The Handwork Studio
- Christine
- Aug 18, 2016
- 3 min read
Hey, there!!
I'd like to share with you all my experience through working for a company called The Handwork Studio. I've been working as a lead counselor (teacher) for the company's sewing camp since last summer. I had such an amazing experience last summer that I decided to work again this summer, though my hours of availability were limited this time around, due to the fact that I also have a part-time job.
The Handwork Studio provides school year classes (fall, winter, and spring sessions) as well as summer camps that teach and introduce the needle arts (knitting, crocheting, machine sewing, etc.) to children between the ages of five and fourteen. The company also has workshops for kids and one for adults (Sip 'n Stitch) too. The classes are held at the studio in Narberth, Pennsylvania, however, the summer camps take place at various locations among New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, DC, Virginia, and Florida.
Through teaching children about the needle arts, they learn about patience, problem solving, reading/following directions, and achievements. I'm glad to be able to participate in such an amazing opportunity for children to learn from!! I often wish there were something like this available when I was younger so that I would have had a started off on a better foot when it came to sewing (especially for college). However, it is never too late to learn a new a trade, and seemed to have gotten through college just fine.
Not only was I able to teach children something I am passionate about, but through interacting with them, the students have taught me a lot about myself!! I can recall last summer when I first came across a Craigslist ad for the opportunity at The Handwork Studio during my summer break from online graduate school; I was very nervous just thinking about having to teach children (I had no zero teaching experience). Ironically, I was also looking forward to teaching young children because I know that it's something that would help me develop as a person (whether it would be a good or bad experience).
Through teaching the children in the fashion and machine sewing summer camp, I too learned about patience. Mistakes will be made (and plenty of them), which is a part of the learning process. When I was helping and interacting with the students, I learned that patience was key, and that no matter how many mistakes were made during the completion of a project, it is important to remain calm and never give up (one rule in the Handwork Studio is that no child should go home with an unfinished project on their last day at camp).
I also found out that the children were similar to myself in some ways. Some of them had no sewing experience whatsoever and caught on to things so quickly!! Others actually not as confident in their sewing abilities and needed a little more guidance. This reminded me of when I first started sewing in college (I'm not going to count that one home economics class in middle school). I struggled because I didn't really have experience, but luckily I had professors that were patient enough to assist me.
What I loved best from this whole experience was being able to solve problems with the children. Before working for this company, it had been a while since I last used a sewing machine. By teaching the children I was able to re-visit and pick back up on skills that I thought I was losing. Through working out some of the problems that arose from working through projects, I definitely learned about what it means to make do with what you have. Ultimately, I am very happy to have been able to help the children complete their projects and show their parents what they were able to achieve!!
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