What does "teach kids to sew" or "kids sewing classes" mean to you? Most people think of a classroom with a teacher and students in the same room. There is another way. You can provide DIRECTIONS lesson to your clients so they can learn at home on their own. Here are two checklists. The first indicates that you would prefer to be a teacher; the second indicates that you would prefer to be a seller.

TO TEACH

You enjoy being around kids You have space for a classroom You can afford startup costs of tables, machines(optional), supplies, etc. People have been asking you if you would teach their kids You can organize and schedule class activities You feel the social environment of the classroom is important

NOT TO TEACH

You're too busy to add classes to your schedule The thought of 4 kids in a room with hot irons and sharp scissors gives you the willies You have no space for a classroom You really don't want to be a teacher You have sales skills The retail environment is really more your style You understand basic inventory control and wholesale buying

DIRECTIONS is flexible enough to suit your needs. Some people are meant to be teachers and some are meant to be sellers. A few can do both, epecially in a private classroom or retail store environment. There will always be students who want to come to your classes, but can't because of (insert excuse here). If you will have DIRECTIONS in stock, you can turn a 'no' student into a 'yes' client. The student can follow the curriculum at home. Sure they'll miss out on the social experience of class. They will still have the right knowledge when they are able to come to your class later. Consider that some 'no' students will never come to a classroom - they're just private people. Why not turn that into a niche market for yourself, at a profit? Or are they just to be left flounder to their own devices, learning (or not!) sewing however they can, (horrors!) maybe even 'picking it up on the street'. You can ensure that these kids still get a solid sewing education even if they can't come to your class.

With DIRECTIONS curriculum in the classroom, you're ensure that each student has their own set of sewing rules. They can refer to the Skillcard Binder long after they are done with your sewing classes. This is especially important in the beginning, as not every student who passes Level 1 will come back for Level 2. You'll be leaving them with a tangible set of instructions, patterns, and skills. Later, when they are older and want to come back to sewing, they'll have what they need to pick up where they left off.

Usually you think of teaching sewing when you realize that sewing skills are dying out, and the public schools don't have the resources to continue teaching every students. You want to pass on your love of sewing, or you don't sew and realize how important it is that children learn. Regardless of your personal sewing ability, you can ensure sewing success for every child that comes your way, whether teacher or seller, private or retail. And that's what teaching sewing is all about.