FIRST REASON: I supply my students with EVERYTHING!!!
Whenever I have the word “cost” or “fee” in my brochures or on my website it means that cost includes EVERYTHING. When I say everything, I mean everything. There are four other sewing schools within a five mile radius of mine, and not one of them supplies everything. Every sewing school that I have ever dealt with, or have ever been to or seen, does not do this. They want you to buy the pattern, fabric, and supplies like thread, zippers, hem tape, etc. So their “fee” or “cost” is really just for the teaching and the use of their sewing machines. Some studios prefer you to bring your own machine, and that is great too. We do not do that because we have eight machines here and do not have the room for everyone to bring a machine each week. However, we do have our private lesson students bring their own machine.
The idea came to me when I put myself in my own shoes as a mom of four children, and pretended that my daughter was going to take sewing lessons at my studio. I said to myself, as a mom of four very active children, “Do I have the time or energy to go find a fabric store and buy a pattern, fabric, zipper, buttons, thread, and supplies each time my child wants to make a new project?” And, I would have to do this about every 3 – 4 weeks. I honestly said to myself, it would be exciting at first, but I don’t think I would last more than 3 or 4 projects, then I’d be done of driving to the fabric store! No mom that I know of, including me, in this busy world today, has the time. I know as a mom I would be excited about picking out the fabric and pattern for my child’s next project, but at the same time, it would be time consuming, and cost money. About 95% of the sewing moms I have do not know the first thing about reading the back of a pattern envelope and would not know what to get and how much. Moms are thrilled and excited that their child is learning an awesome skill like sewing and only have to bring their child with their sewing bag to class each week. As my older students got more and more into sewing they wanted the experience to go and buy fabric and that was fine too. Plenty of my older students prefer to get their own fabric, especially for our annual regional fashion show and costume competition. But, they know they still have the option of using the studio’s fabric selection too.
Remember, when I said I supply everything, I mean everything. This makes the parents life so much easier and it makes my life easier to. I can control what supplies and fabrics are in my studio, and I like that idea. When I first thought of this idea, I didn’t have much fabric to work with at home, and I had little supplies, really just enough for me to sew. I didn’t have the budget to buy yards and yards of fabric, tons of patterns, and supplies. So I began by telling friends, and relatives, and acquaintances at church, the gym, and the dance center that I was teaching kids to sew and if they happen to have any sewing supplies at home that they didn’t use, if they wanted to donate them to me, I would appreciate it. Next thing I knew, I needed another room just to put my fabric in. I was given sewing machines, tons and tons of fabric, thread, buttons, and just about any thing else you can think of. I began labeling boxes for supplies, making shelves for fabric, and started organizing all the supplies. When Joann Fabrics had their patterns on sale 10 for $10.00, I purchased very simple sewing patterns that I knew my students could do. I also joined a quilting club and the ladies there were so impressed that I was teaching children to sew, they all got together and saved their fabric and stuffing to donate to my sewing school. Now I have people dropping off bags of fabric at my studio door, and I don’t even know who they are! Word gets around quickly, and people are excited to be part of such a good thing as teaching kids to sew!
14 Responses
Robin Teske
What a fantastic concept! I am considering teaching sewing (we have nothing but JoAnne Fabrics classes here)and your website is very encouraging. I can wait to learn from your experience!
Katrina
Love your website. This information is exactly what I was looking for. I’m currently volunteering at a middle school teaching girls to sew but I’ll be opening my own sewing and design studio next spring.
susan Mcconnachie
Katrina’s comments says it for me too. I also teach voluntary, and am starting out on my own soon. Keep up with all the good work. LOVE IT.
Kimberly
Thank you so much for this site. I am starting a summer sewing camp this year and your site has been a huge help.
I don’t have room to keep fabric, but there is a Hancock Fabrics across the street from me. I’m thinking of doing a field trip on our first day of camp and walking over. I’ll pay for everything they need, and they will learn how to use pattern books, read patterns, and select fabric.
Judi @ Love to Sew Studio/Teach Others to Sew
Wow, that is great that you are so close to a fabric store like that! You could either do that, or you could charge less for the lessons, and then have them pay for their own fabric. That way both the parents and the students can appreciate and understand the cost of fabric and supplies today. Or if you are going to buy the fabrics make sure you put each student on a “budget” so you are not strapped in the end. As much as you love sewing and want to teach it, you want to make sure that you are making some money too for the time and skills you are teaching.
Also, even though you do not have room to keep fabric in your studio, I would suggest getting 1 or 2 large boxes with lids so one can be piled on top of the other, and labeling them by color. Maybe one would be all pastels, and the other all dark fabrics, you can do what suites your studio best. But keep all fabric scraps in them for students who want to make a little stuffed animal, or little bag, tree ornaments, or any of the small projects. The students will have fun going through the boxes looking for fabric for their next project, and you will save money by keeping the smaller fabrics instead of cutting into bigger pieces of fabric. In our studio we have small drawers labeled by color, ei. “dark pink”, “light pink”, “light green”, etc… for students to pick out for small projects. They are not allowed to cut into the larger pieces of fabric that can be used for skirts, dresses, etc.
I hope this helps some. I am going to be adding more ideas and suggestions to the site soon! So keep checking and best of luck to you.
Kandia Haynesworth
My sewing school is 1 week old, today! I gave substantially discounted classes in December of 2014 after carefully putting together a plan to open a sewing school. Sadly enough, there is no sewing schools here in the Poconos for kids like yours and mine…This means with everything included. I also supply everything – sewing machine, fabrics and tools to avoid issuing shopping lists, prevent parents from purchasing the wrong items, forgetting items and having the time to go to the fabric stores as well! Thus far, my concept has been a life saver!
I AM EXTREMELY HAPPY TO HAVE COME ACROSS YOUR SITE! While reading the information, I feel like you are me!!! Lol… This is the most rewarding thing in my life – teaching kids to sew! It is amazing how interested in sewing kids are as well, yet it is not offered..
Thank you, for posting so much helpful information about your classes, your story and concepts… It is truly encouraging – especially, that I run my sewing school from my home as well. Plus, I’m in the Poconos – in Pennsylvania! I will continuously return to your site, as you probably do not realize you’ve just become my mentor… I am under your wing. Lol..
Once again, thanks for the information and being honest about your experiences as a Sewing School Business Owner.
GOD Bless you.
– Kandia
Judi @ Love to Sew Studio/Teach Others to Sew
Hi Kandia,
Thanks so much for the kind words! I really do want people to succeed in teaching sewing. It is so awesome to be able to do this. Since you are in the Poconos, less than 2 hours from us, please consider having some of your students who are interested in fashion, join us in our annual fashion show! I will be posting a lot more info about it on this site. We host a huge show, one-of-a-kind show for kids who make their own clothes. It is located in a large ballroom at a hotel on route 202, so if you need a room you can stay there. There is too much info for me to put in this reply, but I will work on adding more. We have 2 other studios who come to it too, industry judges, both everyday looks and costumes competitions, and it is for the very beginner (novice) up to advance! It is an awesome show! Everyone gets a trophy for showing a collection, then we have more trophies and awards for both the designers and the models who compete in the costume categories. Designers have the choice to either just show, or compete. Last year PGM Dress Forms supplied a full dress form (the ones they use on the TV show Project RUNWAY) for the 1st place winner in both the junior group and the senior group! This years theme is “WISH UPON A STAR” with our finale being a look inspired by anything DISNEY (optional category for designers to compete, but everyone usually tries to do the finale). Our show is always the last Sunday in September. Well I’ve already written to much, but keep checking the updates page, I will posted more info soon!
Linda Chase
Your site has great info. I own a small fabric and quilt studio in central Texas. It started as a studio for my longarm quilting business with a small amount of fabric and notions for sale. In the first month a man came in desperate to find lessons for his daughter. In the past year it’s grown to 13 students for semi-private lessons during each week. I love teaching. I found your site as I wss searching for record keeping ideas. I’ve got 6 beginner lessons and then many more they can do after, but keeping up with who has done what is challenging. Ideas?
Judi @ Love to Sew Studio/Teach Others to Sew
That’s great! I like the idea of 6 beginner lessons to get them started. A lot of ideas are on my sewing classes. You can use those ideas as a class or just as a Saturday or Sunday workshop. I am always adding my newest workshops or classes to that page. Some of them have a link to a longer explanation and photos. I am working to have all of them have their own link with photos!
Elise
Hi, out of a warm South Africa.
Just want to thank you for sharing ‘what is takes’ to open a sewing studio.
Being a Draping business owner for almost 17 years in the function and wedding industry, now age 62, I am looking for a no-ladder-climbing / December holiday job. The only future ladder climbing would be the progress ladder at my dream sewing studio !!
Almost ‘sleeping’ behind my sewing machine while raising 5 daughters, I ended up with 44 years (post school) of sewing skills. I have ‘inhouse’ experience on wedding dresses, matric farewell dresses, party dresses, everyday wear, pattern designing, alerations, crafts …..you name it, the lot !! The only formal training which I had was 5 years of sewing at high school.
I will now visit your website regularly.
Kind regards
Elise Claassen
(Please excuse grammar mistakes as my mother tongue language is Afrikaans)
Judi @ Love to Sew Studio/Teach Others to Sew
Hi Elise,
Awesome! I love to hear things like that when people can sew in every direction! Best of luck to you in all you do. Keep me posted in your newest sewing adventures!
Judi
Jessenia Ayala
I am beyond happy to have encounter your page. I have been sewing since I was a little girl and even attended Fashion Institute of Technology in NY. I didn’t get to finish school because I had my son young but my passion was always there. I am too considering starting my own studio and got a lot of great feedback from the moms in my town to start ASAP. I am nervous though. There are two fabric stores nearby that offer classes but limited to ages and certain days and times. I am trying to go for a fulltime studio and even offer fulltime summer camp. Thank you for all your information. Sewing is definitely a skill that is slowly being forgotten but a skill that teaches a lot of lesson in life. 🙂
Judi @ Love to Sew Studio/Teach Others to Sew
Hi Jessenia,
I am so happy for you and I hope your studio is a success. Teaching sewing is a win/win situation no matter how you look at it. You get to do something you love while making money, and people learn a life-time skill! BTW, don’t worry about the local fabric shops offering classes. I have them near me too that offer specific classes. To be honest, as soon as people go the shop and do one class, they are hooked on sewing and want more, and the local shops are so limited on what they offer that people begin to search and then find my studio. I have had many many new students that have come from doing one class at a local fabric store! So if anything, don’t look at it as a competitor, look at them as an asset to your new studio! Also, where my daughter lives in Decatur Georgia, she opened up a studio and her local fabric shop let her put her flyers in it. I thought that was so nice, she has received several new students from that. So maybe they would allow you to do the same.
betty rojek
when you say you supply everything, does that mean they are packaged in kit form or you have a pantry that functions as a store?
what about theft? ( my prospective school is for underprivileged girls in a broken area of Detroit.)
i have so much admiration for LOVE TO SEW/ Judi, her passion with purity and a missionary heart is evident.
thank you for all the info you have offered.
are these ideas copywriter protected? I wouldn’t want to be a copy cat and offend judi in any way. Betty