home on a budget – Udemy (Paid)
Duration: 1hr
This online course is perfect for anyone who wants to refresh their space all within a weekend, but just needs some guidance, clear steps to follow, and does not want to spend a small fortune!
The course has been designed and created by a professional interior designer who uses these exact steps to re-create beautiful rooms for her own clients.
So, If the steps are followed and action is taken, I can promise you a beautiful space awaits that will not break the bank and also ensure a professional finish. A space that you can be proud of again and want to use or show off. Whether you need the room or room to be changed for re-sell, or you desperately need the space and know the room’s potential
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4. Learn and explore 15+ Business Models in Waste Management – Udemy (Paid)
Duration: 19.5 hrs
In this course, you’ll learn Business Models classified based on investment level. No business model is too small and no business model is a get-rich-quick scheme. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. In-depth analysis of each business model to help you become a better entrepreneur, change-maker, researcher, or policymaker.
At the end of this online course you will learn the following:
- The different Business Models/Ideas in Waste Management
- In-Depth Analysis of 15+ Business Models in Waste Management
- Explore Operational Knowledge in Waste Management
- The disparity between Manufacturing and De-Manufacturing
- How to Validate any Trash technology in terms of Suitability, Viability, Feasibility, and Economics
5. Introduction To Creative And Stylish Upcycling – Skillshare (Paid)
Duration: 1hr 11mins
This online upcycling course will show you how to turn those unloved items in your wardrobe into stylish wardrobe essentials that you will want to wear over and over again, starting with this one.
In the class, the teacher gives a practical example of how she turned a dress she purchased and has never worn into a stylish and fashionable top.
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6. A Jewelry Box / Upcycling an Old Notebook – Skillshare (Free)
Duration: 9mins
This online upcycling course is intended for students o all levels. In this course, you’ll learn the following:
- How to wrap your old notebook cover in a new fabric
- How to fold corners of the fabric
- How to install metal corners
- How to make an improvised box from scratch
- How to hide glue marks
7. Upcycling with Hand Embroidery: T-Shirts & Blouses – Skillshare (Free)
Duration::
If you wish to take your embroidery out of the hoop and into your wardrobe, then this class is all you need.
The course starts with some tips on choosing your clothes and how to use a water-soluble stabilizer. Moving on, you’ll learn 5 different stitches you could apply to embroidery on clothes and the different methods for stitching on T-Shirts vs non-stretch materials.
By the end of the class, you’ll have learned the techniques to transform your wardrobe with embroidery that’s secure enough to go through a washing machine!
Materials you’ll need:
- Wooden embroidery hoop (I use a 4 inch/10 cm hoop to fit the lemon pattern in the class)
- Good quality embroidery thread – I recommend DMC, but you could use Anchor or Cosmo
- Size 5 embroidery needle (or smaller)
- Water-soluble stabilizer – (Sulky Brand)
If you don’t wish to upcycle your old clothes, you can still sell used clothes online.
Duration: 24mins
This online upcycling course is facilitated by a pro-fashion designer. In this course, you’ll learn how to easily upcycle an old men’s jacket to a sexy mini skirt suit. Additionally, you will be taught the processes of selecting the right jacket, ripping it apart, preparing all of the parts for the mini skirt suit, sewing, and finishing the garment.
Along the way, you’ll get lots of useful tips and tricks on how to speed up the whole process and improve the quality at the same time!
To undertake the online upcycling course, it’s best you have an understanding of some basic sewing principles and a basic knowledge of how to make a straight seam with a sewing machine.
Duration: 30mins
Learn how to transform wool sweaters into a pair of COZY, foot-hugging slippers.
In this sewing class, you will be guided with easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions through the whole process. Only basic sewing machine skills are required.
This course contains a PDF pattern that can be downloaded and printed as many times as you want. Pattern includes sizes: Youth 13, 1-3, Women’s 4-11, Men’s 3-13.
At the end of the class, you will master how to make a pair of sweater slippers for yourself, and your children, or if you are industrious, whip some up to sell.
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10. Upcycling clothes: freehand embroidery on a stretchy fabric – Skillshare (Paid)
Duration: Ihr 23mins
In this class, you will learn how to stitch a floral design on stretchy fabric. You will be learning the freehand embroidery technique which is a blend of several types of stitches (long and short, split stitch, vine stitch, French knots). After learning this technique you will have more freedom to create your own designs.
Enroll Now to get started.
11. How To Upcycle Buttons into a Daisy Flower Ring and Bracelet – Skillshare (Paid)
Duration: 42mins
This online cycling course is taught by Adaobi, a skilled maker, and designer with years of experience. In this class, you’ll learn the special tips, tricks, and techniques she uses in making my crafts so that you can incorporate them into yours to bring your unique craft and upcycling project ideas to life in no time.
In this class you’ll learn the following:
- How to reimagine, transform and reshape leftover buttons into useful accessories.
- Measurements, cutting, crafting & sewing techniques that you will need in most basic sewing & upcycling projects.
- Easy threading, hand sewing & beading techniques that will spark a new idea or allow you to bring your ideas to life.
- Steps to add Jewellery Hook and Eye fasteners
- Guide you on how to manipulate other materials like cello tape and then use them as useful elements in the upcycling process to repurpose the button into cute wearable Jewellery.
12. Introduction to Embroidery – Upcycling Embroidery for Beginners – Skillshare (Free)
Duration: 36mins
This class is designed for beginners, with no prior knowledge or skills required to follow along.
In this class, you will learn the skills required to create your first Upcycling T-shirt Embroidery!
Here’s an outline of topics to be covered:
- Tools & Materials
- Embroidering our design on a t-shirt
- How to knot a thread
- How to start an embroidery
- How to finish an embroidery
13. Upholstery Fundamentals – Udemy (Paid)
Duration: 7.5hrs
Upholstery fundamentals is a course based on video tutorials and FAQs. This course starts with a simple yet effective exercise. A chair with a plywood seat and backrest. After that, you will be building your skills up. Step by step and object by object.
A competency matrix is included with the course. It will fulfill all of your requirements. If you are familiar with upholstery already this course could bring you some added value, as you do not have to follow all steps. You can also pick and select which skill from the competence matrix you want to study.
In the first section of this online upcycling course, there will be five different ways to approach a dining room chair for re-upholstery.
14. Vintage Rocks Upcycling Furniture Workshop – Touchwood Vintage Designs (Paid)
Touchwood Vintage Designs run regular morning or afternoon upcycling workshops in South London for small groups. Expert tuition is provided, along with a furniture item, designer papers, and mineral paints to demonstrate all the decoupage techniques and have a unique piece to take home.
In this online/ in-person furniture upcycling workshop, Touchwood Vintage Designs provides all materials for each training, as well as a range of furniture items to try techniques on.
In the workshop, you will discover how you can use natural ethical paints, accent colors, and waxes to bring a whole new layer of creativity to your re-purposing and up-cycling projects.
FAQs On Upcycling
To upcycle your furniture, you need the following:
Low tack masking tape
Dust sheet
Dust mask
Paint brush
Sandpaper
Metal paint
Furniture paint
Sponge
Primer
Dust brush
Roller & tray
Upcycling is the process of creating something new from discarded materials by repairing, refurbishing, or repurposing them.
The following materials can be upcycled: Plastic, clothes and textiles, aluminum, glass, furniture,
It’s about taking old, wasted, or broken furniture and re-purposing it for use. From broken cabinets whose shelves can be screwed into an old door entry door that will work as a decoration piece, or putting some feet supports in a one-side opened bathtub and turning it into a sofa.
Conclusion
There are no limits to the power of creativity in upcycling furniture and other household items. Take advantage of our 15 online upcycling courses and explore all the possibilities that abound.
That thing you consider to be waste material can be converted into something useful and valuable.
References
- youmatter.world – Upcycling Definition
- brightly.eco – What Does ‘Upcycling’ Mean—and How Does It Benefit the Planet?
- skillshare.com – Online Upcycling Classes
- udemy.com – Upcycling Courses