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Private Lessons What is a reasonable rate? How many hours?
amysayssew Beginner NY Member since 9/7/08 Posts: 178	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 8/9/10 8:16 PM I've been in a sewing rut lately. I haven't touched the sewing machine in at least a month, and any time that I've tried to make clothes, the garments haven't fit. I found a sewing instructor in my area who charges $30 per hour for a private lesson. My initial reaction is that this is reasonable (cheaper than I expected, actually) but I wonder how many hours I should plan to spend on a project (a dress, for instance). I'd like to know how much I'm going to be spending overall. What do you think? ------ Buffalo Modern Sewing Group: http://bit.ly/buffalosewing Sewing prints at my Etsy store: http://bit.ly/sewingart
Lil Flo Advanced Beginner LA USA Member since 4/17/09 Posts: 1677	Login to reply to this post In reply to amysayssew Like this post Date: 8/9/10 9:35 PM I don't know the going rate for private lessons, but think of it this way. IF your local quilt store had a class, how much would you have to spend and would you get the attention like the one on one for private lessons. You will still have to buy your supplies, but you will get to decide what to sew, I'm assuming this. You could take one lesson and see if it was worth it, then go from there.
KimG   Advanced NY USA Member since 1/3/07 Posts: 227	Login to reply to this post In reply to amysayssew Like this post Date: 8/9/10 11:00 PM I give private lessons, and there isn't an easy answer to your question. The time it takes will depend upon many factors: --how complicated the pattern is --what your fitting issues are --how much you can do outside of your lessons --what your goals are--perfect fit, as ''good'' as RTW, or somewhere in between? Other skills--inserting a zipper, setting in a sleeve? The more you want to achieve, the longer it will take. Ask the instructor for pattern recommendations. I would advise starting with something relatively simple, such as a skirt, and see how it goes. It will take longer than you think, but it should help you estimate more complicated garments. Don't do anything at the lessons that you feel you can do at home, such as cutting. Take notes, and before you leave, make sure you understand what you need to do before the next lesson--if you're not organized, you'll waste your time at the lesson. All in all, the process won't be inexpensive, but you'll build your skills and confidence a lot faster than working on your own, so it will be worth it. Hope this helps! Kim
April 1930s Advanced ID USA Member since 6/6/06 Posts: 95	Login to reply to this post In reply to amysayssew Like this post Date: 8/10/10 7:07 AM If you have the option of getting private lessons, DO IT! I had the Blessing of private lessons about 10 years ago and it set the foundational groundwork for where I am today. I realized mostly then, but am overflowing with gratitude today for the expertise, experience and sewing passion for precision. Hopefully your teacher is in it for the love of teaching sewing and not for the money, because then you know you're getting more than what you are paying for and you'll be so grateful - it'll be a win-win/love-love. ------ Your Stitchery Friend, April April 1930's Sewing Shoppe www.April1930s.com
amysayssew Beginner NY Member since 9/7/08 Posts: 178	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 8/10/10 8:35 AM Thanks for your responses! I think I am going to go forward with it and start out with a skirt (the ones I've made on my own have either been too big or too small). There have been so many times when I've been sewing that I thought it would be nice to know someone who could teach me, so I'm excited that I found this teacher! ------ Buffalo Modern Sewing Group: http://bit.ly/buffalosewing Sewing prints at my Etsy store: http://bit.ly/sewingart
sarah in nyc Advanced NY USA Member since 1/8/05 Posts: 1593	Login to reply to this post In reply to amysayssew Like this post Date: 8/10/10 9:46 AM I teach one student. My job is an enabeler. At the beginning my job was to guide my student through each step. Now, my job is to get her over the hard stuff. I usually don't have my student waste her lesson time hemming with me for example. we used to complete the garments we started during her lesson. Now, more often than not, what I am helping her with is the pattern drafting and figuring out the concepts and the steps she will need to go though to finish the garment. i don't get the satisfaction of seeing the finished garment as much...but I do see the increased confidence and skill. My student thinks like a designer/garment constructor now. Some teachers are into control. my method is to get my student to do as much as possible on her own. I realized while teaching my student that the impulse to show how much more skilled you are than your student can be a strong one. ( Financially, this method makes sense becuase it keeps your students dependant on you for ever. I'm big on getting nestlings to fly.) I see my job as an enabler. "here is a problem...dear student how do you think we should solve it????" So my short answer is it depends on the teaching style of your teacher. ------ sarah in nyc www.sewnewyork.blogspot.com
lckyforme Beginner HI USA Member since 12/12/09 Posts: 41	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 8/10/10 7:35 PM I'm taking lessons and she charges 10$ per hour and each class 2 hours. The way she does it is I bring my pattern and fabric and we go over everything and put the garmet together. I think it has helped me a lot. Good luck! Lisa
ryansmumAria Advanced CA USA Member since 7/29/05 Posts: 717	Login to reply to this post In reply to amysayssew Like this post Date: 8/10/10 8:51 PM I can't tell you how much to charge for a private lesson but I can tell you that sewing teacher's in unified school districts make from $36 to $52 an hour (not to mention all the benefits which are substantial) Any private class I have looked into for my son has been about $75.00 an hour minimum but I live in an expensive part of the world - los angeles. ------ "I am still learning" ~ Michelangelo ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I finally have a blog! You can visit it at www.zigzagthesewingrag.blogspot.com
ukdame Intermediate FL USA Member since 8/1/08 Posts: 1820	Login to reply to this post In reply to lckyforme Like this post Date: 8/10/10 11:35 PM I think $10 an hour is too low. Personally, when I think about how much of my own sewing I could accomplish in that hour time frame that I could have used creating my own project, this would be far more valuable then $10. ------ It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something. ~ Franklin D Roosevelt 1843 Janome 19606 ,Janome My Excel 4023, Brother 1034D, White 1750C, Kenmore 158.1803, White 764, Brother 780D.
BeeJ   Intermediate PA USA Member since 1/30/06 Posts: 132	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 8/17/10 9:45 PM I currently pay $30. per hour for private sewing lessons. In my opinion it's a fair price.

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