Jewellery: beginners evening course

What is the course about?

What will we cover?

This course offers a rare opportunity to explore a diverse and exciting range of techniques - from traditional methods to more specialised contemporary practices that are not widely taught. Each project is designed to connect creative design thinking with technical skill and thoughtful craftsmanship, encouraging you to develop your personal voice through making. You will be introduced to both foundational and advanced techniques, including:

• Sawing, soldering, and cold connections

• Chain making, catches and fastenings

• Stone setting

• Silver clay techniques

• Mitsuro Hikime Japanese wax technique

• Patinas and metal colouring

• Delft clay casting

• Stones in place sand casting

• Selecting appropriate stones for casting directly into metal.

• Introduction to CAD

• Branding, marketing

Throughout the course, you’ll be guided to experiment, reflect on your development, and build skills that showcase your evolving jewellery‑making abilities.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

• Use a range of techniques involved in jewellery making

• Confidently use a jeweller’s saw to cut complex shapes in metal

• Create secure and creative cold connections such as rivets and tabs

• Solder with improved confidence, skills and knowledge

• Identify the different grades of solder and explain when to use them

• Identify the different soldering methods - chip/pallion, probe/pick, stick feed, sweat and paste and understand their applications

• Identify different types of chains

• Use basic techniques of wire working and chain making

• Design and make a chain using your new skills

• Create and attach bespoke fasteners and clasps

• Work with silver clay, use a range of tools and equipment to make a metal clay piece

• Apply traditional patinas and experimental metal-colouring techniques

• Create unique, organic jewellery forms in wax using the ancient Japanese Mitsuro Hikime technique

• Design and make a stone setting and securely set stones into metal

• Cast using the Delft clay method

• Experimenting scattered cast-in-place stones in a pendant or ring form

• Select appropriate stones for casting directly into metal

• Recognise what ‘heat-shock’ is and how it affects casting

• Use basic CAD tools to create digital jewellery designs

• Understand the importance of marketing, branding and pricing your work.

• Produce a range of samples and finished pieces using the techniques learned

• Research and document your creative process through sketchbooks and technical folders

• Apply effective health and safety practices in the workshop

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

This course is suitable for learners who have a good understanding of the basics of jewellery making, as well as motivated beginners who are ready to challenge themselves and develop new techniques or improve their skills. You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations and hand-outs, and safety information. You should be happy using numbers, able to do simple measurements and calculations, and recognise and draw simple geometric shapes.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

You will be taught through a combination of demonstrations, practical work, tutor advice and guidance, examples of jewellery made using various techniques, and technical notes where appropriate. Ongoing support and feedback will be provided by the tutor throughout the course. The course is structured so that all core work can be completed during class time. However, optional extension projects will be available for those who wish to take their learning further or work at a faster pace. Your tutor can also support you in developing your own design ideas beyond the set projects. Group discussions and feedback are actively encouraged to support learning and creative development

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

City Lit provides almost all of the basic tools and equipment you’ll need for this course. We also supply basic materials in reasonable quantities, including base metals (copper, brass sheet and wire), along with other materials (enamel, polymer clay, paper). Chemicals like pickle and borax, as well as general sundries such as polishing compounds, are also available in the studio. There will be some items you will need to buy yourself, such as saw blades, stones, and any precious metals if you wish to work in silver or gold. Basic wax carving materials are covered by the course fee, although if you plan to make larger pieces, you may need to buy additional wax. Please note that any wax pieces you wish to have cast into metal (brass, silver or gold) using the lost wax casting process will incur an additional casting fee, as this process is outsourced to an external company. Your tutor will advise you on this. For the metal clay sessions, we provide general tools and equipment, polymer clay for test pieces, and an initial 10g of silver clay (Art Clay). If you would like to make additional pieces, you are welcome to bring extra metal clay with you. You will also need a sketchbook for your design ideas, experiments and any other relevant notes throughout the course. If you receive benefits and are applying for a concessionary place, you may be able to receive help with the purchase of materials. You are advised that sensible footwear must be worn in the studio. For Health and Safety reasons no sandals, open toe or small pumps can be worn, even in hot weather.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

City Lit offer a wide range of short and year-long courses in Jewellery design and making, from beginners to advanced, and for professional development. A natural progression would be our VV412 City Lit Improvers Jewellery course.Your tutor will be able to advise you on your course.