Congrats to yesterday’s winner, Jeannette Sroka, on winning Day 12’s daily giveaway! We will be in contact so that you can claim your prize.
It’s Day Thirteen of National Sewing Month! Don’t forget to visit Seams and Scissors every day to find daily giveaway opportunities and sewing ideas! To enter today’s daily giveaway, find the contest rules and leave a comment below. Also look out below for details on how to enter our National Sewing Month grand prize that includes a BERNINA 215 Sewing Machine! Too see the daily blog posts, projects of the day, and more National Sewing Month details, click here.
Today’s National Sewing Month post is brought to you by Judi from Teach Others to Sew!
If you love to sew, why not make some extra money while you share that passion and teach others to sew! If you do not think you know how to sew well enough to teach others, don’t worry; I thought the same thing too. I was very nervous when I made the decision fourteen years ago to quit my job to stay home with my children and to start teaching people to sew instead. But I wouldn’t trade my job for any other. The satisfaction that I get teaching others to sew and seeing my students full of pride from their accomplishments is a great feeling, for both them, and me. Where else can I make $50.00-$80.00 an hour teaching what I enjoy most; sewing! After receiving hundreds of emails asking me for guidance in helping other people across the world to start their own sewing studio, I decided to share my journey.
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| Here is a peek in my sewing studio, Love To Sew Studio, which is attached to my home. I am so grateful I was able to stay home with my children while making money teaching my favorite thing to do: Sewing! |
What started out as having three sewing machines nestled in the corner of my family den, has grown into a full time job with a beautiful studio attached to my home that I am very proud of. Our sewing studio has eight sewing machines, three dress-forms, two cutting tables, and is packed with fabric, thread, and supplies. Day and night children and adults can be found in it eager to learn more about sewing, quilting, and making crafts! Some have even gone off to study fashion in college. We host many sewing charity events where our students as young as seven make quilts for kids with cancer, dresses for girls in Africa, and pillowcases for sick children, to name a few. We host a regional annual fashion show and competition where designers as young as eight show a self-sewn collection runway style with 500 in attendance. These young designers have a chance to show an everyday collection, and compete in categories which we change each year. Both industry judges and audience votes are tallied for both the designers and their creations, and the models on the runway, who are their friends. To our knowledge, it is the only fashion show for kid designers of its kind in the U.S.
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| Word of mouth is the best advertisement for your business. Here is eight year old Catherine sewing a quilt for a child with cancer during one of our “Sew for a Cause” events. The response for this event was so great that we had to hire a cook for the day, and expand into the living room with extra tables and sewing machines for more students to sew. |
I love to sew so much, that many years ago I had a dream once that I was able to teach everyone in the world who wanted to learn how to sew. I know that sounds silly, but that was the dream I had. I shared that with my friend and a couple years later she reminded me of the dream and she told me to start a website, since that was the only way I could teach people across the world to sew. So I did, I started a site called www.lovetosew.com. It has many free sewing patterns, articles, and tutorials about sewing, crafting, fashion, and quilting. But I was still not satisfied.
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| Offering extra workshops like “Sewing for your American Girl Doll” keeps the little ones interested like Morgan shown here. |
I wanted to also help the people across the world who had the desire to teach others to sew. So twelve years after my first site I started another on called www.teachotherstosew.com. In this site I take you step-by-step in opening up your very own sewing studio. I cover all the basics of why and how my studio grew so quickly and continues to grow. I even have a list of all the workshops and classes I have tried in the past, and I let you know which ones were successful and which ones weren’t. But most important, I share my three most important reasons why my studio became so successful.
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| “My 1st Quilt” is a great project for kids of all ages. Nine year old Addy shows us how proud she is of her big accomplishment! |
A lady who lives five miles away from me contacted me one day, and said she wanted to open up a studio just like mine. I said sure, let’s be sister-schools! I felt no competition with her at all. I was that confident that we would both be successful in our business, and that the need and desire was there for both of us to prosper with students eager to learn to sew. We ended up becoming very good friends, and both of our schools remain successful.
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| We have found that the teens tend to lean more towards the fashion classes with sewing. Here Catie and Jacqueline are deciding what kind of closure the long black suede fitted coat that Jacqueline made should have for the upcoming fashion show. |
If you want to teach others to sew, there are both kids and adults that want to learn this lost skill which is not being taught in the schools anymore. Every day requests come in by phone and email from new students. If you are thinking about teaching others to sew, don’t be nervous like I was. Remember, the kids and adults you are teaching probably have never even seen a bobbin before let alone know what its purpose is. I have been told over and over again how much both the parents and students appreciate everything I taught them. I have seen many of my students grow in great leaps not only with their sewing skills, but also with their organizational skills, time management, and self-help skills. If you need some stepping stones in teaching others to sew, grab a cup of tea, stop by my site, and read on.
Don’t miss all of Judi’s amazing projects at Teach Others to Sew!
Also remember to check out the Project of the Day right here!
To enter the daily giveaway, leave a comment below telling us:
Do you dream of opening your own sewing studio?
Official Rules for Daily Contest
- There is a maximum of one entry per person. The entry will be based upon a comment left on this blog post. Duplicate comments will be deleted and are not tallied.
- Winner will be selected at random from the comments on this blog post below.
- You have until tonight, September 13th, 2014 at 11:59p EST to leave your comment on this post. Comments posted after that will not be counted.
- Contest open to anyone 18+ in US and/or Canada.
Enter here for the National Sewing Month 2014 Grand Prize Giveaway.
- Thanksgiving Home Decor: 10 Sewing Projects - October 26, 2020
- Kitchen Classics: 15 Easy Sewing Projects - October 25, 2020
- 20 Sewing Patterns for a Woodland Critter Wonderland - October 23, 2020
I would love having a quilting/sewing shop! The fabrics and machines are so interesting! I am enjoying learning everything through these blogs!
No I can’t say I want to open a sewing studio. It sounds like a lot of work. I like just sewing for friends and family and donation.
No, I’m def not that talented in the sewing dept.
No, I plan to remain a dedicated hobbyist, but that’s no reason not to teach. I don’t have to be a professional to have knowledge worth sharing, as do the many folks I’ve learned from just chatting as we pick over the remnants table, or at the LYS. I once got a drop spindle lesson in a used book store!
First I’d like to have the time to get the experience to be good enough to teach, but a studio where others could learn would be awesome to open.
Never thought of doing such a thing. Sounds wonderful.
It is a fantasy of mine to retire and open a sewing/quilting studio, but my reality is that I can’t afford it. Thanks!
I do not want to open my own studio. I am happy to sew stuff and then sell them to people who don’t have the time or inclination to sew.
I also started my own sewing business so that I could be a work at home mom for my two girls! I have a taught a few beginner sewing classes but my heart lies in custom work right now! But certainly if someone wants to learn to sew I am so happy to help them! It is a wonderful skill and as soon as they learn the basics they can really take off and make whatever they want!
At this point in my life I plan to keep quilting as a hobby. I do enjoy teaching though and have taught a couple friends to quilt. And I have a niece who wants to learn so I will teach her eventually.
Yes, it is something I have alwAys wanted to do. I have always worked outside the house and done alterations and sewing for people on the side.
Would love to do this. Was recently disabled and had to leave my job, but this is something I could do at home.
I have wanted to teach others things I have learned for a long time. I pretty much taught myself through trial and error. It would have been so much easier to have had someone who could show me.
WOW – YES I want to help teach the world to sew!!! I believe if a young person learns to make something to wear they will have a desire to do that over and over again! Even as life gets hectic – as they begin high school, then college and on to becoming parents – the skill will never leave them. I was able to teach my two daughters to sew before they had the unit in middle school. Also bought my two Grand Girls their first machine for Christmas last year and look forward to many years of sewing with them. There are some young adults that have asked me to teach them to sew – this could open up so many opportunities for me!!!
I have thought of opening a sewing school. Since going on disability I think it would be a good supplemental income for me.
I have several sewing machines, so family have told me to use them to teach others. It’s an idea that has been swimming in my head for a while now.
I have my hobby shop wherr i quilt. I am hoping to take down some walls and start having quilting classes in the next few years.
Opening a sewing cafe might be fun! Sewing is a hobby I’ve picked up in the last year and a half or so and I’m hooked. I still do want to pursue culinary and open a cafe but what goes with sewing better than drinks and sweets?
That would be fun. High School is where I learned to sew back in the day! Got hooked immediately! I will definitely be checking out her websites!
I enjoy sewing and quilting more as a hobby than a job, but I have fun teaching friends what I know and hope they enjoy it as much as I do.
We live in California and are moving to North Carolina. There I could see opening a shop to teach sewing. Here people don’t care for hand made items as much. I have an etsy shop (wisecrafts94) and most of my items go to other states! I have taught sewing when I was younger for summer school when summer school want just to catch up on credits but fun! When you could take a class in cooking, sewing, string art anything like that. It is so sad that crafting is becoming a list art. I learned to sew in the 7th grade and have now turned it into my full time job after being laid off from 3 jobs! I can’t wait to move and see the new possibilities in another state!
I would love to open my own sewing school but space is my biggest obstacle, I’m enjoying teaching my 6 year old daughter at the moment, she draws what she’d like and we work on it together
I’ve been sewing for others in my home for over 30 yrs. I did set up some sewing lessons in the past for 4-H students and interested mother/daughter teams from our church to learn the basics. It was fun seeing where these basic sewing skills took the students. Sewing has become a lost skill that needs to be retaught. We all wear clothes and why not have them fit properly and made by ourselves.
I like helping others learn to quilt, but I’m content with helping others and not doing it as a business. Your success story was very inspiring and I wish I had been able to have access to a place such as yours when I was younger.
I would love to teach. I have enjoyed quilting for many years, I want to pass it along.
Since my Daughter-in-law retired, she has been brushing up on her sewing skills. I love to sew also, so we turned my Son’s old bedroom into a sewing room. At this time we would not be interested in doing classes, but we would love to sew for a charity. We have been giving our projects to friends, and family. Just sewing for fun, and the fellowship we share. Love it!
Sounds like fun & LOTS of work .Love to sew & quilt! Learned to sew when I was about 10 & sewed lots for my family now do more crafts & quilting.
Opening up a sewing studio would be great! Mine would be a place where you can get away from the hustle and bustle of life and relax in front of a window overlooking the woods and just sew. Sew with someone who sewed for relaxation and enjoyment. I actually belong to such a “club” with my precious mother-in-law! Coffee drinking and sewing abound and is open to anyone to come and join us! Must love to visit and enjoy people!
My dream is to open a NonProfit Org. that teaches non violent women getting out prison how to Sew, Cook, take care of their kids and life skills to keep them from reoffending. I started teaching my 10 year old grand daughter this summer. She loved it. She made a sundress.
I would love to encourage youngsters to sew and/or quilt. I think kids need to be encouraged to express themselves and this could open doors to their soul 🙂
My dream is to have a fabric/craft store with classrooms for teaching quilting and craft techniques.
wonderful site also i am looking for anyone in the prattville , montgomery al local that does quilting for charity i have a large bag of quilting material some aready cut some peices sewn together
If I had a location or space for it I would love to get back into teaching but disability and apartment living just about rule it out. I used to teach craft and sewing classes for fabric shops I worked in and really enjoyed it. Maybe one or more of my nieces or great nieces will express an interest and I can pass on some of my knowledge.
I have sewn and quilted for years. A year ago I opened a business repairing outdoor gear and making custom items. I’ve replaced more zippers and repaired more holes than I ever dreamed. Today is a red letter day: we just found a cobblers treadle to get in those tight spaces, and we are officially sewing machine technicians!
Almost went in with a Friend to open a Shop.. We wanted to teach young Girls/Boys to Sew… Mostly just the Basics with several projects to work on .. Wanted to Teach some Hand Sewing too. I remember in Home Ec Class back in the 1970’s the boys would come to the Class room needing their pants sewn, and the Home Ec Teacher would hand them about a yard or so of Thread and a Needle and tell them to bring the needle back. I highly doubt the boys knew anything about sewing at all and we all had a nice Chuckle..So this would be a Great Skill to Teach Others…We even had a Place we were looking at but the owner wanted too much Rent… so we never did, She opened a Quilt Shop in her Home and I went to work in a Nursing Home …..
No, I do not dream of my own sewing business anymore. My eyes are not good enough. I do, however, encourage anyone thinking of this type of business to go ahead and try. Don’t wait too long.
I love to sew. I am a beginner at making a quilt. Would love to learn more about it. One of these days I will make a quilt. 🙂
I dream of a sewing studio quite often. I am a 3 yr self-taught quilter. So right now I use my 10′ X 10′ spare bedroom. I live in a small rural community , and it would be “sew” cool to share my passion with others. We are considering an addition on our home, which hubby knows what that will become. I purchased plans to build my own longarm frame for my current small-arm machine, plus, the extra space will make it so possible to maybe offer some fun and learning for my neighbors out here in the middle of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.
Absolutely love to see. I took sewing in high school many many years ago and hated it. Now that I am retired I needed a hobby. I sewed my first quilt that I designed myself since I could not follow a pattern to save my life!! Since then I have sewed 27 other quilts and absolutely love sewing now!! Recently I started “teaching” how to make a quilt. What I have heard is that I make it easy, that it doesn’t scare the woman I have taught, and that I make it fun!! Every mistake is a new great lesson! I would love to have my own quilt shop!!
I would love too!! My aunt introduced me to sewing and I absolutely love it! I’m a SAHM with three girls ages 5,2 and 2 1/2 months, so being able to make a little extra money or help my community would be awesome!!
When I was a teenager my mom gave me a pattern and a piece of material and told me to read the directions, that was my start at sewing. After ripping out seams and re stitching she told me I had the patience to sew. I learned to embroidery when I was six, today so many crafts are becoming a dying art. I would love to learn and teach others to give them a tool to build self esteem, make a living or just sew for their family.
I am just starting to quilt so at this point in time I don’t want to open a shop. Maybe in the future when I feel more comfortable with it . Thank you.
I would love to open a studio and share my love of sewing! My focus would probably be my etsy shop, but small lessons with kiddos would be such a joy!
Teaching others to quilt is so fun!
No, not really. I owned a bakery for 23 years, now I want to do fun things like sew!
I just started offering lessons in sewing and other needlecrafts I love. I don’t have room in my home, but have use of a veteran hall that’s not used during the day. My students range from 11 years to we don’t talk about her age…. I am planning to start a sewing and crafting group next to creat items to donate to those in need.
I would love to open my own studio and teach others to sew. I have taught a Lights On after school sewing class for middle school students. I do clothes repair, zippers, tears, opened seams, hemming, buttons, for people that I work with. Most kids at the school where I work bring me their clothes if they need repaired. I do it free of charge for the kids. I keep needles and thread, some buttons and such stuff in my desk drawer at work, I use them a lot. I would love to set up my own studio in my home to teach kids and adults to sew.
I have taught a few people to sew including my husband. I retired this past January and we plan to move to Louisiana as soon as possible (as soon as hip replacement surgery is healed). Several of my friends have asked if I will teach them to sew/quilt…it looks like I will be teaching more people. This time around my grandchildren will be added to the student list. I am excited.
No, I could not open a sewing school, my RA bothers my hands that I can only sew now for shorter periods of time and I’m afraid I don’t have all the necessary patience to teach. I do love to sew and love being around fabric so I could sell but not teach. I love that you went with your dream and opened your school it’s great to see young ones taking an interest.
No I think if it became a job I wouldn’t enjoy it as much. I like to sew for family and friends. No stress.
I don’t have any interest in opening a sewing or quilt shop.
It’s so awesome that you followed your dream! I also love to sew & I want to start teaching too. Not just on fancy new machines tho… I love working with machines that are “aged beauties” so I want to teach cleaning, repair and maintenance as well as sewing on the oldies but goodies too. I have several old girls and a treadle that are just waiting for attention…
Thanks for offering daily giveaways…they are such fun to enter!
Don’t think my talents are quite at the level to teach others… I’m still learning myself!
That was always my dream to teach basic knowledge of sewing. I had a business out of a small storage place but the accommodation of restroom was a factor. So, I closed this location in hopes of finding another place. Money is tight and my apartment is too small for the business. I remain hopeful though that one day all will fall into place.
In the past, I had thought it would be perfect to have a sewing shop or studio. However, at least for right now, I would like my sewing “studio” to be a place where my daughter and daughter-in-laws can visit and work on projects and get help if they need it. Plus, I would get to see what they were designing for my grandchildren and friends! They are all very creative people.
I wold love to be able to do this but financially it is out of the question for me as I have been unemployed for over 4 years now and retirement age is fast approaching.
I’ve been sewing since my gran taught me at her knee at the age of 6. She continued to teach me until I was making my own clothing, then on to quilting. I still quilt today, both by hand and màchine. I have always wanted my own sewing studio. I love to design the quilts that I make. I would love to be able to put my machines up and not have to take them down to use a different one.
not now taking care of husband with early onset is full time job
I would love to teach the basics to young children. Everyone should know how to sew on a button or repair a small tear.
No, I don’t desire to start a business of teaching others to sew, but do enjoy one-on-one lessons with people I know. I figure how to make the information simpler for the true beginners and they don’t feel swamped. Now, if only I didn’t get tired so readily!
I would love to have my own shop! It’s a dream that I have all the time. I’ve been sewing for 40 years now and still love it. I’ve been making Viking tunics and pants for a Viking living history group and I enjoy that. I also love making Halloween costumes. I have done a little embroidery work and one dream is to have a professional embroidery machine. I’m getting older so I know that I will never have a shop but it’s still my dream.
No I don’t want to open my own shop, However I admire anyone who does. I just don’t have the time to do so because I have many other crafts I do includig refinishing furniture.
I already have a small business Sew Special Stitches, I do mainly embroidery,
I havve sewn since I was 8, I had not thought of a studio, it might be neet, I am loosing my job soon due to down sizing, 15 years and not enough to stay working.
I would LOVE to have a sewing studio!
I have a dream of a shop that covers sewing and quilting and would also offer classes in crochet, knitting and embroidery. I have taught a couple of friends to sew
I have never thought about it becoming a reality for me. Now, that I am 50 years old maybe it could be something for me to accomplish once I leave the workforce.
I love sharing the art of sewing with girl scouts and HS craft club. It would be neat to have my own shop to teach sewing.
The time here is 9:30 PM Sept. 13th.
I admire people who do open a studio, but I do not want to open one. I enjoy sewing for relaxation for family , friends and charity. Thanks!
Right now I do craft shows making fabric purses and accessories, but my high functioning son is attending college and I am his personal aide. It is taking time away from me building my stock for shows. Teaching sewing evenings and weekends would really fit into my life right now. I will be checking out your site when I am waiting for him in between classes, planning my new business venture.
Though it would be nice to do as a living, I think I enjoy creating then gifting
sewing is one of my new passions and if I was younger a teaching classroom would be on my to do list. I have recently made nap quilts and several baby quilts for family and as I have gained more experience the quilts have been more precise. there is no better gift for a child anyway than making something to keep them warm, whether in the crib or taking nap at pre school. so many inspirations and ideas..you are limited only by your imagination. I hope to one day make a piecing quilt of Noah’s Ark. I also would love a dedicated craft room as the dining table doubles as sewing space and organization is at a premium right now. that is great you are following a dream and your students will remember you long after they leave your studio. a great friendship and talent to shara. that is a double gift
I signed up for your newsletter because I have always wanted to learn to sew. Alas I haven’t even yet began because I am caring for my father who has congestive heart failure. Money is tight because I am unable to work due to his care, but I pick up sewing items as I can for someday. I really enjoy dreaming of the items I will someday make because your newsletter is so engaging and full of interesting projects. Weird that I saw this to enter because I really did dream I had a sweet old fashioned sewing group and I lived above the store:) I made me happy as it’s been a bit bleak for awhile. Just wanted to thank you, pouring over all the ideas and dreaming gives me happiness and hope.
Thanks so much,
Sandra
Um, no. I have the basic knowledge, but not the talent.
I have never considered teaching sewing. I have recently retired and this gives me something to think about
I have always enjoyed sewing and this just might work!
I would love to have a sewing studio. I have 4 sewing machines, one of which is a commercial embroidery machine. I would like to add a serger machine to my sewing area. I teach sewing to special needs adults (DD) and would love to expand to church and youth groups. I just started to quilt.
I don’t want to open a sewing studio, but enjoy sharing my lifetime of sewing knowledge with others as well as learning more about my more recent love of quilting from friends who have been doing that kind of sewing much longer than have I.
I would love to have a shop!
Hola, se que no tengo opción al sorteo y la verdad es que me da mucha pena pues me encanta la bernina, pero soy de España y aqui no envian nada 🙁 , muchas felicidades por lo que haces es muy bonito, un beso muy grande desde Gran Canaria
I WOULDHAVE A FUN TIME JUS HELPING SOMEONE LEARN TO QUILT OR KNIT BECAUSE THAT COULD BE A LOST ART SOON.
thanks FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THIS.
I had never thought to open a studio, but my daughters and I are constantly learning and teaching each other new techniques! You are never too old to learn new things.
I don’t have the time to open a shop, but I’ll show any friend ‘how to’ anytime. I’m too busy making things and looking after an elderly parent to take on too much more at the moment.
Would love to open something small in my neighborhood, have had ladies ask me how and never turn anyone away 🙂
I would love to have my own quilting studio!
I’ve been working from home for the last 40+ years and have always dreamed of having my own Studio to create garments, as well as offer the skills that I’ve acquired over this time: as a self taught seamstress and acquiring my Associates Degree in Fashion Marketing and Design to teach others to be as creative as I’ve become.
I was so happy to come across your post. I began quilting about 16 years ago after attending a workshop at the middle school where I taught language arts. We had just lost our father and quilting was what brought me out of the depths of grief. I was hooked after my first Around the World quilt. I lost count of how many quilts I have created over the years. (Last count 84). All these have been gifted to family, friends, and donations for fundraisers. I have always dreamt of opening a studio where that special atmosphere of creative energy flows through the magic of sewing a quilt. I retired from teaching in the classroom and have the time but not the money.