Bits of Thread

I am so angry. We signed up our 7yo daughter for the kids class today Sat 1−3p. I left her and came back at 2:45 for pick up, to find her sitting in the adults class room by herself — her instructors had left. She said she had been waiting «a while.» A class was going on but that instructor didn’t even greet me or say that the other instructors had left — nothing, like it was normal. The first thing my daughter asked when she saw me was, «momma how do I finish this pillow?» The needle and thread was still stuck to her pillow project — so, you finish class super early but you can’t even completely finish the simple project itself? The worst part is you leave a 7yo alone (she’s her instructors’ responsibility during class time) and you can’t even call the parent to stay you’re ending early and to pick up their child? How professional, to say the least. And unsafe. I am so angry. There is no way to speak with the studio owner directly. I called and left a message to call me back nearly an hour ago.
Besides this big issue, customer service is really lacking — I recall we tried to call with a question when we first registered in Oct, it took days and multiple messages to get a live person to answer it. Coming in today, we arrived 10 mins early (luckily I found parking relatively quick on the street, for an area with so limited parking spots), and one of the instructors snapped «you’re 10 mins early.» Not even a hello. Yeah we can tell time. If it’s an issue that you have to mention it, why don’t you politely say, I’m sorry we can’t start for another 10 mins, could you please come back then. You’re dealing with customers who PAID IN ADVANCE for a service. Why act like we just walked off the street to inconvenience you?
The studio itself needs major updating. The fabric and notions for sale looked like they have been sitting there for years.
Will update when we hear back from the owner.

I absolutely love this place. I was recently gifted a sewing machine that I have no idea how to use, and figured I might as well take some lessons on how to use it, because it’s something I’ve always been interested. Unfortunately, due to my work schedule (and living clear out in Alexandria) I just can’t make any of the group classes offered by like… A single studio that offers them.
In comes Bits of Thread. I sent them an email, and within a few days had signed up for private classes on my off day with Trish (Patricia Consoli). There were some issues with their online booking systems, but I emailed them, and Carol worked it right out for me so that my packages (which are a great deal) actually worked like they were supposed to.
Within 4 hours I was already crafting clothes, and am officially a mean green sewing machine. My schedule should be opening up soon, so hopefully I’ll be able to make it in for a few group classes, or seminars.
It’s also worth noting you can rent studio space for an insanely cheap hourly rate, and it’s quite a charming little studio.
All in all I’m super happy with my experience, and will happily be a returning customer.

My 11 (almost 12) year old daughter took two hours of semi-​private class with Valerie Williams. We are total novices, and she was an excellent teacher. We learned all about our sewing machine and made clutches. Fantastic!

I had a crazy positive experience here. I was searching for Dutch wax print 26×26 pillow covers on etsy. No dice. When I asked for custom jobs many of the sellers asked for some serious cash. In fact, the very print I ended up using was selling for $ 80 (for a 12×18 pillow cover only) because the pillow was featured in a design magazine. Enough was enough. I found four yards of the very same fabric I saw advertised and then emailed bits of thread to inquire about a private lesson. They were awesome, there were snags in scheduling but always a response within 24 hours. The appointment was set with Allison, the owner, who is so incredibly kind and such a great teacher. Over the course of the two hours, she taught me to (hands on) measure and create the pattern for the front as well as the back flaps, iron, pin, set up the sewing machine, and sew two complete euro sham covers. One would have cost over $ 100 on etsy or more. For $ 80 in lesson fees and $ 40 in fabric I made two! And get this, Allison let me stay and continue to sew for another hour after the lesson unassisted while she did some work. I made two more 12×28 shams with the left over fabric and one 12×2! It was such a great experience I can’t recommend it enough!

Wow, little did I think that I would be reviewing Bits of Thread again.
They reached out to me – but not in regards to what I previously wrote — but to see if I, and seven others, were still interested and available to work with their Earn-​and-​Learn program starting in July. They emailed us on a Friday afternoon seeking to see if we had availability to undertake a training the following week (asking on a Fri afternoon if Monday would work! Talk about last-​minute!).
I did not respond until they sent a follow-​up email on Monday regarding these trainings. I decided to write back stating that I responded to their initial email in March and received no response; I followed-​up again with an email; and then a Facebook comment (thinking it was going to the spam folder) to no avail.
And TAKE A GUESS, they have not wrote back to this latest email.
This shows me that Bits of Thread:
* doesn’t have their act together
* isn’t looking to the future or their future needs until last-​minute (reaching out to 8 people and giving us a moment’s notice for training)
* doesn’t respond to emails
* has poor customer service
As such, I’d be concerned for anyone looking into the Earn-​and-​Learn opportunity. I wonder how responsive they are to those who work for them? How is scheduling dealt-​with? Last-​minute? Who’s in charge: I get emails from an employee (?) and the owner is copied on the emails — does she read her emails; does she know that employees do not respond to customer questions and then reaches out to these individuals months later to see if they are still interested in joining the program?
To recap:
* Applied to Earn-​and-​Learn in October; the form says someone will be in touch soon
* Receive an email at the end of February inviting me to join
* Write back with questions regarding confusion on programs/​if I’d be a good fit at beginning March
* Receive no response
* Receive an email at the end of June thanking me for «your recent interest» on a Friday afternoon to seek that I undergo a training the following week.
* I write back
* Receive no response

Took the Intro class and Beginner Step two. Had a great time. Trish was a lot of fun and a great instructor.

I am very, very, very new to sewing.
I had been meaning to go there for ages. I was not disappointed at all. The professor was incredibly patient. She was sweet, kind and very knowledgeable about her crafts. I took Intro to Sewing last Sunday and I was THAT person (the slow person to the point of desperation).
Not only was the professor patient, she managed to keep the class going without me feeling left behind, but she kept paying attention to all other students. I loved it.

I LOVE this place. I’ve taken three classes (the intro series and the perfect skirt) and really, really enjoyed myself. The classes are small and structured in a way that you can’t get so ambitious that you end up disappointed and frustrated (which happens to me when I work on projects on my own). Excited to take more! Valerie was awesome.
Feedback: I wish the Pattern class was offered 2x week for 3 weeks instead of 6 weeks straight. I think that would make it easier for people (or maybe just for me…)

Really enjoyed my time at Bits Of Thread. Class was very informative and the instructor, Trisha was excellent! Can’t wait to take my next class!

Wonderful sewing lessons for my daughter who wants to learn to sew! Very patient and thorough instructor. Wonderful experience!

I took my first sewing class since 8^th grade at Bits of Thread, Intro to Sewing. And all of the reviews about this place were right! Bits of Thread is totally awesome. I learned the basics. It was very comfortable and the instructors are really nice.
Valerie was our teacher and she explained everything thoroughly and was very patient with us. Someone showed up 40 minutes late, Valarie got her on track in no time without slowing the class down. We made our little draw string pouch, but before this we had the chance to practice operating the machine, the different parts, doing tasks like bobbing and threading, learning to use the pedal, different stitches etc.
This is a slow love for me. By no means do I intend on being the next Ellen Tracy by next year. But with classes like Copy Your Clothes, Perfect Fit Skirt, and Working With Leather (CAN’T WAIT)– I might be able to crank out something pretty fly. It’s a nice deal here, because anyone who is thinking about taking up sewing can explore the 1^st 2 beginner classes for $ 75. I had to cancel my 2^nd class the day of and they were nice enough to give me a full refund! Don’t know if this is standard, but they are very understanding and flexible.

I ended the two part intro class today with a precious bag, fresh wallet and a huge hug from the awesome instructor, Tricia. I can not WAIT to take the other classes!
Class: I took the 2 hour intro class to sewing and 2 hour beginner step two on Sunday afternoon. The first class showed the basics of the machine, how to thread, etc. We also made a little pouch. The latter course was a really hands on, intense class. I opted to make a wallet and really got to put my intro skills to work. Great intro classes!
Instructor: Tricia is AMAZING. Not only is she warm and bubbly but she is incredibly helpful and super knowledgable about sewing. She was able to troubleshoot every possible dumb thing a beginner sewer could do with a huge smile on her face. She is patient and passionate: she made every student feel like they had a private lesson which was awesome. I wish she taught other classes besides the intro classes as I truly enjoyed her instruction.
Overall, I really enjoyed myself and look forward to more classes at this place.

I took the Beginner class on November 2, 2013. The studio is in a building that overlooks a busy Columbia Street intersection, but the studio itself feels very quiet and comfortable. The instruction was excellent. Very clear, relaxed, with perfect class size (6) so that everyone got the attention they needed, even when we were at different steps. And a perfect balance between learning the basics about both the machine and sewing and actually making something (we finished off with a cute little project).
I used to sew decades ago and remembered quite a bit. But I wanted a review and I thought this was completely worth it. I also thought the price was quite reasonable.

I absolutely ADORE this place. When I moved here, I was in the process of taking sewing classes at a rad community arts center in Chicago’s Ravenswood. It seemed like everywhere I could find in the DC area was corporate, way out in the burbs, or generally expensive.
Unilocal led me to Bits of Thread, and I couldn’t be happier. I have so far taken Perfect Fit Skirt and the Patterns class with Valerie, and I can’t tell you how great the classes have been: so much that I will wake up early on weekends and drive in from where I now live in the ‘burbs. Wonderful personal attention (no more than 6 people in a class means you’re never fighting for time); patient and kind instruction (I ask A LOT of questions and make LOADS of mistakes); everything you could ever need for any kind of project, and a cozy space that feels like a small-​town sewing bee.
They do private lessons, you can learn on your own machine, and they even have a cool little ‘shop’ with secondhand fabrics and free scraps for quilting and crafting! Not to mention that it is a female-​owned small business. I recommend Bits of Thread to anyone interested in learning a new skill, doing a project, or wanting to spend a few hours in the company of others trying to do the same.

After realizing I was a 30yr old woman who didn’t know how to sew, I googled ‘Sewing Classes’ and stumbled across Bits Of Thread. I was so delighted with the Intro class, low key, calm, practical, step by step instruction on how to use a sewing machine. I am already signed up for the next class!
Note:
The entrance is very unassuming, literally a door right next to the McDonalds. Look for the building #. Also, if its your first time into Adams Morgan, plan an extra 15min for parking.

The intro to sewing class was very informative, fun and the two hours went by very fast. The instructor was very knowledgeable and she had no problem giving us one on one attention or repeating instructions if needed. Perfect for a someone new to sewing or someone needing a refresher. I am already signed up for beginner part two and I am sure I will sign up for other classes afterwards. Everything you need is included so just show up and be ready to sew.

I signed up for the introductory class last fall after deciding that it was high time I (re)learn how to sew. It was a great decision, because it showed me how fun and easy sewing can be. After learning how to make a bag, I was inspired to buy a sewing machine and replicate everything at home so I could make gift bags for friends and family. I then signed up for the working with patterns class, and after only six classes, I had made a beautiful dress — people stop me on the street to compliment it whenever I wear it. And I’ve never been especially craftsy or artistically talented, yet Allison at Bits of Thread worked me through the process step by step so everything was fairly simple and I didn’t make any (major) mistakes. I now feel confident enough to start sewing from more complicated patterns — and I didn’t even take that many classes! Highly recommended.

Okay, what a come back!
After writing my review and asking for my money back, I recieved several calls from the owners. They were extremely apologetic, wanted to understand what happened from my perspective, and make amends by not only refunding my money, but offering a credit for a free class, as well.
I was shocked at how concerned the owner was with my poor experience. Most businesses don’t care about one unhappy patron, but they really exceeded my expecations. I was offered a free class on Sunday, a private session, with the owner. She was very patient, despite my being a few minutes late from finding parking (fyi, the studio is in Adams Morgan, so parking is VERY scarce… leave extra early to find parking).
This was my 2^nd beginners sewing class and I learned a lot, she even stayed after a few minutes to go over how to read a pattern and prep the one I recently purchased. She suggested that I use the complemenatry credit to sign up for an open session to get help with the rest of the pattern.
I will definitely go back to get help starting the dress I want to make and review the practice items on the website.
Glad I went back! Other businesses should learn from their example of great customer care. :)

I took a cloche hat making class in this studio last fall. It was fun and interesting — never thought i’d be able to make my own winter hat! The quality of the materials was amazing and the instructor was very good at explaining the steps. A few wishes that explain the 4 stars instead of 5: wish there had been more choices of colors and more advice of the instructor on style/​cut that would fit my head. The atmosphere of the class was a bit downcast — a bit more encouragement to socialize would have been nice.

As soon as I sat down to my first Intermediate Sewing class I started panicking. I HAD NO IDEA HOW TO WORK A MACHINE (obviously the two home ec classes I took in middle school did not leave a lasting impression). However, my fears were quelled immediately because the instructor was able to give me a quick-​refresher on how to cut, sew, and use a pattern. By the end of the class I had finished a beautiful pillowcase with little problems (which is now officially the only thing I know how to make so if anybody wants to buy one… hollllaaaa!).
The studio is very cute and cozy and the prices for one class is very reasonable ($ 40 + your own supplies). I like how each class you can choose your own project and work at your own pace. I will definitely come back the next time the creative bug hits me.