Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between Workshops, Camps and Kids Can Sew classes?
Workshops are make & take classes held one day only for a specific project (pillowcase, scrunchies, etc.) All supplies included.
Camps are for more complex projects and are scheduled for 2-3 hrs over the course of 2-3 days. All supplies included.
Kids Can Sew classes are held 1 hour every week for consecutive weeks. These classes follow the Kids Can Sew curriculum which consists of multiple projects, full size patterns and interactive workbook. Weekly classes allow students to build on skills as they progress through their projects. Students learn to read patterns and confidently use a sewing machine on their own. Students supply their own fabric, some notions and are required to purchase the workbook/pattern pack for $40. See Kids Can Sew FAQ's below.
Q: Do we (Adults/Kids) need to have sewing experience?
No experience required for MOST classes. Some of our more advanced kids classes require new students to attend a Let's Get Started beginner sewing class or at least 2 workshops prior to attending. This will ensure that the student has the confidence to tackle the camp project and that the project can be completed in the allotted time. The Let's Get Started class is a 1.5 hr class that teaches new students how to safely operate a sewing machine and introduces them to sewing tools, terms and basic machine operation.
Q: Do I need to stay with my child during kids classes?
Nope! While you are certainly welcome to stay if you need to, I encourage parents to drop-off and pick-up. Not that we
don't LOVE our parents!! It's just that extra bodies in the studio can sometimes create distractions for students. We pack A LOT into a short time frame and its amazing how the smallest of distractions can throw off an entire class. If you do choose to stay I ask out of safety and respect for other students that you stay outside of the sewing area. No younger siblings, please. I appreciate your understanding!
Q: Cancellation & Refund Policies:
M5 Farmhouse starts prepping for your class, workshop or party WELL in advance of the actual event. Classes are blocked and materials are purchased/prepped in advance. Cancellations add up and have the potential to severely impact the future of M5 Farmhouse. For these reasons, we have cancellation and refund policies in effect. These policies are/were acknowledged during your registration and are therefore non-negotiable.
Workshop, Camps, Make-and-Take Classes and Private Lessons: I keep my classes very small so that each student gets the attention they deserve, but that means there isn't a lot of wiggle room for lost revenue. Also, the closer it gets to the class, the harder it is to advertise and fill a vacated spot. Workshop and Camp registration fees are only refundable IF the cancellation is made at least 72 hours prior to class start. Any cancellations made AFTER the 72-hour mark are NOT eligible for a refund. **Registrations CAN BE transferrable to another party, but all transactions are the responsibility of the seller/buyer. M5 Farmhouse will not facilitate the transfer of tickets and is not liable for any such transactions. It is the responsibility of the buyer/seller to inform M5 Farmhouse of ticket transfers as soon as possible. All parties must also be aware that ANY student attending class is REQUIRED to fill out a waiver and must adhere to the age requirements of the class. IMPORTANT REFUND INFO: Any eligible refunds will be refunded MINUS the credit card and/or PayPal transaction fees incurred by M5 Farmhouse.
Deposit for Events and Parties: A $75 deposit is required to hold your event date.
Weekday bookings: Weekday and weeknight event/party deposits are refundable UP TO 72 hours prior to class start. Any cancellations under 72 hours are NOT eligible for a refund.
Weekend bookings: Due to the popularity of weekend events, Parties/Events that are booked on weekends (Friday night - Sunday) are NOT eligible for a Deposit refund.
Event and Party Attendance Policy: Final Participant Attendance/Head Count is required 72 hours prior to event start. The final party balance is based off of THIS attendance number, not actual attendance.
M5 Farmhouse Cancellation: In the event that M5 Farmhouse has to cancel a workshop, we will work with you to reschedule or find another class. You will be essentially given a 'credit' to use toward another M5 Farmhouse workshop. If you choose a class that is of higher value, you are responsible for any additional cost of the class. For events/parties, we will work with you to find another date to host your event.
Q: Age requirements / Is my 8 year old ready for sewing lessons?
This is a BIG one! I get asked this one a lot! I'll give a brief explanation here. We do offer a few classes specifically for 7 year olds. If you are interested and don't see one on the schedule feel free to reach out!
**Please do not intentionally misrepresent your child's age when signing up for a class. It has happened in the past and it is not only dangerous, it is extremely unfair to the other students in the class.
Many, many, factors went in to choosing the minimum age requirement for classes. Taking all of these factors into consideration we have chosen 8 years old as the minimum. As I'll explain below, 8 is NOT a magic number, but it does represent the minimum age at which we see the most success in sewing lessons. We do realize that there are some 7 year olds that are ready for sewing class, but there are also some 9 year olds that are not. Without the ability to evaluate each individual student, a minimum age needed to be established. To be fair to everyone we will not make any exceptions to the rule. If we break the rules for one person we have to break them for everyone, so thank you for helping me avoid that awkward conversation. 🙂 Thank you for your understanding.
Sooo.. Why 8?
Is 8 the magic number? Of course not! But by 8 most kids have developed essential math, reading and classroom etiquette skills that are a great foundation for sewing lessons. Aside from having fun 🙂, SAFETY is our biggest priority. Even though our class sizes are very small (4 -6 students) the instructor needs to be able to divide time evenly among students. Younger students naturally require more one-on-one attention and safety supervision than older students. We want EVERY student, including classmates, to have the best experience possible.
We want to make sure that your student is not only having fun but is also getting the most out of this amazing experience. Sewing can be a lifelong creative outlet but first impressions mean a lot. A student that is ready for sewing will have a much better experience and is more likely to pursue it than a student that finds the class material difficult to understand or the process stressful. This is especially important to consider if you are interested in the KIDS CAN SEW classes (weekly re-occurring lessons).
Other age factor considerations:
Environment: The studio is filled with many objects that could be dangerous if rules and caution are ignored. Irons, sewing machines, pins and scissors are constantly in use. It is important that the students adhere to safety instructions and use good judgment. Keep in mind, I have been teaching sewing for many years without a single student injury, but part of that can be attributed to the small class size and strict age requirements.
Patience: There will undoubtedly be times where students need to wait their turn for the instructor's attention. It is critical during these lag times that students can wait patiently without causing distractions or damage. (Rough Housing, button-pushing, playing with pins or tools, cutting other objects or materials, etc.
Repetition: Sewing involves a lot of repetition and includes many steps. Younger students tend to lose interest or become frustrated when project steps become repetitive or are not progressing as quickly as they would like.
Hand-Eye Coordination: There is so much more to sewing class than using a sewing machine. A well-cut project is easier to pin. A well-pinned project is easier to sew. All of these little tasks lead up to a better final product and overall experience. Hand-eye coordination plays a very large part not only in sewing but in all the steps that lead up to using the machines.
Mistakes and morale: Younger students do not recognize as easily, or stop, when they are making large mistakes. These mistakes often lead to delays or starting over which can affect the students overall experience. This, in turn, affects the entire class.
KIDS CAN SEW NOTE: We all know that kids develop at surprisingly different rates. For that reason we ask that YOU help us evaluate whether or not your 8+ year old is ready for weekly sewing lessons. There is a big difference between being able to follow directions and actually learning a new skill. A student who is just going through the motions but isn't absorbing the information might be better off waiting a session or two. We leave it up to you to decide whether or not they are ready and will keep you updated as to their progress and make suggestions as needed.
The biggest indicators that kids are ready for weekly sewing lessons are:
- Interested in learning the class material and not just 'going through the motions'
- Able to follow multi-step directions without constant supervision
- Are respectful of other students and the instructor
- Can be patient/non-disruptive while others are receiving instruction.
- Understand that sewing projects are a process of steps that will take time and patience to complete (ie: positive attitude, doesn't rush, produces good work)
Q: "Kids Can Sew" Class FAQ's
How quickly will my child progress through the projects? Every student is different and encouraged to move at their own pace, but typically it takes 2 to 5 classes to complete each project. On average, the KCS workbook will take about 2 to 4 sessions to complete all projects.
How much fabric/notions are students required to supply? In any given session you can expect to purchase fabric and notions (elastic, ribbon) for 2 to 4 projects. The order of projects will vary depending on what each class chooses to make, but new students always start with the 2 drawstring bags, one small and one large. From there it depends on skill level and the length of the session.
Regular non-stretchy cotton fabrics can be purchased for anywhere between $7-$14 per yard. Utilizing coupons at local craft stores is a great way to keep costs down. Sign up for retailer Apps and mailers!
Girls fabric requirements: (typically 2 to 3 of the following projects per session) (Boys projects are similar yardages)
1st &2nd Project
Sewing Pack/Notions Bag
Takes 4-6 classes to complete:
1.25 yards of non-stretchy, cotton fabric
3 yards of drawstring cord
Skirt
Takes 2 - 3 classes to complete
1/2 yard non-stretchy cotton fabric for main
1/3 yard similar contrasting fabric for band
1 pkg. 3/4" non-roll elastic
Stuffed Animal Pillow
Takes 2-3 classes to complete
3/8 yard for top
1/2 yard for bottom
2 felt squares
Round Neck Blouse
Takes 3-5 classes to complete
1.75 yards non-stretchy cotton fabric
Peasant Blouse OR Nightgown
Takes 3-5 classes
Blouse:
1.5 yd main fabric
.5 yd contrasting fabric
Nightgown:
2.5 yd main fabric
.5 yd contrasting fabric
Both require 2.35 yd 3/8" Elastic
Lounge Pants
Takes 3-5 classes to complete
2.5 yds cotton or flannel
1 pkg 3/4" non roll elastic
Q: Do you teach adults to sew, too?
Yep! If you don't see an adult class on the schedule feel free to ask. Adult classes are harder to fill than kids classes so I don't tend to offer them as often. But I will definitely put one on the schedule if I have interested parties. Private and semi-private lessons also available! Contact me for more info.