COUNTDOWN // Your Top 15 Classes of 2011 (And a guide to 2012's)

 

As we said goodbye to 2011 back in December we presented you with your Top 15 Favorite Blog Posts of the year. Now we're taking another look back (and forward, since there are lots of good New Year's resolution ideas below)--this time at your favorite 3rd Ward classes.

Presented here are the 15 classes that you loved the most in 2011-- the ones which taught you how to craft your own end table, wield a plasma torch, build circuits, code your own website in valid HTML/CSS and countless other amazing skills. We can't wait to bring you these classes again this year, along with many more that could very well become your favorites of 2012.

Hit the jump to check out 2011's top classes, and start 2012 off right by signing up for one today.

[#15]

Basic Bicycle Mechanics

What you learned: How to patch an inner tube, how to adjust limit screws on your derailleur, clean and lube a chain and fine tune almost every part of your bicycle.

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[#14]

Intro to Circuits & Electronics

What you learned: Ohm's Law, how to use a multimeter, how resistance effects voltage, the classic 555 timer and more.

Upcoming sessions begin on: January 22, February 8

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[#13]

Welding Techniques for Sculpture & Furniture

What you learned: The history of metal sculpture, how to use the metal shops many tools, how to order metal, how to bend and cut rod and sheet and more.

Upcoming sessions begin on: January 11, February 12

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[#12]

Intro to Digital Photography

What you learned: Keys to composition, the basics of photography and how they apply in the digital world, f-stop and shutter speed, the basics of Photoshop and Lightroom and more.

Upcoming sessions begin on: January 17

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[#11]

Night Welding: Intro to the Metal Shop

What you learned: How to use all of the tools in the metal shop (MIG welding, plasma torch, drill press, band saw and more) and feel like more of a bad ass.

Upcoming sessions begin on: January 9, January 24, February 2, February 20

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[#10]

Intro to Web Design // HTML/CSS

What you learned: How to write valid HTML/CSS, test pages in different browsers, edit images in Photoshop for the web and more.

Upcoming sessions begin on: January 7, January 9 and February 13

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[#9]

Intro to Drawing

What you learned: How to close the synapse between the hand and eye, understand the crucial subjects of the human body and interact with the world through drawing.

Upcoming sessions begin on: January 16

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[#8]

DIY Printmaking

What you learned: EZcuting, Linocutting, Monotyping using plexi, photocopy transfer processes and more.

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[#7]

Lost Wax Casting

What you learned: How to cast found objects, wax carving and the fine art of lost wax casting, including sprucing your model, investing it in a flask, burning out the wax and casting it in metal.

Upcoming sessions begin on: February 6, February 16

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[#6]

Sewing: Level I

What you learned: How a sewing machine works, how to lay out and cut from a pattern and how to make a unisex bag, zippered pouch or apron.

Upcoming sessions begin on: January 7, January 9, January 16, February 1

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[#5]

Photoshop Intensive

What you learned: How to perform digital miracles on your photographs, the ins and outs of Photoshop, the difference between raster and vector graphics and more.

Upcoming sessions begin on: January 23, February 5

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[#4]

Introduction to Upholstery

What you learned: How to upholster for furniture and sculpture, upholstery methods for both re-upholstering and constructing pieces from scratch, selecting, stretching and tacking fabric and many other valuable tricks of the trade.

Upcoming sessions begin on: January 7, January 10, February 2, February 5

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[#3]

Screen Printing Intensive

What you learned: How to produce an unlimited number of prints on practically any surface, all of the steps in the screen printing process, from design conception to finished product.

Upcoming sessions begin on: January 10, January 13, January 28

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[#2]

Intro to Jewelry: Silversmithing

What you learned: How to make cut, file, sand and prepare sheet metal, how to solder with an oxy-acetylene torch, the ints and outs of smithing with hammers and anvils, how to make a simple pendant, ring, belt buckle, cuff bracelet or pair of earrings.

Upcoming sessions begin on: January 9, January 22, February 8, February 12, February 20

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[#1]

Intro to Woodworking

What you learned: How to use nearly all of the woodworking power and hand tools in the shop and how to construct an end table and a mallet or small book platform.

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-- John Ruscher