Policies, Safety, and General Information for classes
New Parents and Adult Students: I know this is a bit long, but please read all of this page as it will give you a lot of good information about our studio.
Welcome
to my studio!
New Student Classes: Students who have not taken a class from me before will need to sign up for a one session beginner class before taking their 1st camp class from me. This class will be 3 hours long and will teach safety and machine basics. The student will at least start their 1st project which is a drawstring bag. Since I let the students dictate the speed that they will move at they may finish this project or they may have to finish it during their 1st regular class. If a new class is being started with all new students then this class can occur during regular class time and regular tuition rates will apply.
Weekly class payment policies: Tuition is due the 1st class of each month. Our once a week for an hour classes are $40 per month regardless of how many weeks are in the month. If you have more than 1 child from the same family that you are enrolling then it is only $35 per student. Your 1st month you must pay a deposit that is equal to the amount of 1 months tuition. If you give 30 days notice and are up to date on all payments then this will go towards your last months tuition when you cease lessons. If you do not give 30 days notice or have an outstanding balance this will not be used towards your last month and will not be refunded.
Camp
payment and registration policies:
A class will be held for 7 days after a spot is requested.
After 7 days the spot will no longer be guaranteed unless you have
paid your deposit and turned in your paperwork. Deposits and
tuition are not refundable if you cancel the class unless the class
is full and I am able to fill the spot prior to the start of the
class. IF the class is full and I am able to fill the spot
then you will receive all but $10 per class of your deposit and any paid tuition back.
The class must be paid in full at least three weeks prior to the
class starting. I schedule classes based on
registration numbers so please understand that I cannot refund your
money unless the class is full and I can fill the spot with someone
else. I will work with you to the best of my ability to
make everything work out, but I must have policies in place so that I
am not having to cancel a class at the last minute when someone
decides to drop the class. That would not be fair to the other
students or to me. Thank you for your understanding.
Materials / What is included and what is not: Students are responsible for purchasing the supplies necessary to make their projects. I do have some supplies on hand that students can purchase from me, but I cannot guarantee that I will have everything that they need or a fabric that they will like. If you give me a weeks notice I will make sure that I have all of the extra things that they need for a project if you wish to purchase from me. Please speak to me in advance if you wish to use this option. Please ask your child after each class if there are any materials they need for the next class. I will always send home a list of supplies necessary for the next project when they are getting close to finishing their current project. The child will not have an effective class if they come without supplies.
Please purchase a good quality thread. The threads that you get from the dollar bin or that have been sitting around for years tend to get brittle or fuzzy causing them to break more often in the machines. This can be very frustrating for anyone and especially for those just beginning to sew.
I
provide sewing machines for in class use and the tools necessary
(pins, measuring tapes, seam rippers, scissors, etc) to make the
projects. There is no mandatory homework so having a sewing machine
at home is not necessary.
Attendance:
As a general rule you are
paying to hold your spot and there are no makeups. If I have an open
spot in another class then I may let you make up the class at my
discretion.
Drop off and Pick up:
Please do not drop off
students more than 5 minutes early for their class. Please pick up
promptly as we may have another class starting right after your
child's class and I will need to be able to give the next class my
full attention just like I gave your child's class my full attention.
Voluntary Withdrawal from Classes:
If you are in an ongoing
class then you must give me written notice 30 days prior to the date
you want to withdraw. This written notice may be in the form of an
email or a written letter. If you do not give me written notice then
I will continue to assume that you will be in the class until the end
of the school year and I will continue to expect prompt payment of
your monthly tuition. At this time I am not planning on doing weekly
classes during the summer.
Communication:
Please email or call me
whenever you have a question or concern. I can answer brief questions
before and after class, but often I will have another class starting
and will not have time for long discussions.
Safety:
Please remember that this is
a class where we will be working with sewing machines, needles,
scissors, and hot irons. It is up to you as a parent to decide if
your child is ready for this responsibility. Each child is different
and will be ready at a different time.
Some general safety
guidelines:
We go over these during
the first class and review them periodically. It never hurts to talk
to your child about them at home as reinforcement.
*Remove all pins prior to
sewing over the part of the fabric that they are in. Put all needles
on a pin cushion. Do not hold needles in your mouth.
*When using the iron always
keep your fingers away from the bottom of the iron. If you need to
iron something that needs help to stay put – DO NOT use your
fingers. Use the proper tool and ask for help from the teacher.
Always set the iron upright when done and be careful when walking in
the area around the iron and ironing board. Only hold the iron by the
handle.
*Always wear shoes in class.
We try to keep needles off the floor, but we do not want someone
stepping on a stray needle in their bare feet.
*Always carry scissors with
the sharp end pointing down and keep your fingers clear of where you
are cutting. Always check under what you are cutting before beginning
to cut. We want to make sure there is nothing under it that should
not be cut.
*Use caution when using a
seam ripper. You want to pull the seam ripper so that the sharp part
goes away from your body and face. Make sure that no one else is
close to you when you are using the seam ripper. Ask for help if
needed.
Parent
Information
First
and foremost remember that your kids are beginners. They are just
learning a new skill and all new skills take time to master. Their
finished projects may not have the quality of a store bought item or
what a professional seamstress would do, but in most cases they will
still be thrilled with what they have created and the accomplishment
they have made. Don't ruin that for them by being critical of their
first attempts. Praise what they have done and let them know that you
are proud of them. Also realize that sometimes a child may enjoy a
project so much that they want to repeat it. I am fine with them
doing that as it is a good opportunity for them to practice and
improve on the skills that they have learned. They will also enjoy
sewing more when they have a say in what projects they are working
on. If you are concerned that your child is stuck on one thing and
not progressing then please talk to me, otherwise know that they are
perfecting skills and enjoying themselves.
Your child will enjoy sewing
more if they are working on projects that interest them and if they
are able to choose their own fabrics at the fabric store. My only
2 rules are that beginners need to stay away from stripes and plaids
and they need to use cotton or flannel type fabrics. Stripes and
plaids can be difficult to match which could lead to frustration in a
beginning student. Stick to solids and all over print types of
fabrics that do not require the student to match a pattern. Cotton
and flannel are easier to work with than many kinds of fabrics. They
are not yet ready for other fabrics that can be more difficult to
work with. I will let you know when your student is ready to tackle
the more difficult types of patterns of fabric. We want them to enjoy
their first experiences and concentrate on the skills that they are
learning. We do not want frustration that could lead to them giving
up before they ever get started.
