Frequently Asked Questions

If you want to! I have machines for student use, but if you want to bring your own, that's great! Consistently sewing on your own machine builds confidence and ability to sew at home on your own. If your sewing machine isn't working though, please leave it at home! We can do basic troubleshooting, but we're not a repair shop. 

We offer after-school classes during the school year, and summer camps during the summer. You can find dates for current classes on the sign-up page. If there are no times that work for you, reach out! We do private lessons on your schedule, and even private group lessons if you can get a group together! We also occasionally offer classes during traditional school hours. 

Reach out! I keep a waiting list, so the sooner you reach out the more likely you are to get the time you want! Also, if you have a group that wants a specific time that isn't listed, I can accommodate groups of 4-7.

We try to post the sign-up for upcoming classes at least two months in advance. If you want to know the minute a sign-up goes live (summer camps fill quickly!), sign up for our mailing list, and follow us on Instagram!

You can bring a cash or check to the first day of class, or pay in advance with Venmo, PayPal, or Zelle. You can find me on each of those apps: 

Venmo: ojaneeo

PayPal: ojaneeo@gmail.com

Zelle: 949 228 8613

This is a great question, and there are so many great machines out there! Take a look at our materials page for the list of our recommended machines. Scroll to the bottom!

The closest fabric store to us is Hobby Lobby. Keep track of their weekly ads, often they'll have all fabrics 40% off!  JoAnn's is also close by (while it lasts! The minimum yardage they'll cut is 2 yards), and we've even shopped at the Laguna Niguel Walmart for fabric. For a larger selection and/or specialty fabrics, we like to trek up to Michael Levine's in LA and make a day trip out of it!

You'll get specific fabric requirements emailed to you after you've sent your deposit to secure your spot. In general, we recommend WOVEN (not stretchy) fabrics, as they are the easiest to work with. For thread, please buy ALL-PURPOSE. It can be cotton or polyester or a blend, but please check that it says All-Purpose. Often students will come in with Heavy-Duty or quilting thread that is too thick to run efficiently through our machines. 

Don't throw away that broken machine! There are a surprising number of sewing machine repair shops around. We've been going to Pal's Vacuum and Sewing off of El Toro for years. Mark has the best prices!