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Sewing School Reviews

Online Sewing School Reviews

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Looking for online sewing classes? It can be really confusing which sewing school to sign up for. Lucky for you, I’ve been a member of around 10 different online sewing schools and taken a lot of classes, so I’m going to review them here for you and link to the full reviews.

Short on time? Check out these Key Takeaways

  • Craftsy offers the best online sewing classes for  most people
  • Vintage Sewing School is amazing if you like Evelyn Wood
  • Avoid Sew it Academy completely
  • Creativebug is ok but isn’t as good as Craftsy

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What Makes Good Online Sewing Classes?

I think the things you need for good online sewing classes are a fair price, new classes every week or month, good instructors, and sewing classes related to your current ability.

If you’re a beginner in sewing most of the online classes would be helpful. But, which one would actually be the best? Most of the time this is really up to you.

Best Sewing Classes for Beginners

I have to go with Craftsy as the number one and the Vintage Sewing school as the number two. The reason for this is that Craftsy just has SO many classes for beginners that are easy to follow. The second would be Evelyn Wood’s Vintage Sewing School. She is great for beginners and goes into a lot of depth on the basics. In fact, she probably has over 50 hours dedicated to just the extreme basics of sewing.

Which Online Sewing Classes are the Best?

This is a bit subjective but I can give you my answers below based on your needs. Do you like a specific instructor? Do you want the cheapest course because money is tight? It really depends on what you want out of your sewing classes. Are you a beginner in sewing or are you looking for advanced classes? Anyways, you understand what I mean by it being subjective. Below are my opinions on some of the more popular sewing schools.

Craftsy

I think Craftsy is the best overall online sewing school and offers the best classes for most people. They have so many different classes and options of instructors. The only way I’d suggest signing up for anything else is if you just truly like some other online personalities and want to take their classes instead. You can read the full Craftsy Review here.

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Vintage Sewing School

Evelyn Wood is a great person and her classes are awesome too. She is bubbly and fun and makes learning a breeze. Her online school is priced well but she’s not for everyone. If you like her personality as I do, then you’ll find her classes amazing. You can read the full Vintage Sewing School Review here.

Sew It Academy

I really can’t recommend Sew it Academy to anyone. I think it’s just a thrown-together business that focuses all of its energy on marketing. The owner, Mimi G, seems more caught up in being a famous business person that makes a lot of money instead of having the best sewing classes. You can read the full Sew it Academy Review here.

CreativeBug

Creativebug sewing classes are great overall. The only problem is that I think Craftsy is better and Craftsy has more classes and options. If you just want more content than Craftsy has to offer then I’d definitely sign up with Creativebug too. You can read the full CreativeBug review here.

How Much Are Online Sewing Classes?

The prices for online sewing classes are all similar. Most are between $10 per month and $20 per month. If you really like sewing and it’s a great hobby for you then the price is very cheap. Where else can you get 20 hours of entertainment for so cheap? Craftsy and Creatviebug are probably the cheapest online courses if you buy the monthly membership. Their one-off classes are a little more expensive though.

Final Verdict

All online sewing classes aren’t created equally. Taking a local class may be hit or miss but there’s no reason to limit your options to local if you want to do it online. As you can tell I think Craftsy is probably the best online sewing school for most people out there but you can also go with Evelyn’s school if you like her personality.

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IndieStitch Review | Is it Worth the Cost?

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What Is IndieStitch?

IndieStitch is a fun subscription service for anyone who likes to sew, or who wants to learn new sewing techniques and patterns. The company was started by a woman who loves to sew but realized she enjoyed her hobby much more when she had all the necessary materials at hand; ready to begin a project. 

Each month, IndieStitch subscribers receive a box with a new women’s clothing sewing pattern and all needed sewing supplies. Subscribers get a chance to review the pattern and fabric choices for each month before they are mailed out. After reviewing and confirming their fabric preferences, they will receive a box in the mail with everything needed to sew the project for that month. You literally could sit down at your sewing table and get started as soon as you open the box!

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Of course, everyone has different tastes and it’s no guarantee that every pattern or included fabric will appeal to everyone. For that reason, if you don’t happen to like the pattern or any of the fabric choices for a particular month, you can just skip that box. That way, you won’t waste time or materials making something that doesn’t appeal to you.

The patterns from IndieStitch are usually for basic women’s wardrobe items that will easily suit anyone’s style. Past boxes have included patterns for skirts, dresses, buttoned shirts, tank tops, t-shirts, pants, pajamas, and more. Since a digital copy of the pattern is included as well as a printed copy, you’ll be able to make your favorite projects many times over.

Before the kits are mailed each month, subscribers will get the chance to review several fabric choices to use. You won’t have to worry about making a clothing item in a color or pattern that might not be flattering to you.  IndieStitch’s patterns are also very inclusive. The patterns are available in a wide range of sizes because people come in a wide range of sizes!

What Is Included in an IndieStitch Box?

In each IndieStitch monthly box, subscribers receive:

  • a digital copy of the pattern, direct from the designer
  • a full-size printout of the pattern, ready to cut
  • the chosen fabric for the project
  • coordinating thread and notions
  • and a few fun surprises!

You will literally have everything ready to begin sewing as soon as you unpack the box. How many times have you wanted to start a sewing project, but procrastinated because you didn’t feel like going to the fabric store? Or, have you been partway through a project and suddenly realized there was some other notion you didn’t have in your supplies? Because the IndieStitch box contains everything you’ll need, you won’t need to make a last-minute run to the fabric store for anything at all. This is so convenient! It’s easier to be motivated to start a project when you have everything provided for you.

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How Much Does An IndieStitch Subscription Cost?

IndieStitch has three different subscription price options. The flexibility of these price options means that there is a subscription choice to meet just about any budget and time consideration. 

If you want to pay on a month-to-month basis, with no long-term contract, the cost is $59.95 per month. The shipping cost is only $5.00. Billing is done monthly. There is no commitment to this option, and you can cancel it any time you want.  This is a good choice if you just want to try a box for one or two months to see if an IndieStitch subscription is something you’ll enjoy. Keep in mind that the subscription does become more affordable if you sign up for a six or twelve-month contract. 

A six-month subscription to IndiStitch is $27.47 for the first box, then $54.95 per month for the remaining five months. That works out to the first box is half price! Shipping is also $5.00, and billing occurs monthly. According to their website, this is IndieStitch’s most popular subscription option.  If you’re confident you’ll enjoy the subscription but aren’t sure if you can make use of a 12-month contract, this is probably your best choice. 

The 12-month IndieStitch subscription costs $24.97 for the first box, then $49.95 per month for the remainder of the contract. Like the other options, the shipping cost is only $5.00, and the cost is billed each month. This option is great if you know you’ll enjoy sewing throughout the year, and this is the best value per box. 

In addition to the subscription options, there is an option to send a special IndieStitch gift subscription to someone who would enjoy it. Gift subscriptions are available for one, three, or six-month lengths. While the price for a gift subscription isn’t quite as good a value as a regular subscription, this is a fun, unique gift idea for your creative hard-to-buy-for loved ones.

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Is IndieStitch Good For Beginners at Sewing?

Most IndieStitch patterns are described as being good for beginner/intermediate sewers.  There is an assumption that anyone ordering their sewing kits has some very basic sewing knowledge and is comfortable using a sewing machine. If you’re a beginner who wants to learn new skills and explore new projects, IndieStitch could be a good choice for you. Teenage or even preteen girls might enjoy IndieStitch as an easy and fun way to learn how to make their own clothes. The patterns and accessories are all supplied, which makes any project less intimidating to tackle.

In addition to providing fun, good-quality crafting supplies, IndieStitch has a great private online community where members can ask questions and share sewing tips with each other. Members also have access to an online monthly “sew along” video for each current project. If you are a beginner who learns best through visual instruction, these videos are a great way to improve your skills.

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Is IndieStitch A Good Value?

Perhaps one of the best indicators of IndieStitch being a good value is the convenience of having all your needed supplies readily available. Since you’ll have everything necessary to begin sewing, you’ll save time (as well as money) by not having to make a trip to a fabric store for anything.

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Not only does IndieStitch send its subscribers a complete sewing project kit each month, but it also provides a fun online community and instruction videos. The included digital copies of all patterns mean that you can make your favorite projects many times, customizing them to suit your style. The fabrics sent in each IndieStitch box are very good quality, as are all the included accessories. Any piece of clothing made from these kits should be fairly durable and long-lasting.  The price of a subscription box each month compares favorably to what one would spend if you purchased everything included individually, and access to the online community and instructional videos is like getting sewing instruction included, too.

An IndieStitch subscription is a good value for anyone who enjoys sewing, whether you’re a beginner looking to improve your skills or a more experienced sewer who enjoys simple but useful projects. Having the option to choose from several fabrics each month, as well as being able to skip any month, helps ensure that you won’t be paying for sewing kits that you won’t like. IndieStitch is definitely a quality subscription service that is worth trying out.

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Craftsy Review – Is it Worth It?

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What Is Craftsy?

If you’re reading this you probably already know what it is. But just in case you’re a long-time follower that hasn’t heard of it, then let me share my Craftsy review with you. I think you’ll like it.

Craftsy.com is a creative resource website offering classes and resources for a wide variety of artistic interests. If there’s any creative endeavor you’ve always wanted to try, there’s a good chance Craftsy has a class covering that subject! The topics include (but are not limited to) popular crafts such as knitting, sewing, and baking, along with unique subjects such as woodworking, paper crafting, and various art techniques.

A Craftsy membership grants a subscriber access to over 1500 classes in 20 different categories, downloadable patterns, and recipes, along with the opportunity to participate in various Livestream events.  If you are unsure about becoming a member, Craftsy also offers a number of free classes. You can also purchase classes one at a time, without committing to an annual membership.

If you’re short on time I’ll just say this. Craftsy is definitely worth the cost. There are some good things and bad things but overall it’s great.

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Classes Offered by Craftsy


Craftsy offers well over 1500 classes on a wide variety of creative topics.  That sounds a little overwhelming, doesn’t it? Thankfully, the Craftsy website is very user-friendly, and they have organized the class listings to make it easy to find hobbies that interest you!

The classes are arranged under the headings of Fabric Crafts, Yarn Crafts, Food, Art, and Living. There are numerous subcategories under each of these headings. For example, under the heading “Fabric Crafts”, you’ll find subcategories of Quilting, Sewing, and Embroidery.  

It can be overwhelming to find the “right” class for your interests.  For example: in the category of “Knitting”, there are 171 different classes! They range from a variety of techniques to specific projects.

Craftsy makes it easy to narrow your choices if you are looking for a particular instruction, though. Still using the “Knitting” category as an example, you can refine your search by choosing topics such as “Scarves and Shawls” or “Lace & Brioche Knitting”. 

Many of these classes include bonus materials, such as PDF documents with patterns or step-by-step instructions, and once you buy or upload a class you can go on the Craftsy website any time and watch it again and again.

The Craftsy instructors are all qualified experts on the topics they’re teaching. Links to each class often include introductory bios for the instructor. You’ll find many professional authors, teachers, artists, and craft business owners who are ready to share the wealth of their knowledge.

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Craftsy’s Classes and Video Quality

There is no shortage of online DIY videos available for just about any skill you’d want to learn. It can be frustrating because not all instructional videos are made the same!  The videos on Craftsy are clearly produced by professional videographers and lighting teams. They’re bright and easy to see all the details.  Perhaps most importantly, the sound quality of their video classes is excellent! There are few things more frustrating about watching instructional videos than not being able to hear everything or understand what the instructor is saying.

 

Craftsy Cost – Their Pricing Plans

Basic membership to craftsy.com is $8.99 per month or a slightly discounted rate of $89.99 per year. This gives you access to all of the online video classes, printable bonus materials, a weekly email newsletter with ideas and helpful tips, and access to occasional live online instructional events. Additionally, you can share your Craftsy membership with up to three friends or family at no additional cost to you or the “guest members” you invite. That’s like getting four memberships for one price! This is a great value, especially for families with creative youngsters.

The annual price for a Craftsy members ship of $89.99 seems a little steep at first, but consider how many classes you or your family might be interested in purchasing. Prices for premium classes on craftsy.com range from $4.99 to $69.99, with the average seeming to be around $30. Three or four classes will probably cost you the same amount as an annual membership (which gives you access to over 1,000 classes).  While craft supply stores and local yarn stores routinely offer in-person classes, they typically cost $50 to $100, and you won’t have access to video to “retake” the class as often as you’d like.

 

Is Craftsy Right For You?

A Craftsy membership is a great resource for anyone who enjoys creating and learning. If you are always wanting to learn new skills, or improve on your current hobbies, this is a fantastic website.

The classes are best suited to people who are comfortable learning online and don’t feel the need for the social aspects of being in an “in-person” class.

The convenience of being able to watch the classes anytime is perfect for people who have busy work schedules, or who work shifts that don’t coincide with most in-person class times.

One special area of note is a category called “Fun For Kids”. These classes aren’t necessarily geared towards being specifically for children, but they are simple and enjoyable for any creative kids. These suggested classes could be a great resource for home-schooled children, or to keep creative minds engaged over holiday breaks.

If you’re ready to join you can use my special link below to sign up.

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Small Things That Could Be Improved

The range of topics and quality of instruction on Craftsy is outstanding. However, there are a few minor things I feel could improve the website:

Some of the classes have a tab for “class discussion”. It’s an area where students can ask questions and offer tips among themselves. It doesn’t seem to be available for every class, though. It would be nice if that was a standard feature for all classes.

Another helpful feature would be if classes shared links to purchase suggested materials. It would be a timesaver to be able to purchase a class and the materials all on one page. At the very least, a page with links to suggested suppliers could be helpful.

Finally, there isn’t much of an online social aspect to being a Craftsy member. It would be fun if there was a way to share photos of completed projects from classes, and to connect with other members.

Conclusion: Is Craftsy Worth It?

Given the wide variety and professional quality of the classes offered, I think Craftsy is a good value, especially with the option to share a premium membership with up to three friends or family members.

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Being able to try free classes, or just buy one or two of interest is a great way to give Craftsy a try if you’re unsure about paying for an entire year. If you’re a person who is comfortable with online classes and is always curious to try new skills or hobbies, you will love Craftsy. 

Evelyn Wood’s Vintage Sewing School Review – Is it Worth It?

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I signed up for Vintage Sewing School by Evelyn Wood a few months ago. I loved her YouTube videos and wanted to get more specific instructions. There are a lot of good reviews online but I don’t usually trust those. If you know me then you know I like reviewing things myself and getting my own experience to share with you. 

So the big question is if Vintage Sewing School is worth it? I’m going to share my honest reviews of it here in this post. Some of the other Vintage Sewing School reviews online are so good that they seem to be fake but after checking it out myself I now think they’re real. It’s so hard to trust things online these days.

If you’re short on time I’ll give you the final verdict here of this Vintage Sewing School review here…

I strongly believe that paid training and content for sewing is the way to go. You get so much more detail from creators and teachers when you pay for the content. I have reviewed other online sewing schools and I have to say that I like Vintage Sewing School… but I like Creativebug better. If you are here to make a quick decision then just sign up for Creativebug AND Vintage Sewing School. Evelyn is an absolute gem. Her courses are very easy to follow and her personality draws you in. She has formal training in sewing unlike some of the other sewists that are teaching online. 

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How Much Does Vintage Sewing School Cost?

The Vintage Sewing Membership costs $19 per month. This is a reasonable price to pay for an online sewing school in my opinion. This is in line with all of the other sewing schools online. The big difference for me with Vintage Sewing school is that it’s worth more than what she charges.

Other schools charge about the same price but their lessons are much quicker and don’t explain things as in-depth.

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Evelyn Wood’s Vintage Sewing School Courses and Projects

I loved her courses. Some of her videos can get a little bit long-winded if you’re not a beginner. You can skip through some of the sections if you already know the terminology.

The projects she does are a lot of fun. You can see that there’s a difference between the free YouTube videos and the videos inside the membership. She really does pay attention to all the details.

Evelyn said in one of her videos that the overall goal was to be able to sew without instructions or follow-alongs. This is what it’s all about.

Something else I find nice is that Vintage Sewing School has a focus on sustainability. Other sewing schools that I’ve joined didn’t have this as a focus at all (with the exception of Creativebug).

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Vintage Sewing School Coupons and Discounts

I sent an email to Evelyn and her customer service responded quickly to say that they didn’t currently have any coupon codes. Don’t let that stop you though. She does have a free beginners course that would be an amazing place to start if you’re new. If you’re not new to sewing then you can go straight for a paid program. Some things really are worth paying for!

Vintage Sewing School Customer Service

Vintage Sewing School is a big program with a lot of members. With that said, I think their customer service is amazing. I’m skeptical if it’s actually Evelyn sending emails or not because there are so many members that I don’t think she would have time. It still feels personal and they solve any issues very quickly though. I was impressed.

Overall Conclusion for Vintage Sewing School

I say you should definitely sign up for the free trial to see for yourself if you’re a beginner. If you’re not a beginner then go straight for the gold which is the full membership!

Evelyn seems to be a genuine person and I love her fun personality.

Her teaching skills are great. She doesn’t have a shady background like other sewing schools (not to mention names but you may have heard about the other people doing bad business). Give Evelyn a chance and I think you’ll come to the same conclusion.

This wraps up the Vintage Sewing School review. I hope this has been helpful for you! Post your thoughts in the comments!