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How Evelyn Wood Teaches 1,000 Members How to Sew Online

Nov 9, 2023

The moment Australian Evelyn Wood was introduced to a sewing machine during high school It was an instant love affair.

"I'd not even heard of an sewing machine prior to that," Wood tells . "I was 13 years old and loved playing with fabric and creating something that could ."

That Christmas, she was given her very own sewing machine to ensure that she could stitch at her home. "Since since then, I've always enjoyed making clothing," she shares. "It's a reflection of who I am. I was also unable to locate items that were suitable for me or that suited my style, so having the ability to create my own style appealed to me ."

In the high school years, Wood attended fashion college. After graduation, she was employed in the bridal couture industry in a range of roles which opened her to the industry of fashion. After several years, she decided to leave her job to start an own venture. One of the first things she began was a vintage reproduction clothing range. "My special love is for vintage clothing. I'd recreate clothing from the 1920s, 1930s and the 40s in the way they appeared and felt really authentic," says Wood.

Additionally she created and made personal garments and altered clothes to clients. Additionally, she taught sewing on-site. "So that people could ask me questions about the clothing I created and then sold. They were interested in knowing how they could make the garments their own," she explains. "At the time, I was really looking at my business and where it was heading. I am a believer in sustainability and I was not convinced that a sustainable fashion label was what was needed by the world. I realized that the world needed an instructor who could teach these techniques so that people could make their own clothing at home. ."

When she realized this, she completely pivoted and started focusing her efforts on teaching. She was always aware of her desire to eventually have an online venture, which is why she created her online Vintage Sewing school online program. While this business had many variations to reach where it is now, Wood now runs a popular membership program that shows students how to improve their sewing abilities in order to sew top quality whatever they want. Wood has more than 1,000 people who are members around the world.

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She created an online member program

Before launching her membership, Wood started by offering private online classes. In fact, she was a bit hesitant about offering a membership. "I wanted a 'one and done' course, but I was thinking it would take much more labor intensive," she explains. " I decided to take a step and transform the course into a membership plan which has a less expensive cost per month in the hope that members will stay longer and gradually work through courses that will help them improve their abilities. ."

"When I made that decision, that's really what was working and brought my company to the next level. having a membership was what I needed," she continues. "I am in love with the students, and they really make the school what it can be. ."

The membership she has now includes a comprehensive video lesson library of over 150 pre-recorded courses. The students can take these classes anytime, anywhere and each month there are new lessons included to assist people in taking their knowledge to a higher stage. In addition, she hosts weekly Q&As and a community of like-minded individuals with the same love to make high-quality garments using the old-fashioned method.

"We only have so much time to spend in one working day" the woman says. "My membership helps people to gradually improve their abilities over time--and that's what my audience was seeking and what I felt was needed ."

Today, she is enjoying the consistency of having an income per month from her membership program. "It gives me an assurance of security. Evergreen products suit me and my audience," adds Wood.

For selecting an e-learning platform, she conducted tests of a variety. " was the one that stood out,"" she explains. "It had all of the things I needed to build my business, and there was so much ease and functionality for managing the back end. It met all of the requirements to house everything that I needed, and is continuing to do so. ."

Wood's 1,000+ audience covers the entire globe.

The majority of her students hail from the US as well as Europe however, she does have some Australians within her group also. Two main groups of people are that she caters to: she has the older empty nesters, aged 50+ seeking to develop their sewing skills and those in their 20s and 30s looking for ways to express themselves and create their own style with an understanding of the long-term sustainability behind their motivations.

Her primary method of ensuring that her followers is able to find her and gain participation is via her popular YouTube channel. With a number of subscribers that is 351K, she's leveraged YouTube as her primary source of traffic since quitting her day job nine years ago.

"I decided to focus on YouTube because sewing can be a useful task, and when you have a sewing question, you want to see a video of someone doing it," explains Wood.

In addition to instructional videos based on skills but her content on YouTube covers an overall understanding of sewing such as good habits to follow, techniques, as well as strategies and techniques. "It's much more of a conversation on how to achieve greater results when sewing, not just tutorials" she said.

If asked about how she built such an engaged and large audience, she says it was through consistency; she released one video each week. "This let me look at the past and determine what types of videos worked and which ones sparked engagement" she says.

Additionally, she tried to bring in a personal element to her YouTube posts, either via the video itself as well as through comments.

"In my Youtube videos, I try to speak to the individual like we're sitting in the room together," she says. "A lot of people say that they feel like they know me, or tell me it's like I'm talking to them directly through my videos ."

She developed a straightforward journey for customers

In every video on YouTube, she has the link to Vintage Sewing School. "That is, should they like the way that I teach and what I'm saying and want to join, they can be a member to go more in-depth ."

She also offers a free course, dubbed the Crash Course to Learn How To Sew, which is meant for those looking to master the basics of using their first sewing machine.

"I chose to make that free because I believe that everyone should have the ability to simply start working on their machines," she says. "This course is free and allows them to experience the school, the platform, and the filming style. Once they complete it and are satisfied, they will be able to sign up to be a member ."

The crash course is for beginners. The instructor is looking to create a second course for those possessing more expertise, as she says many people visiting her site are looking for ways to expand on the knowledge they have learned.

After they join you can end your membership at any time; there's no commitment minimum. "Many people opt to join immediately, but the free Crash Course works quite well to convert people," she explains.

The price of her membership was affordably

For Wood and other course creators course might be seen as the most difficult part of creating a course.

"I recall fumbling around in my head for a long time on what the appropriate price would have been," she says. "There isn't a one-size-fits-all. Of course, you can look at other people performing similar tasks However, their approach will never be the same as the way you're working. ."

Then she settled on a membership cost of $19 USD per month by reflecting on the goals she had for her work.

"I would like people to be able to remain here with us and for many years as they wanted to develop their skills. I wanted the cost to be accessible, yet show the level of quality present; an equilibrium ."

At the time she started her membership, she offered its founding members a lower cost, which they continue to pay to this day. From then on the cost of $19 USD remains at the same. To collect payments, she integrates Stripe with .

She differentiated herself in comparison to the other girls.

The Wood's School doesn't only teach students how to sew by following a pattern, it helps them learn sewing so they can create and fit every garment that comes into their heads. In order to do this, Wood teaches the age-old art of dressing. Once they learn this skill, students become confident in their ability to sew, change, modify, fit, and mend garments at home.

"I teach slightly differently than others sewing institutions," she says. "Generally looking at sewing classes online or even classes in person the focus is on teaching a step-by-step pattern. It's project-based learning. For me, however I was attracted to sewing because I wanted to design and create things I liked to wear in my own fashion. This is the kind of people that gravitate to me ."

"I have decided to turn my membership a skills library rather than project-based courses," she adds. "I wanted it to feel like an online encyclopedia for the art of making clothes. ."

Along with her foundational course that will teach you the fundamentals of sewing, members have tons of skill-based, specific courses to choose from. "Vintage Sewing School" is structured to allow you to go to separate courses for individual learning. Students can log into the membership and search for their needs as they work on the projects they have created themselves. ."

She created a flourishing community

Wood believes that a sense of community is an integral part of learning online. Even though everything is online now She believes the importance of connecting is an integral aspect of the learning process. In fact, when asked what trends she sees in the near future in 2024 and beyond she says that course designers will have to build communities.

"Online learning is certainly an effective method," she shares. "But in addition, I think a community, or the ability to touch base is important ."

To instill this sense of connection in Vintage Sewing School, her participants are invited to become part of a special community that's hosted by Circle. Here, they can share their projects, gain knowledge from each other, ask questions and meet new people who have the same enthusiasm for making clothing. They describe this group as a "thriving community ."

She built a small but mighty team

A team can be a milestone for any business owner For Wood who is a team leader, she believes it was the best choice she's made.

This is particularly true in light of what Wood has experienced over the past 12 months. Following being confirmed with cancer of the breast her team was crucial in keeping her business going while she was undergoing chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. "My team has been capable of taking over and keep everything running even when I'm not able to be there all the time," she reveals.

She is also a video editor that helps her edit the videos she has created for her courses as well as YouTube videos, the content editor, who collects videos and transforms them into texts for the lesson description and also a person with customer service that helps in answering questions through emails. "When I started my journey, I thought maybe I could have someone like a VA help me. Now, I'm able to am surrounded by a team of just me as well as members joining from all over the world. It's amazing." says Wood ."

Now, as Wood is back on her feet again after a positive prognosis Wood is looking forward to the future. For anyone in a similar circumstance to Wood advises they begin hiring teams to enable them to live their life "infinitely more manageable" ."

"After suffering from illness for most of the year, I now feel like myself once more and am now prepared to face new challenges, and consider what direction I would like to go with the company," she shares.

She's currently thinking about her future plans with Vintage Sewing School; "perhaps I'll recruit more instructors to help in their unique sewing areas, or do more for the community. There's so much that we can create to be the top sewing school in the world and provide an unreal experience learning old-fashioned sewing methods," continues Wood.

She has remained consistent

When she started her sewing studio, Wood says her life has changed dramatically. "I had no idea that my business would turn out to be what it is now--never even in my greatest fantasies," she shares.

"Teaching online has given me the chance to put aside any other work I was working on and concentrate exclusively on the brand," continues Wood. " Being able to instruct people has provided me with the sense of accomplishment. Seeing someone post photos of the garments that they designed is the best ."

She believes she's found two key factors to her success: consistency as well as differentiating her sewing school from others. "The method I use to teach can be a little risky, the majority of people simply want a pattern and to be able to follow the instructions. The idea of a self-study kind of school where they have to go in and learn the basics on their own is out of the box--but I knew this was what attracted me to making things, and that's the kind of thing I'd like to have had as I learned," says Wood.

For those who want to launch an online learning company, but don't know where to start, Wood recommends putting the first steps out there, going for it and experimenting with different ideas.

"Put a couple of things on the market and determine what's working and what need to focus upon," she suggests. "My company went through a number of iterations until I got to the point of finding the best practices. It took me 6 years to create my own membership. It began to take off ."

"By trying a variety of things, and giving yourself the chance to try different ways of doing things, you'll discover what's working," she adds. "Stick with the uniqueness that is you and you alone, and stay true to the ."

"Just do it!" she says. "Don't be scared. Start small and throw lots of little things out there for a test to determine what's successful. Then you'll be able to tell what's working because it will just work ."