Sew Teach Me is an educational non-profit program that teaches kids to sew for free in a safe and comfortable environment with trained and screened mentors.
It was founded at QuiltWorks in Bend, Oregon and is organized by a team of volunteers. It is currently housed at Anvil Sewing on 2550 NE Hwy 20 #140, Bend, OR 97701.
Interested students between the ages of 8 and 18 years are matched with competent sewing mentors. Volunteers and mentors want to share their love of sewing with the next generation. Mentors walk students through four fun projects which give them confidence with sewing skills.
Sew Teach Me was created so other organizations like quilt shops, sewing machine shops, churches, etc. can host teams with a proven curriculum.
The four beginning sewing sessions teach basic sewing skills, with simple and fun projects, within a one to two-month time period for free. Materials, including sewing machines have been donated by our sewing community. The four sessions are:
Mentors are the most important part of the organization. A mentor can be any adult with sewing skills who is interested in reaching out to students between the ages of 8 and 18. Mentors are trained and screened by a background check before being matched with students. All matches are based on mutually available times. Mentors are usually matched with one student depending on the preference of the mentor and ages they prefer to work with. Most often four projects require 5, 6 or 7 sessions to complete.
Volunteers and donors are a vital part of STM. Sewing machines are loaned or donated to the program. Kits of each of the four sessions are pre-cut and packaged by donors. Mentors donate their time teaching students. An organizing committee creates and organizes the program.
Cupboards are donated by the hosting organization to store machines, tool caddies, projects, manuals and more so that mentors and students can work independent of the shop.
