Teaching Knitting and Sewing

LizD_2

I'm thinking about offering sewing and knitting lessons in my local area. Ideally I'd like to teach evening classes, but I don't have any formal qualifications either in teaching or my subject, just lots of experience. I did put an ad on Gumtree when I first moved to Bristol and got one student (so I have some plans on the logistics), but stopped when I found a paid job. As I'm a full-time mum, something like this would be ideal.

Does anyone else do this, I'm particularly interested in hearing from anyone who teaches evening classes at a college or similar.

LizD_2

Bumping post.

Gazing_On_Sunsets

A local shop that sells handmade gifts and arty presents runs classes. What they do is rent out the space on an evening to a craftsperson, who then fills that space with the class they've built up - using the facilities and so on. I think they were offering their room at about £20 so if you gathered up 8 people who paid £5 for two hours, that would make some profit for you. The shop advertises the class and stuff. They seem quite successful, running courses in patchwork and knitted bags and whatever. They also do one-off lessons, "come and make a pincushion". So people do manage it, it might be worth looking in local sewing and knitting shops to see what's advertised, and approaching some venues if they haven't already started a similar thing.

podperson

The main question that springs to mind for me is that is that if you are wanting to teach groups rather then one to one are you going to have the equipment for it? If they are beginners then it's unlikely they will have their own sewing machines for a start - they may not even want to buy knitting needles or materials until they get further into it. I know most classes I have seen in my area are run by or in association with sewing shops - so the students can pick threads/yarn etc up on the day. Are you going to have supplies available?
If you're looking at a college with a sewing department then they might have these things on site - but would they be happy for you to use them, eg where would you stand if one of your students broke an item of their equipment?