Ann The Gran Community

What is the going rate where you live for private (or group tutoring) for machine embroidery lessons? My 1st quote from the local dealership was $75 an hour. Yikes???? That seemed a LOT to me, but I am new and maybe that was ok, but I decided to 'shop around'. I found another shop owner who charged me $25 per hour.  That seemed much more reasonable.

I live in Saginaw, Mi.  Go to Ken's Sewing Center.  We meet once a month and do a different project each month.  We pay $ 70 per year (plus we have to provide our own supplies).  It's alot of fun to see the different choices everyone makes for the same project.

Hi Cathy, I live in Silverhill, Al. which is half way between Mobile and Pensacola, Fla. I am from England hence my on line name of Bamabrit. We have a great Store in Mobile, called American Sew and Vac. They give lessons for free if you buy a machine from them, and when I signed up for classes some years ago I had to pay only $10 even though I had gotten my machine from a dealer in P'cola. I haven't been able to go over there in some time due to health problems so they may have increased that price but they had some wonderful teachers there and it would be worth paying more. As to the pre- shrinking your fabric, one tip I have is to sew the cut ends of your fabric piece together before it goes in the washer and it keeps the yardage from getting all tangled up and creased. I was told by and expert seamstress one time that just giving the fabric a good steam pressing will pre shrink it too. good Luck with the new machine. Shirley

As you found there can be a hugh difference in the price of lessons.  There can be just as much difference in the quality of those lesson.  Try ot check with others who have bought from a dealer to find out how satisfied they are.  Few of us are lucky enough to win a machine so before you are tempted to buy on the internet find out what lessons will cost you as well as service for your machine.  Most but not all dealers will provide lesson if you buy from them and let you take them over till you understand. 

My husband purchased my Brother ULT at Leabus Sewing Center on Industrial Dr. in Ann Arbor, MI. They provide free instruction on digitizing and using the machine and are available for free consultation for any problems. They also have sewing club and embrodery club classes with free membership for the first year and a minimual charge for materials. I forget the annual fee for the club after the first year, but it comes with a discount for purchsases that has more than covered my club fees the last few years. They were recommended by another customer who has several different brands of embrodiery machines and she said none of the other sellers had anything like the customer service like Leabus. I've also taken classes from the local Viking dealers and they have fairly inexpensive classes as well.

I got my 4000D @ AAA Vacuum & Sewing in Seattle WA.  They give free lessons on using the machine for the lifetime of it.  They also offer  ME technique classes (2 hr) for $10.  You can provide your own materials or quite often the instructor will have kits for $2 to $5 depending on the project.   Last time we made an in-the-hoop coin purse with a zipper.  Really neat.  Moat of their project classes are between $10 and $30.   Wonderful service and support.  Oh, and you get a 20% discount on product while you're in a class.   Love the place!!!!

I live in Mountain View CA and our local sewing center store, (Eddie's Quilting Bee in Sunnyvale, CA), where I purchased a Babylock Ellageo, but which sells Brother and Huskvana, and other machines, offers sewing classes for each type of machine, and each class specializes in a particular type of project, i.e., machine quilting, basic usage, embroidery on netting or paper, etc.  They only charge $25 -$40 (non-refundable if you don't show up) for the class, which is applicable to any fabric or supplies purchased on the day of the class.  Not only are the classes fun and informative, they are small enough for personal assistance, and the staff are quite knowledgeable.  Also, if you get stuck at home on a project, you can call them and they walk you through it, vs. dragging everything over there in frustration.    Your sewing center should take a page out of their book.

I bought my Viking designer 1 from Viking-White in Niles, Ohio and even four years later can get private lessons for no charge. Some of the groups have a small charge, mainly for supplies. They are very helpful when it comes to keeping our skills in top shape. Welcome!

Hi TravelBug1237, I hope you were sitting down when they told you the lessons were $75 hr!!  Wow that is very high.  It really depends where you live and who is willing to teach classes.  There are not any machine embroidery classes where I am or I haven't found them.  So, what I did was go to   www.SmartFlix.com, they have dvd's that you can rent, they have a great variety of subjects but do have a few on Machine Embroidery.  There are a few by Nancy Zieman and Holley Pike, they are basic instructions which should get you going.  Check them out and in the search box type in Machine Embroidery, that should bring up what they have and you can read about them and make your own choice.  The beauty of this is that you can watch the lessons whenever you want and for $9.99 you can keep it for an extended period of time and return it in a post paid envelope!!

Congratulations on winning the Embroidery machine and Bon Voyage in Machine Embroidery!!  Alssweetheart

Hi, I live in Notasulga, Alabama (about 14 miles S of Auburn).  Opelika Sewing Center offers group lessons for various prices, none nearly that hight!  Private lessons from one of the experts is $35 per hour, way better than $75!

Sadly there is no place close to me that has any kind of classes . I wish there was,as there is still so much to learn with ME. It is a continuous learning process.I would like to see some classes in my area for digitizing.I want to learn to do that,but I am not even sure there is anything in Tampa along those lines.

When I was in Michigan  Feilds Fabrics had various classes and so did the viking dealer,but when I took a class on quilting there was little to no instruction ,was mostly just a get together so was very dissapointed. I was looking for the instruction on the 9 patch quilt. I finally did finish the quilt,but I had to go online and look for instruction.It was 50.00 for the class and we had to buy our own stuff.So be careful and ask a lot of questions as to content of what is being offered.

The only other classes I have even seen offered were in Michigan,when I got my machine,they offered a class for 20.00 to teach you how to use the machine,but nothing on how to work with the software or digitizing.

Hello.  I purchased my second Brother embroidery machine in another state; 1-1/2 to 2 hours away depending on a horrific traffic pattern.  There is nothing close to my home for lessons.  Nothing is offered in this area.  Once I purchased my machine, I did travel back to the store for my introduction lesson on my machine and the dealership and teacher were terrific.  But, not a trip that I would take on a regular basis.

So....food for thought on the "Second Annual AnnTheGran Community Circle" --- how about offering classes for the basics; i.e., hooping, not hooping, in-the-hoop projects, free-standing lace, etc.  Realilzing most of these machines could not make the trek to FL, simple how-to's can be accomplished with an overhead video "projector". 

Just a thought.

Joan/NJ

Dear TravelBug1237,

 I live in the Austin, TX area and love to embroidery. 

When I moved to Texas, I immediately signed up for a Sewing Club at my local Pfaff dealer.  It cost me $50 to sign up for life.  When you buy your machine from them, you are automatically signed up for Sewing Club for life and any additional project classes are $15 plus supplies.  Embroidery classes are free if you're a member.  We have Serger Skills classes, Hands on Project classes (whatever she demonstrates at the monthly Sewing Club meeting) and all our classes for our embroidery software and sewing machine classes.  Then on top of that we get discounts on purchases made on Sewing Club Meeting day and other discounts throughout the month.  Our teacher is an expert on all machines, including Viking and Janome.  And she's a great teacher!  We also have another teacher that teaches quiling that is equally great.  They enjoy what they do.  I believe that most other shops in my area charge around $25 to $35 per class.  Since I moved here, I have bought 2 other machines from them.  I trust them 100%.  Did I mention that they also service all our machines?  And to top all this, you can buy a "Class Card" for $100 for 10 classes which is also a discount.  Love this shop.  Look around your area for a good shop.  It's out there somewhere.

YIPES!! I agree...$75 an hour is high!! My budget certainly wouldn't all that rate!  I purchased my Brother Innov-is 4000D from a local dealer...now I go to Palm Beach Gardens, to Laura's Sewing and Vacuum repair for lessons and great craft classes w/ machines. The charge for the classes are just $10 and they usually are about two hours long...sometimes we make a day of it and take a lunch and she brief's us on all the latest things coming up from the other dealers too.

Laura also has a lot of well known instructors come in and give lessons and do trunk shows. What a gem she is! (No...I don't work for her! LOL)

We can all continue to share our knowledge and information on this site too. Keep this going!! I am teaching my grand daughters to use my machines too...and they are just 6 and 8. Also my grandson who is 7 likes to do the "big truck" desings. They can all chose a stabilizer, fabric and hoop them. Now they are also learning how to download a design from the computer onto a USB for the machine. Too cool!

Kath :o)

 I live in Green Valley Arizon (South of Tucson). If you belong to our quilting group ($25. for a year) I teach FREE Embird, Viking, Janome, Artista, etc. on the 4th of Friday of the month 9AM at Friends in Deed and the third Monday (12:30) same place. Please click on my profile and email me for more information. We also do a sew and share, work on projects, etc.

Martha Emery

Hi Joan, I agree with you a second Comunity Circleis a great idea and so were your suggestions.

Bonnie

 I live in Massachusetts.  My cousin let me use her machine for a while and I wanted to get some lessons on it.  It is a Singer Futura ce 150.  I called the local Sewing center and they told me $85 per hour!!!  I was shocked.  So I have been practicing on my own.

I live in Zanesville. Ohio & have a Designer SE.  Our local shop "Snip N Stitch" gives free lessons on how to use your machine & repairs for a long time if you bought the machine there.  They also have on going classes for 10.00 class free & project kits for the class from $10.00 to $35.00 depending on the class.  These classes help alot to find out your machines capabilities even when you didn't know to ask.  Even if there's no place that is reasonable around....I think for $75.00 - $85.00 you could buy a lot of very good books &/or videos that you can actually keep for future references.  With the price of the various machines today, I don't think these shops or persons should stick it to you for the knowledge.  Thanks for these blogs. etc.!!!  We sewers/sewists/or whatever the proper name is MUST stick together & pass on our knowledge to the generations to come.  Sewing isn't the neccesity that it use to be nor is it a cheap hobby anymore, but for some of us........its therapy.  Happy seams to all.

These are all very interesting answers.  I am fortunate to have free lessons from my favorite San Diego store, Central Sewing Centre.  They are knowledgeable and willing to be there when you need them.

The monthly gathering does have a discount available when you attend.  It is worth more than I can say.  I do know that if you did not buy your machine from them, they charge $45.00 for a lesson. 

What price do you pay when you lack the knowledge of your craft? 

Pat