In case you're not familiar with those posts, I can recap in advising that some of my most seminal sewing experiences to date have occurred while participating in the Lady Grey Sew Along, which Gretchen so expertly instructed. I continue to assert that this sew along is a veritable public service. Craftsy courses, and a workshop, have facilitated my skill development in knitting through an innovative, modern community and instructive platform. I remain very grateful for these resources.
However, in the last 6 weeks I have been on a frustrating journey - one in which the Craftsy/Gretchen collaboration has fundamentally let me down. You should know that I didn't pay for the Starlet Suit Jacket course. I was comped a course of my choice, by Craftsy, and I spent my credit on the suit jacket. It aligns with my current interests.
Having now completed the project, I have to advise you of the following:
- The Craftsy platform routinely crashed - like way too often. I have to assume it was a bandwidth issue. Note: I accessed the course using a variety of computers and networks and the problem persisted in all locations. It was incredibly frustrating to have to close and reopen the program numerous times, just to rewatch a key piece of instruction. This happened with my other Craftsy courses, but not to this extent.
- The instruction, while clear, detoured into unnecessary banter on several occasions. This course contains hours of instruction. Hours which I have rewatched over still more hours. Given the issue identified in the bullet above, I cannot tell you how irritating I came to find the "conversational" parts of the video.
- Alas, I am not the only one to note this: Craftsy purports that you will receive regular teacher feedback through its platform for as long as you need it, once you purchase the course. In truth, I don't see how this practice is sustainable. As a prospective instructor, there is no way it would be profitable for me to continue to answer questions indefinitely. Nevertheless, in this process - a mere month or two into the life cycle of this course - there has been practically no feedback (and, as far as I can tell, little meaningful feedback) from the teacher. On this topic, I'm conflicted. I have learned so much, at no cost, from Gretchen through her blog-based sew alongs, which are all still available and free of charge. The thing is, once you charge a fee, in my opinion, the professional onus is on you to respond - especially if that's the dictum of the production platform.
- Finally, and most disappointingly, it is my perspective (corroborated, correctly or incorrectly, by various comments in the course and via other feedback I've received from readers) that the pattern is provided with errors. I am by no means a professional, but I've been sewing long enough - and seriously enough - to recognize issues where I find them. When I undertook this project, I did not do so as a pattern-tester. I have to assume that most everyone else who has taken the course, or queued it, has done so at the regular list cost of $89.99 (or on sale). This is not a weekend project. I spent more than 140 hours creating my jacket - and many of those hours could have been spent otherwise if I hadn't, as I see it, been forced to resolve problems caused by suboptimal drafting. By this, I am not speaking about the sleeves (though I suspect they could have been drafted asymmetrically to better effect), but about pattern pieces that appear to have been mismarked and the lining, which was all over the map. Of course, regular and detailed feedback from the instructor may have ameliorated, by clarifying, this.
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I appreciate your honest evaluation of the class. I've looked at the Craftsy offerings but have not signed up for any. You really hung in there, through thick and thin, and created a beautiful piece.
ReplyDeleteThanks Shams!
DeleteThanks for the feedback K! I too love Gretchen's blog - but I haven't taken any craftsy courses (and probably won't but not because of your comments - I'm trying more in person courses).
ReplyDeleteI teach environmental law and we are looking at ways to leverage technology - and online courses seem to be hit or miss. They (online courses) seem to be good at skill based tasks that don't take too long to learn or don't require in person interaction. Gertie was probably limited by the time she could spend teaching. It's a difficult journey - in terms of instructional design - to teach such as complex task such as a suit jacket (with couture techniques).
Of course, I'm down on commercial patterns myself right now - I've been making everything from slopers (or basic blocks) I have created. I do love your result and thanks for sharing your experiences.
Your perspective is so fascinating. I suspect I'm moving towards slopers also...
DeleteYour feedback is fair and balanced having followed your posts on this. It's bad form that you've received no feedback on your queries despite being promised as part of the course. If you had paid for it you would have been entitled to some money back. When you're working on a large project like this it's frustrating enough to have to wait for feedback but outrageous if it doesn't come! Luckily you had the skill level to finish the course on your own with a little help from others!
ReplyDeleteI'd have to say, with a LOT of help from others :-) Thanks for your perspective, Katy.
DeleteI think that is a fair analysis. I am completely in love with your suit and after the hours you put into it you should be extremely proud. I haven't started the course properly yet, but I have watched the entire course. The craftsy platform is a nightmare on my computer it stops constantly wasting lots of time. But I am optmistic that using your posts about the problems in conjunction with the course, that I might be able to make this suit! Congrats again x
ReplyDeleteStevie: I'm sorry to hear that you have had the same experience with the platform. Today I went back into it and I noted there has been a serious refresh. Seems they may have resolved some issues (not that I can say for sure, I just watch small amounts of the course to review the new user interface). I hope it improves your use of the course.
DeleteThanks for the honest review we bloggers appreciate it immensely.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this, Sassy.
DeleteThank you for a great post and for your honesty. It seemed like the entire experience was frustrating (I even lost track of how many muslins you had to make!) and your attitude is very refreshing. We need to admit that not everything is perfect in the sewing world, and not all patterns work well - just because a popular blogger is attached to the project does not mean that it's all good. I've never had much interest in the Craftsy courses, as I much prefer learning from books or figuring out things on my own, but it will be interesting to hear more from other people who perhaps signed up for the same class. I think it's very much to your credit that you were able to take a not-so-great pattern and eventually make a beautiful, well-fitting suit!
ReplyDeleteHa! Trust me, I've lost track of the number of muslins. It's better that way. As I mentioned above, Craftsy seems to have made some substantive user interface changes to the platform in just the last couple of days. I wonder if this will help things...
DeleteWell in my opinion this is an example of someone who is in way over their head. I was more than a bit skeptical when I saw the Starlet course included a new pattern for a *tailored garment*(!) custom drafted by someone who is self taught, has been sewing for less than five years and who did not go to fashion school to learn pattern drafting. Susan Kahlje's Craftsy course has a pattern as well - but it's a Vogue style that has been in production for about 2 years. Susan is in the Holy Trinity of sewing instructors (along with Kenneth King and Claire Schaeffer) and she is savvy enough to know that pattern drafting - and doing it well - is a specialized skill totally different from sewing and teaching sewing. Just read Kathleen Fasenella's "Fashion Incubator" blog to see how a professional does it. I can't comment on the banter because I haven't viewed the course although again I did buy Susan's Craftsy course and it's *wonderful*. Susan has been teaching couture techniques for a long time. She's had a couple of TV shows; her media presence is polished, poised and her ability to impart information in a clear and concise manner is just about flawless. I wish Gretchen well, really I do, and her astonishing success in such a short time made it clear to me that the sewing community needs a young celebrity who appeals to the thousands of young people (e.g. under age 40) who want to learn to sew but are who are not interested in learning it from someone in my generation, however there are times when age and experience really does trump youthful enthusiasm and this sounds like one of those examples
ReplyDeleteI totally intend to take Kenneth King's course - as soon as I'm certain that Craftsy sorts out the (possible) bandwidth issue. I SO agree with you about Gretchen representing a new era of sewing "celebrity". As you may know, I am a cusp learner from that perspective - having taken up sewing in the last 3 yrs but being almost 42.
DeleteI have a great respect for the generations before mine but I also enjoy seeing a youthful take on things. In this regard, however, at this time, I am inclined to agree with your take on things.
Wow, I didn't have any problems like that when I made the jacket.
ReplyDeleteYour process was smooth, I agree. I'm so pleased for you that you had that experience. Thanks for putting this perspective on the table.
DeleteThank you for such an in-depth review. I bought this course a while ago (on sale for $25) but haven't watched it yet. I probably will never make a tailored jacket, but I'm fairly sure that I will still get a lot out of the course that I can use for other sewing. I'm happy I didn't buy it at full price though.
ReplyDeleteI think you plan to use it in an optimal way.
DeleteGreat review and far kinder than I would have expected. Seriously. What you had to do to get this suit really was unreasonable, and I suspect if you hadn't had assistance with the fitting, you might be on muslin 127 (kidding 8-D). I was beginning to think I should look into Craftsy and take some courses, now I think I shall wait until they get the website stabilized. The suit is beyond amazing though.
ReplyDeleteI WOULD be on muslin 127! Thank goodness for all of you wonderful readers and my fitting friend! See comments above, Elle. It seems that, just in the past couple of days, Craftsy has made some serious user interface changes. I note with interest that the user comments aren't date-marked anymore.
DeleteThe counterpoint: I'm just starting the suit jacket. I've cut out size 10 and have found no pattern issues beyond those that come with fitting it to my figure. It comes together great. I've watched the entire course twice (and the entire Bombshell Course) and never experienced a website crash. So my experience is very positive.
ReplyDeleteThanks for providing your perspective Caroline. I'm really happy that has been your experience.
DeleteThe feedback I received when teaching on-line indicated that I was doing a really good job and my courses were full and respected. On average, I'd be typing and answering questions four to five hours a day, seven days a week. When I saw that promise for ongoing feedback, I really had to wonder how that was going to work successfully. It was far too open ended and didn't take into account anything else the instructor might have going on in their life. The courses I taught were scheduled one week for each lesson with an additional two at the end. Some more complicated courses had two weeks per lesson plus the last two. Even then, most students needed more time.
ReplyDeleteIt's a HUGE service to be both honest and polite. Great review.
M: Thanks so much for this comment. It's really important for me to be honest but respectful. I'm glad you see my post in that light.
DeleteI signed up for both Susan's and Kenneth's courses and watched both from start to finish. I loved them both. I have yet to undertake the projects but learned a lot from just watching the courses. I have been sewing for 30 years and I sew better than anyone I know in person(not people in blog land). I loved the fact that both Susan and Kenneth sew in a different league that I do. They are professionals and have the experience to back that up. I learned little tricks that they use and immediately implemented them in my sewing. I really do think that there are different needs for sewing classes and there seems to be a void for taking people who sew well up to the next level.
ReplyDeleteAlthough a class in person is optimal and I have tried those, I was left frustrated by a teacher that was too close to my sewing level and in fact I perfered my garments to his. His focus was on speed and approximations!!!
I think that craftsy can be amazing and there are a few bugs to work out. More expert level classes please! I would love an online French Jacket course.
And congrats on finishing your suit. That is a feat in itself!! It is lovely.
I think, see above, that the platform may be better, just in the last couple of days.
DeleteThanks so much for posting this comment - and thanks for your lovely compliment about the suit!
Thank you for your honesty! I will bear this in mind when taking this course (although I have no clue when I'll be able to).
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm sure the time will come eventually :-)
DeleteKaren - I think this is one of the most balanced posts that I've ever read critiquing a course. You did good!
ReplyDeleteThanks Carolyn!
DeleteThis is indeed an interesting and balanced review. To be honest, I have never used Craftsy, but this course has been quite actively advertised, not just by Gertie herself but also through Burdastyle (which I find a bit worrying, in the light of your comments), so I've known about it for a while.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Phyllis that pattern making takes experience, and lots of it. It is not particularly difficult to learn but it quite difficult to master and a hell of a lot more difficult to master to the kind of degree which will allow you to make user-friendly multi-size patterns.
It has been very advertised, I agree!
DeletePattern drafting is the ne plus ultra of sewing, IMO. I can't imagine how long it will take me to feel like I can manage that. :-)
I've taken this post any many of your others about this class to heart. The Craftsy interface has changed recently, and it looks like Gertie has popped in to answer many of the long unanswered questions, so hopefully they're listening. I'll keep you posted as I being to muddle through this course.
ReplyDeleteAmy: Thanks for the update. And I did notice the Craftsy user interface had a complete facelift - probably 5 minutes after I finished needing it! I note also that it appears to remove time stamping from the questions posted once there's a response (at least it did when last I looked). Net result is that there's no archival evidence of the length of time between question asked and answered. I find that interesting.
DeleteThis is a great review, interesting, well-thought out, and well stated. I am not yet particularly familiar with craftsy but am intrigued by some good classes by good teachers and I am looking forward to being able to explore the options.
ReplyDeleteAs to this pattern and class, it seemed obvious to me that the pattern had problems and although I love Gertie's blog, and agree that she is a fabulous inspiration to those new to sewing, pattern drafting takes a lot of experience and practice. Enthusiasm is great, and if anything the sewing community can use all the enthusiasm and inspiration it can get, but eventually enthusiasm has to yield to mastery. And the trick will be how to meld the two in complementary ways.
M: I'm curious to know how you could see challenges in the pattern - was this from reading my account or by looking at the jacket itself? I really hope that the new Craftsy platform ameliorates the interface problems I was plagued by during the Suit Jacket course. I'm not brave enough to jump back in till I read other accounts. But I really want to take Kenneth King's course...
DeleteKristin, thank you for telling it like it is. I've been attracted to a few of these courses but will tread carefully. ElleC's point is a good one: what would have happened if you didn't get some help? I have a feeling you would not have continued. It was getting really crazy.
ReplyDeleteGood for you.
ReplyDeleteA couple of months ago, someone asked on a forum whether they should pay $89 to take Gretchen's class and I said I didn't think it would be worth the money. I felt a little bad, but wanted to be honest.
I said it might be interesting -- one learns from lots of different experiences -- but in my opinion she did not have the experience to be teaching a tailoring class, much less a tailoring class online and charging that kind of money. More recently, I saw that she was offering a day-long session styled as a "Master Class" and charging something like $500.
People can do with their money what they want, it's not my concern or affair, but I find it rather insulting to professionals with decades of experience who have taught or tutored me who have charged much less.
Gretchen's aesthetic is very different from mine, but obviously she has a following. She is not uncreative and it's fascinating to observe her ascent from semi-anonymous home sewing blogger to so-called sewing professional. But I completely agree that when you slap on the label "professional" and charge rates higher than professionals who by any standard are more experienced than you are you have to expect some push-back.
I check in on her blog every now and then because sometimes it discusses local sewing supply sources.
I'm taking the Susan Khalje "Couture Dress" class. I have extreme technical problems with it if I don't have a fast connection. The pattern took much longer than expected to arrive and Craftsy's customer service leaves something to be desired. Although Ms. Khalje is still responding to questions, I too, wondered how anyone could reasonably expect a teacher to keep answering questions; maybe there's something in the payment structure.
I like the course, but have had experience, including having taken an introductory couture sewing class. I signed up to spur myself to make something.
Having had experience, I also know that any online class has its limits. For example, you can't learn fitting from a $40 class, you can learn the basic PRINCIPLES. Fitting requires practice and experience and if you're not shaped like a classic fit model, someone may have to work with you.