When you sign up for a class at Alewives, you are in for a fun time. You will meet new people, learn new skills and laugh a lot. With these ideas in mind, there are a few key points we ask everyone to be mindful of:

What we are expecting from you:

• Before signing up for a class, please check your schedule to be sure that you can attend. Upon signing up for a class, please mark the date and time on your calendar as we are unable to remind everyone before their class begins. We understand that everyone is very busy these days and that unforeseen circumstances may occur, but please understand that we are a business and our teachers do most of their work before class even begins. When you cancel out of a class at the last minute, it puts us in a very tough position. Please read our refund policy at the bottom of the page for more information.

• Please be respectful of our teacher's time and efforts. No one will be considered "signed up" for their class until we have received your payment in full. It takes a lot of planning and preparation to coordinate a class and your class payment is our teacher's compensation for these efforts. They have to be paid whether you attend or not. When you sign up for a class and then do not pay or attend, it is very disrespectful and discouraging to our teachers. Please read our refund policy at the bottom of the page for more information.

• Please be respectful of our time and the time of others. Classes begin at the scheduled time. Please arrive early to set up your sewing space. Several of our classes begin at 9:30, which is one half hour before Alewives opens. On these days someone will always be at the store to open up at 9:00.

•Everyone must bring their own sewing machine in good working condition. You need to be familiar with this machine, be able to wind bobbins, thread the upper machine, etc. It is not fair to ask our teachers to fix machines or to teach you how to use your machine: they are not magicians! If you are unfamiliar with your machine and would like help learning how to use it, please contact us well in advance of your class to schedule a private lesson. If it is truly impossible to bring your own machine, we do have machines available for use at Alewives. If you would like to use one of these machines, it is your responsibility to reserve it by asking one of our clerks. It is also your responsibility to arrive early and familiarize yourself with our machine, and to provide your own thread and bobbins.

• Students are required to have all of the necessary tools and materials when class starts. Please do not leave your purchasing to the last minute. If you would like help selecting materials for a project, we are more than happy to do so, but please come in a few days (or at the very least a few hours) early. It is not realistic to expect your teacher or the clerks to help you select fabrics and prepare for class at the same time. Also, unless you have made special arrangements with Alewives, everyone is expected to provide all of their own tools and materials. These will all be listed on your materials list and everyone will receive this list upon their class payment.

• Students are asked to be respectful of others at all times. We work very hard to make Alewives a fun and positive place to be. We understand that sometimes people have rough days, but if you feel as though you cannot be polite and respectful and tolerant of those around you, we ask that you please stay home. We will understand.

What you can expect from us:

• There is no minimum for class attendance. In other words, we will not cancel a class due to a lack of students. Therefore, if you have paid for your class, even if you are a class of one, we will still hold that class.

• We offer a 10% discount on all materials purchased for your class and during the duration of your class. That means that if your class lasts for four Saturdays in a row, you can enjoy the class discount for all class purchases made ahead of time and for the entire month of your class. If you are signed up for a one-day workshop, you will receive a 10% discount on all materials purchased in advance for the workshop and receive the discount on any other purchases you make on the day of the class.

• All students will receive the required attention and gain the skills necessary to complete their project. We promise that you will learn everything you need to know to have a successful class. We want you to feel encouraged, inspired and motivated and are very conscious of these qualities when selecting our projects and teachers. If you do not feel as though this expectation has been met, please bring it to our attention.

• Everyone will have fun. If your class at Alewives was not a good experience for any reason at all, please let us know how we can improve.


Refund Policy:

•For "in-house" classes (taught by a staff member): At our discretion, we will either issue a full-refund, a partial refund or a store credit. In certain cases, your class fee may not be subject to a refund or store credit of any kind.

•For "guest workshops" (taught by a visiting teacher): Due to the nature of a guest workshop, we will only be able to refund your guest workshop fee in the form of a store credit and only if we can fill your spot from the waiting list. Please be aware of this fact when signing up for a guest workshop.

•For inclement weather: If we are forced to cancel a class due to bad weather, we will offer a make-up class. In the event you are unable to attend the make-up class, you will be entitled to a full refund or store credit (your choice) of your class fee.

Thanks for making classes at Alewives so much fun! It is because of YOU and your fellow students that our programs have been so successful.

For any more questions, please e-mail us at alewives@alewivesfabrics.com or call us at 207 563 5002.