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Everyone’s learning style is different, so I’m sure the answer to this question will be different for everyone. However, I decided to put together a pros and cons list to help me (and others) decide.
Please take the survey at the end of this post. I want to know what you think! Is it better to learn to sew in a physical class or from an online course?
The Pros of Learning to Sew Online
My initial thought was that it’s better to learn to sew in a physical class than an online course. That’s the way I learned to sew — I took a few sewing classes in middle school and high school and I had my mom available to answer questions along the way. However, that doesn’t mean taking a physical class is the best way, or the only way, to learn how to sew. I came up with three pros to learning to sew online.
1. You Can Work at Your Own Pace
Online sewing classes don’t have a set timeframe for when they must be completed, unless you have a subscription that’s about to expire. That means you can work at your own pace without the added stress of a deadline. You can even rewind videos in an online sewing class for clarification. That’s a pro because you can’t rewind what the teacher says in a physical class.
If you want to learn how to sew online, one Creative Live offers classes. You can even get started for FREE with a preview class. Go check it out!
2. You Can Pick and Choose What You Learn
You won’t master sewing from taking one class. There are so many sewing skills to learn that it will likely take you years…
One major pro to online sewing classes is that you can pick and choose the skills you want to learn. For example, if you’re a true beginner, you can take an online class on how to use a sewing machine, but if you already know the basics, you can take a sewing class on bags to learn how to attach zippers and buttons. You don’t have the same kind of freedom with physical sewing classes. You must work on the projects your teacher chooses and stay at the same pace as your class.
3. You Don’t Have to Leave Your Home
Packing up your sewing machine is a pain… It is heavy and you also have lots of tools and accessories you need to bring with you to a physical sewing class. Plus, there’s always the risk that you could drop or damage your sewing machine while transporting it.
Another pro to online sewing classes is that you can set up your sewing stuff all in one place at home and never have to move it. Even if your physical sewing class provides sewing machines for you to use, there’s still lots of things you’ll have to pack up and carry back and forth.
The Cons of Learning to Sew Online
While there are tons of pros to learning to sew online, the cons seem to have stronger arguments, at least if you’re a beginner. I came up with three cons to learning to sew online.
1. You Have Limited Interaction with the Instructor
Jenny Kleine from Everything’s Famtastic said, “I always joke that you can find or learn pretty much anything online using Google, YouTube, Wikipedia or Pinterest. However, I think there really are some things that you can learn best in a classroom. Learning to sew is one of them. Sure, there are videos and all sorts of instructions available online for people wanting to sew for the first time, but attending a class is INVALUABLE. For instance, you have immediate access to an experienced instructor who can answer all those beginner’s questions (and help solve the riddle of why that thread keeps getting tangled), you’ll get support and feedback for each step of your sewing project (no more guessing which is the “right side” or “grainline” of the fabric), as well as having access to basic sewing tools which you may not yet have invested in. All in all, I believe it is possible to learn to sew from scratch online, but attending a class offers so many more practical advantages.”
I tend to agree with Jenny. When you take an online sewing course, you have limited interaction with the instructor. This is a major con… When you’re learning to sew, you’re going to have questions. Many of your questions are best answered with hands-on demonstrations and advice.
2. You Don’t Have Deadlines to Finish Sewing Projects
No deadlines is both a pro and a con. Yes, you can work at your own pace, but you also don’t have a deadline to motivate you to complete your sewing projects. This can lead to procrastination. You must have enough drive and self discipline to make online sewing classes work for you.
It’s also easy to lose motivation in an online sewing course when you encounter a problem with your sewing machine or a question comes up that you can’t solve. With online sewing classes, you must work a little harder to get the answers and solutions you need. There are lots of online resources that can help you, like my sewing machine troubleshooting book, but sometimes you’re going to cry and have to work really hard to figure things out.
Don’t worry if learning to sew online is your only option, though. Things do get easier with practice. You can learn to sew entirely from online courses, but you must have the self discipline not to give up when things get hard.
3. You Have Limited Social Interaction with Other Students
Most online sewing courses don’t have specific start and end times — you simply sign up and work at your own pace. That means you’ll likely have limited interactions with classmates. Sure, you sometimes have access to forums where you can chat about your projects, but you’re probably not working on the same things as others. If you want to make friends, it’s easier to do so in a physical sewing class.
I’m not saying you can’t make friends online… I’m just saying it’s harder when you don’t meet face to face. If you want to connect with others who like to sew, join us over on Sewing Society’s Facebook Page! You can share what you’re working on, ask sewing-related questions, and make friends with other people who like to sew.
My Final Thoughts
I discovered three pros to learning to sew online and three cons. I still think learning to sew in a physical class is easier for the simple fact that you have a teacher that can help you in a hands-on way. That’s how I learned to sew. However, online sewing classes have lots of advantages, too. You can stop and rewind videos when you get stuck and you can work at your own pace. There’s no one right way to learn how to sew. The best is probably a combination of the two.
If you want to learn how to sew, I suggest you start out with a physical sewing class to learn the basics, such as how to use a sewing machine and how to read a sewing pattern. Then, move to online courses where you work on specific projects to improve your skills. Pretty soon you’ll feel confident sewing anything. Sewing is an amazingly useful skill to develop and it’s a lot of fun, too!
What’s Your Opinion? Please Take the Poll!
How did you learn to sew? Which method do you think is best? Learning to sew online or in a physical class? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Hey Cara- your pros and cons list of learning to sew online or in a class is great! Obviously each person has to decided what’s right for them, but for me the first choice would be physical class 😉 Thanks so much for the opportunity to be included in your post. It was fun!
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