Survey Results about Classes Planned

Survey Results about Classes Planned Around your Input

Survey Results from your Input

It’s a long, long post!

52 people participated!  I think that’s exciting!  I had a great time reading the responses, and although not everyone left me with their name, most of you did.  I appreciate that.  And it seems everyone who responded has and uses a sewing machine.  Here are the results of the first few questions:

• Own a sewing machine            52
• Own a serger                           43
• Own a knitting machine           14

• Use a sewing machine            52, everyone who participated!
• Use a serger                           27 out of the 43, that’s 62.7%
• Use a knitting machine             7 out of 14, 50%

• Use machine to sew garments                       40
• Make machine knitted garments                    13
• Make quilts                                                     40
• Sew small projects like bags and purses       48
• Machine knit small projects                            10
• Home Dec                                                      34
• Afghans                                                            9

What other projects do you like to make?  The response to this question was great, thank you for taking the time.  Here’s the short version:

Anything.  Wearable Art.  Socks.  Bake.  Dog clothes.  Blankets.  Machine embroidery x 6.  Rugs and Rug Hooking.  Drapes.  Appliqué. 

Would you bring your machine to class, EVERYONE said yes!

I prefer classes that are:

• Lecture style less than 1 hour                                                     9
• Lecture style ½ day                                                                    11
• Hands-on 1 hour skills oriented                                                 11
• Hands-on ½ day project-oriented                                               37
• Hands-on full day project-oriented                                             39
• Retreat, 2 days, bring a machine, instructor’s class                     18
• Retreat, 2 days, bring a machine, your project, help available     22

Looking at the results to this question, I see most want full-day classes, project-oriented, with 1/2 day classes close behind.  42% likes the idea of a retreat, doing their own thing with help available, and 34% like the retreat idea with the instructor choosing the project.

Your “Perfect class, workshop or lesson”

Again, thank you for taking the time, the responses are wonderful!  Here we go:

• I don’t want to lug a machine for a class shorter than a half-day.
• A good teacher who is patient if I don’t understand as quickly as others. Good lighting is important and comfortable seating. Clear and easy to understand instructions.
• I want good light, space for tea, good company.
• The perfect class/workshop for me is full instructions to be able to finish the project at home.  I realize it’s usually impossible for me to complete the project in a workshop but nice to have the confidence to be able to complete it.
• Good light, room to work and coffee.
• I am a very experienced sewer so my ideal class would be task-oriented, like learning a new skill. I have been sewing garments for years and have taken quite a bit of schooling so there’s probably not too much I would be looking for – I don’t want to skew your survey results – but am only recently venturing into the quilting experience so that would be a focus for any workshops that would pique my interest.
• Ironing stations, good instructor, notes, organized teacher.
• Bring your own lunch, coffee, and tea, accessible, spacious, not too large of a group.
• Me (I love that response).
• My perfect class has minimal chatting with students to each other when there is a teacher teaching a class. Good materials list to be prepared for the class. A prepared teacher who is confident to tell the class they are too noisy if that happens. A circulating teacher as the class moves along during the day for individual attention when needed. Open to options i.e. left handed quilters. A sense of humour.
• Fun people.
• I prefer hands-on, I’m more of a visual learner. I haven’t been to a retreat yet. However, I think I would like to work to an instructor’s plan as well as working independently with assistance. Both would work for me.
• Full day, work on my own project with a teacher to provide coaching.
• Like the two-day local mini retreat but the first day too long! Would prefer lunch served and end the first day at 3:30 and the next day a bit earlier 2:30 or so.
• Instruction/Demo, then time to try the technique or step on your own with the instructor going to each student time to ask if they are understanding the technique and see if they are doing it correctly.
• For me, a half hour lecture that covers the steps of the day’s project and then moves into a half day hands-on project-oriented class would be perfect. I like to know the steps of a project before I start and I’m not great at reading patterns so end up having to wait for the instructor to have time to help me. If all steps were explained and demonstrated prior to starting the project it would help.
• Comfy chairs, good instructions.
• With you, I have done a T-shirt class and a bra making class. Over the years I have done classes for lined parkas, jeans, and other garments. Loved them all.
• Class needs to have enough people to generate different questions and ideas, but not so large that personal touch is lost. Room to spread out a bit, and coffee!
• Small classes with no one person dominating the teacher.
• Having you as my instructor is perfect for me.
• I’d like to learn more about my serger, and how to sew knits
• Setting up my machine, getting class supplies together, and ready for the instructions. The workshops set up as at the Guild, with ironing stations, cutting stations (and coffee) all ready for use. Depending on the space the use of your own small personal iron would be good. The class size could be limited so everyone gets time with the instructor. That is never a problem when you are the instructor, calm, co-ordinated lessons with handouts for homework.
• For beginners wishing to improve the look of what they make. Tips and techniques that a person can learn and then apply to what they want to make.
• Mainly garment sewing – zippers, pockets, facing, bias binding on edges,
• Possibly knits and how to sew them……etc.etc.
• My perfect workshop is 3 days, my own project and assistance provided as needed.
• Love learning new techniques and reinforcing those already learned. Need to learn how to make patterns from ready to wear
• Last year’s retreat in Ingersoll was a great balance of instruction and self-initiated projects. I’m willing to travel with all my equipment, as long as the program is interesting (honing my garment sewing craft/construction methods with classes such as bound buttonholes, proper interfacing, tailoring, fit, etc.). The overnight facility should be pleasant in an area with amenities such as restaurants or shopping.

2 Hour private lessons?

• Yes                             13
• Not for me                  15
• Depends on details    14

Thoughts on private lessons

• The problem I see with private lessons is that they are really cost prohibitive. In order for you the teacher to be paid for your time, supplies and talent you would have to charge way more than a regular class price.
• I don’t think you could do it out here in B.C. that easily? Too far distance wise probably. But I’d be interested. I don’t think I could come to you either.

4 to 6 person 2-3 hour project class

• I would love to take one at your place    42
• I come to you as a guest teacher           11
• No thank you                                           1

This section of the survey results shows me that I could teach classes at my house.

What would you like to learn in a small class? Please list as many ideas as you like.

• Efficient techniques in sewing, professional finishing, trims, etc in machine knitting, and special sewing techniques to enhance, or finish, embellish.
• I would like to see some meaty courses, not just fluff! ( or take home crappy crafty)
• Anything sewing related, free motion, twin needle
• Proper needles, proper stabilizers
• how to properly fit a pattern, sewing with knits, quilting projects
• use of cork for sewing
• how to drape fabric and DIY a dress form
• tailoring
• fitting!!
• need guidance for installing zippers  hidden hems and advanced sewing techniques
• Garment sewing. Tips and techniques. Even doing ‘samples’ as practice for using them later in a garment. Kits already made up by you of cute smallish quilted items that would teach techniques as we make them. Demonstrations by you of what we can make with fabric, inspiration. I guess beginner info and help to get better at sewing.
• how to adjust patterns both smaller and larger
• totes/purses/shopping bags/ wallets
• lap quilts
• pjs
• garments (pants, shirt, shorts, dresses, blouses)
• lingerie
• table runners/table cloth
• curtains, Roman blinds
• cushions (how to add piping and detail)
• slip covers
• outdoor projects
• organizers 
• holiday projects
• instructional (similar to serger Class) for different type of feet and when to use them, when to use different types of thread, how to add trim to a project, how to properly use bias binding, how to make your own bias binding
• how to make your own pattern
• zippers, zippers, zippers
• button holes
• outerwear
• lunch bags – food safe carrier, how to identify proper fabric, how to treat
• embroidery (basic, beginner, novice, advanced)
• interfacing (what type and when to use each one
• How to use all my different feet.
• How to alter ready-made correctly. Gaping bust lines etc
• How to copy your favorite ready wear shirt for example.
• Resizing patterns for your shape.
• Sewing techniques and adding them to your clothing.
• Pattern reading
• MEASURING and cutting
• .Embroidery placement
• Stabilizers and how to use them correctly.
• Machine knitting – EVERYTHING!!!
• machine maintenance
• Adjusting tension and length and troubleshooting.
• Basic quilting
• Garment construction.
• Adjusting the rise in your trousers. How to make trousers with a fly front.  So much to learn!
• I have an embroidery sewing machine and would love to learn placement of material for projects… the right stabilizers, threads, needles… etc….again I would like to feel more comfortable with my embroidery machine… I own a Husqvarna Ruby Royale.. also I took a workshop for free motion from you and absolutely loved every minute!!! this is my 3rd free motion class and would love more hands-on practice as I seem to lack the time at home!!! also would love to have a lesson on basic material cutting… placement on bias and so on.
• Changing serger over as well as the sewing machine to do special sewing tasks…rolled hem on tablecloths…double needle topstitching..
• Sew in a zipper and make buttonholes. Would love to learn how to design an appliqué piece or block or quilt. Quilt as you go with wide borders and wide smashing. I have done a quilt as you go but would like to learn the above technique.
• How to do a Y seam.
• How to cut quilt pieces better.
• Special block patterns.
• I would really like some small classes that focused on embroidery and quilting software.
• Pattern fitting and alterations, finishing techniques. Anything new
• It wouldn’t matter what it was that we would work on. Learning something new is always exciting. I’m sorry I don’t have any suggestions except anything to do with quilting. New ideas for a quilt, squares, cutting techniques, learning to sew quilting patterns on to the quilt.

Classes and Lectures at “Shows”. I love to teach and provide short lectures at shows.

• I sit in at lectures that interest me (less than 1 hour)                        27
• I sit in on short “make and takes”                                                      20
• I would love to take longer classes at shows                                    14
• I would bring my machine to a show to take a longer class             15
• I would take a longer class if a machine was supplied                     12

What makes a “Good Show”?

Do you go to shop, learn, both or something I’ve missed? Please tell me as much as you can about “Your Perfect Show

• Shop, learn and see new trends. A place to sit and have lunch in peace to gather my energy back.
• Shop, see new products, learn new techniques,
• The perfect show has vendors from near and far with different stuff, good products, not kitschy, and no mops or other junk filler booths. Meaty classes offered from teachers near and far also different, interesting
• As a fairly new quilter, I like to see all the creative ideas at a show. Medium size projects are good “starter “ projects for me. I am interested in seeing people working on projects and those who are happy to be interrupted to answer questions. Lunch being available is a good break and then back to shopping and possibly learning. Members boutique is a great place to shop for ideas and easy projects. Having happy people in the booths and giving directions etc. is welcoming.
• See, shop, learn.
• For me, the shows are about both the learning and shopping. Living in Northern Ontario, our shopping is limited to Fabricland and the internet. I do like to order online but sometimes I would like to feel the fabric and weight before buying. Classes would be offered at mutiple times so that you could take all that you enjoy.
• I go to learn, mostly. I have the most ridiculous stash and I also inherited my mothers. I am really (really, really) trying to purchase only items to help me finish projects with my existing stash.
• Learn mostly. Have a teacher who is knowledgeable and small enough classes that she is able to give personalized help. I am interested in knitting too and wouldn’t mind a demo of a knitting machine. I doubt I’d get into it though due to my age. I would like to try the techniques so I could remember and learn and use them at home afterwards. Do you ever come out to Vancouver area or Fraser Valley BC?
• Only been to one, it was busy and very distracting. I don’t think I could sit for a lecture, but a short make and take would be fun as long as it was simple.
• learn something
• new useful sewing tools
• Like to shop
• Learn
• And not too long on your feet
• Basically, I am always open to learn anything new and review some that I haven’t used very often that requires me to research through my many books, patterns, and manuals.
• the perfect show for me is: having lectures, workshops that interest me… for example, I love sewing with Jalie, therefore, I would sit in on a workshop expecting to see vendors to purchase material, patterns, etc….. they should be selling notions at each vendor for example… Janome, Husqvarna, Bernina, etc.
• Shopping, able to try out new machines sewing and quilting machines. Seeing new tools that are available. Getting great deals on something exciting that you cannot get around our area
• I go to shows to learn, shop and keep in touch with what’s new.
• I like to watch demos at shows,for learning a new technique or see an interesting project for inspiration.
• I go to shop and to learn. I love seeing new fabrics and yarns, gadgets and machines. Don’t shop nearly as much as I used to but still like looking.
• Back in the day when Creativ was at the Exhibition, they had several days of pre-show classes – those were terrific! The instructors were highly professional, machines were available (and enticing), then we got to shop the show and attend the fashion show.
• The only shows I have been to are Creative Festival and time is limited there. I don’t think I would like to take classes at a show. Too stressful to try to complete a project.  I hope this information is useful, I would travel to the moon to take a class with you. Well maybe not that far.
• I attend shows now mostly for inspiration. I have a very large cupboard with a very large stash, so I (mostly) resist the take-me-home urge. In the early years of the Creative Sewing Festival, I attended many full-day workshops with “big names” in the industry on a great variety of topics. Latterly, the scope of those early years has all but disappeared. So now it’s mostly look but don’t buy!  I always look forward to reading your blog posts. Keep them coming!  Missed seeing you at the spring Sewing Festival. What a disappointing show!
• I like learning new things and finishing old things. Some shopping if new or kits of new items are good. I don’t want to have to buy if I have supplies at home.

As a result of these survey results, I have plenty to think about.  I’m going to use this valuable information to plan classes, workshops, and lectures near and far.  The owners of the CreativFestival and the sewing machine companies will also find this interesting and I’ll share my findings with them.  Who knows where it will end?

In conclusion, for today anyway, please remember 2 things;

1. The squeaky wheel gets the grease
2. You can email me at yvettechilcott at yahoo dot ca

mmmmwah xoxo