Most of us are frightened by the idea of getting up in front of a group of people and trying to teach them something. It's not really that hard, and can, in fact, be quite easy. Just pretend that you are in your own studio making a doll with a friend. Be yourself, and the rest will follow. It's just that simple. Give it a try. Here are some more suggestions that I use when I am teaching.

Choose a simple pattern and have a copy of the pattern and the body fabric for each student.

• Kezi patterns are very simple and make up beautifully.

• My patterns are too complex for a one-day class — they take three to five days in a class.

For coloring faces and hair: give them a selection of yarns. You can "lend" out colored pens, pencils, or paint. Buy good but inexpensive paint brushes if you will use brushes.

Plan to serve lunch or have everyone bring a lunch and you provide beverages — it takes too long to go out for lunch.

You need a room with good light and places for everybody to plug in their sewing machines. (They bring their own sewing machines.) You can hold your class in a church, library, school, or in your own house if you have the space. You may need to buy heavy duty extension cords or cube taps.

You can charge each student a "kit" fee which covers the cost of pattern, fabric,, etc., and the use of your materials. If you really get into teaching, I will give you sources to purchase muslin, yarn for hair, etc. at wholesale. You sell at retail for students that want additional kits.

If you plan to charge for the class, decide how much your time is worth (include the preparation work) You should get from $50 to $150 per day. Divide that among the number of students. (Be sure to add expenses into the student fees.) Professionals who teach get from $150 to $350 per day, and fine artists who teach Master Classes get $1000 or more per day.

Remember that it will take much longer to do anything in class than it takes you to do it alone at home. If you can lay out, cut, and stitch a body in two hours by yourself, it can take 4 or 5 or even 6 to 8 hours to do it in class.

Feel free to e-mail me at with any questions.