Some thought that Alison McNichol (founder of Stitchclub) was mad giving up a highflying career in PR to start teaching sewing to children.  5 years on we catch up with Alison to find what she has achieved and why she decided to make such a drastic career change.  You can visit the Stitchclub site here: www.stitchclub.co.uk

How did you first learn to sew?

I started quite young.  My grandmother used to have an old Singer in the kitchen and I remember making clothes for my dolls. I don't recall her ever specifically teaching me, I just did it with her and learnt as I went along.  I got my first sewing machine at the age of 8.

Have you always worked within the sewing industry?

I worked in the PR industry for a long time looking after pop bands and rock bands and travelling the world.  It was very glamorous but was an all consuming career.   It took up so much of my time that I didn't have chance to sew.

How did you get from working in PR to working within the sewing industry?

After being in the record industry for several years I then set up my own PR company and ran that for a few years, but then 4 or 5 years ago I decided I wanted to change my life so I wrapped up my PR company.

That must have been a difficult decision to make.

It was, at that time I didn't know what I was going to do but I just knew I didn't want to do PR anymore.  I guess I was having a midlife crisis!  I decided to take the summer off to think about what I wanted to do.   Over the summer I found my old sewing machine that I hadn't used for years and started sewing again.   That made me realise that sewing is what I enjoy doing so I wanted an idea that involved sewing.

What gave you the idea to set up sewing classes for children?

I had decided I wanted to work within the sewing industry and that I wanted a job that took me out into the community, interacting with other people and with children and the idea came from there.  I started researching the afterschool clubs available to children and realised that they are mainly sport activities or language clubs and there wasn't anything for children who wanted to do something creative.   I just had a really strong gut instinct that it would work, that there would be a demand for it.   My friends thought I was crazy going from working within the media industry to running sewing classes.

Do you have children yourself?

I don't, but working with popstars is like working with children!  I've also got plenty of nieces and nephews and I enjoy spending time with children.

How did you decide what age to aim the classes at?

I spoke to Ofsted and started researching the rules and regulations for working with children.   Originally I wanted to start with children aged 7, but there are a lot more legal regulations for working with children under the age of 8.  Although I follow the good practice encouraged by Ofted I do not have to register with them when working with children over the age of 8.   It transpired in terms of motor skills and teaching children in a group it would have been difficult working with children under the age of 8.

What tips could you give to someone looking to get their child into sewing?

Hand sewing is the best place to start.  From a young age you can get kits with pre-punched holes etc.  I think it's important that from a young age you get children used to being around sewing.  Let them get used to threads and fabrics and to helping you.   Then when you feel they are ready get them started with something really easy.  It's all about building their confidence up and getting them comfortable working with needles and scissors etc.

What type of thing do you make with the children during your classes?

I wanted to do something that didn't take too long to make (2-3 classes), to keep their attention and I wanted it to be things the child ultimately wanted to own so they will put in the effort to make it.  Therefore, we make really cool things like animals, cushions, bags, room tidies, key rings and I-pod covers.  I also make sure I use funky fabrics to excite the children.

How long are the courses?

They run in 6 weeks blocks and we do 6 different skill levels so the children progress through the levels.

How did your draw up the curriculum for sewing?

I did it through trial and error.  Me and the other teachers I employed spent a good 18 months coming up with the curriculum, seeing what worked and what didn't, what the children liked and what they didn't like.  Then I came up with the curriculum that included the best way and the best order to teach children to sew.

That curriculum forms the basis of the resource packs that we sell to help people run their own sewing classes.

Didn't you used to franchise Stitchclub?

We did originally because I was always being approached be people wanted to do what I was doing, and to use the curriculum and fabrics etc that I use.   It did very well until around 18 months ago when the credit crunch hit and people couldn't afford to be spending a large amount of money, and taking on the legal commitment to take a franchise.

That's when I decided it was time to adapt and offer a more affordable, flexible option for women who want to teach sewing to children.   I created My Sewing Club which is a resource pack for people who want to run their own classes.   It's just a one off up front affordable charge and then people have the full resource pack, including the curriculum and sewing supplies kit which they can then adapt for their own needs.   It gives people a lot more control over what and how they do it. It's proved to be a huge success; we had over 500 requests straight after the launch.  It has made the Stitchclub concept a lot more accessible to people.

You also offer packs to schools as well don't you?

Yes, we had a lot of requests to run classes in schools but did not have enough teachers to run all the classes so I came up with the idea of the pack for schools which is essentially Stitchclub in a box!  Not only do they get the resource pack and curriculum but they get all the equipment, patterns and fabric needed to run the classes.  It is very affordable, working out at only £2 per child, per club, including all the materials.

We also offer a range of kits which are sold through John Lewis and lots of independent stores.  They can also be bought on the website too along with a range of sewing supplies and equipment.  The kits range from children's kits to adults.

Are you starting to expand into offering courses and kits for adults as well as children?

Yes, there is a massive demand for adult courses now.  I offer one day courses for beginners and intermediate sewers covering things like dressmaking, how to follow a basic pattern etc.  I am teaching more adult courses than children's now.

What advice could you give for someone who comes up with a new idea and isn't too sure where to start, or whether to take the plunge and invest everything into their idea?

It's difficult because you see some people that are deluded and are going purely on blind faith and everyone else can see that the idea is terrible.  So in some ways I don't want to say if you have an idea that you are right and everyone else is wrong and you should just go for it.  At the same time we have to go on our instincts in life and if you believe in yourself you have a good chance of making it work.

If you have any element of doubt then it won't work.  It's really tough working for yourself, you have to keep yourself motivated to get up in the morning and go and work.  There's no one there making you do it.   It's going to be hard, you're going to be skint, taking financial risks and working more hours that you ever had before so if your hearts not in it you won't succeed.   If you are passionate and have determination then go for it, it's a wonderful journey.