teaching kids to sew

[Zoe Girl]

i got inspired by finishing my holiday skirt at the very last minute! It is a black and red window pane fabric in lightweight wool, lined with black fabric, a pencil style skirt. I went on the smaller pattern size because I hate baggy skirts and the hips are too tight. It looks fine but I am going to let that out just a 1/2 inch total. I think it is the lining that is too tight and the skirt is better. The great thing about sewing this is that as my body does not have a waist any longer I don't have to size up and deal with baggy hips, I just didn't do any waist darts on the skirt and was able to stay at the smaller size and still be comfortable at the waist.

So I want to teach kids to sew again, and my work is so busy that I can't do a class after school anymore. I live in a large apartment complex and was thinking about Saturday or Sunday classes for small groups of kids. I live in a traditionally orthodox jewish area which makes me interested in doing a Sunday class. Every Saturday I see many families walking to the synagogue across the street.

I have an idea on pricing and I have plans from last year. There is a company that will turn your child's picture into a stuffed animal so I have taught kids to make a drawing and turn that into a stuffed animal. I had some fails last year with overly complicated pictures or using felt that was easy to sew but fell apart. It needs a little work. My idea is 4 weeks for 1 1/2 hour sessions. Total cost $60 which is a very good deal. They can bring fabric but I a will have the basic supplies and they take home a small kit with a needle, some thread, maybe we can make a pincushion. I know that I did this in Girl Scouts all the time.

[mschrisgo2]

I used to teach a hand sewing class after school. I did 2 sessions and each ran for 6 weeks, about 2 hours a week. For one we made and stuffed teddy bears from a cute pattern I originally got through 4-H, and for the other session we made small 9-patch quilts. The kids loved it, and so did I because sewing makes me happy!

(Now there's so much d--n much focus on common core that teachers here are Only allowed to do "academic" classes after school.)

[kib]

I liked the progression our group leader created in 4H - first we made sewing boxes by covering hard cardboard boxes in fabric, then we made a set of cases for things to go in the box using a blanket stitch, felt and embroidery floss - pin cushion, scissor case, thimble case, tape measure case, and needle "sheets" shaped like clovers. It's been 40 years and I still use this box of stuff. Love the blue and green floral calico, very groovy, man. The thimble case has disappeared. Then we learned how to machine sew, and we sewed aprons and oven mitts. Then we learned to bake. I realize you probably won't have these kids long enough to go through all that, the stuffed animal idea sounds like a keeper if you can tweak it to work.

[Williamsmith]

"Very groovy man?" Wow.....flashback. My mother taught me to sew my buttons back on my shirts and how to put on a patch and fix a rip. These days just throw it away and get another I guess.

[Chicken lady]

Ds was very popular in his dorm and fraternity because he had a sewing kit and knew how to use it. Some of these guys had never encountered the concept of puting the button back on!

[freshstart]

this sounds like a great idea and you will meet so many new neighbors

[Zoe Girl]

mschris, I have a 4H curriculum that uses traditional sewing to teach STEM, or STEAM as some are now adding the arts. It includes colors, fabric content, measuring, etc. I always thought about the math skill in scrap quilting, some of the elaborated designs that women made without store bought patterns are incredible. I would have to tweak the class if I had a heavy academic push.

[Zoe Girl]

"Very groovy man?" Wow.....flashback. My mother taught me to sew my buttons back on my shirts and how to put on a patch and fix a rip. These days just throw it away and get another I guess.

Actually I think some of the 'maker' movement would encourage us not to just throw away, I hope

[Dhiana]

That's a great idea to teach sewing classes. When I was young I wanted to make my own clothes, started with barbie clothes first. They were all horribly ugly but I had fun.

Do a google search as if you were looking for sewing lessons for your own kids in the age group you want to teach and check out the competition. Find your own niche and it will help you set a good price point for the classes.

[Zoe Girl]

I have some ideas for the competition. I think a major bonus will just being right here instead of a studio. There are many apartment buildings and townhouses in our complex. And now I am feeling tired, I get lots of good ideas and they take more work than I expect many times but that is part of writing a plan.

I know that I don't really want to do 5 year olds, at least not with older kids. They can do things but most struggle with the dexterity to do what they imagine.