I'm glad you are so excited!!! I wish I had some classes close to me. I only have the Net and books.
Enjoy your class.
Rosa

Take a deep breath......and keep breathing :)
Put a new needle in your machine, and thread it with a neutral cotton thread.
Take a pen and paper just in case you want to take any notes.
Most of all, enjoy the class.

I can hardly wait to hear if you like the class! And I want to hear all about the quilt shop too. I haven't made it there yet, but I'm hoping to check it out soon.

Kate

We're all excited because you're so excited. I love classes. I always leave with something new in my head. We can hardly wait to hear about yours.

Be sure to share your new experience with us. I agree that it is exciting to share your enthusiasm and I bet you will have something new for us. Jayne

Enjoy your class! Come back and share with us. Bated breath, and all of that, LOL.

How was the class?
Linda

Yes, yes, how was it?

beverly

Thanks for sharing in my excitement. Where do I begin? Well, it took about two hours to get there due to the rain and the crashes on I-4, not to mention the distance. But, my TomTom didn't let me down and I had no trouble finding it.

There were four of us "beginners" (one other guy too, but I was the youngest one) and there were two other people from a previous class finishing what they started. The pattern for the quilt is called a short stack. Anyone know what that is? It's basically sewing squares and rectangles together, probably good for a first quilt.

The shop is small, and the owner/teacher is warm and friendly and funny. But, I don't think she knows how to teach. When I came in from the rain with my machine, she greeted me and talked a little bit and then went over to talk to someone else. She didn't tell me where to set my machine up so I had to find the table myself (there were a few machines already there). She told me to pick out any 14 fabrics I wanted to use in the quilt so I did. I brought the bolts over to the cutting table and her assistant either found the fat quarters or made fat quarters out of the ones that didn't already exist. The teacher didn't even explain what a fat quarter was. I already knew thanks to the internet, but a basic class should cover basic terms in my opinion. Then we had to press the fabric... very cheap Proctor Silex iron that spit and leaked all over the place. Then we had to cut, but instead of teaching us how to read the pattern, the teacher/owner just told us how many of each size to cut. That really bothered me. I wanted to learn technique! It seemed like everyone was always at a different stage in the process the whole time. I think a class should move so that everyone is always at the same place at the same time. I didn't like feeling left behind! The ruler was this crazy floppy square with vertical slits cut out of it. To cut, you put the rotary cutter in the slit and run it through. Well, there was a dotted line on the ruler, and I thought that was where she said to start. I was supposed to start at the first slit, not the dotted line. The teacher had already cut some of mine as an example, so some of them were cut to 1/2 inch increments (the ones she did) and others were cut to 1/4 inch increments (the ones I did). So... I had to redo most of mine and it was confusing and frustrating. The class was supposed to be from 5 to 9 and I left at 10:17. The other students left between 9:30 and 10:00. I spent the whole night cutting and measuring and felt lost the entire time. Another student made the same exact mistake I did, so I wasn't the only one! The tile floor was hard and there were no mats or rugs so my feet are killing me! I didn't sew at all, but the teacher finally got me to the place that I can sew on my own this week and return with some finished sections to assemble in class next week. She didn't tell us to label each section with the measurements or to bring sticky pads so I knew what each one was. Another student actually told me to that and was kind enough to share her post it pad with me.

I did get to help some of the other students with their machines though and that was fun. One didn't know how to wind a bobbin and the other didn't know how to thread her machine or attach the 1/4th inch presser foot so I helped with that and enjoyed it. The teacher was too busy doing other stuff (figure out how to fix my mistake) to help them so I was glad to be able to. I was surprised at how little some of them knew about machines... that's the easy/fun part for me. One lady who had a Janome couldn't get the needle threader to work right, so I helped with that. The assistant saw me showing someone how to draw the bobbin thread up and said that I was showing her wrong... I told her she could put the bobbin cover on before drawing up the needle and the assistant (who was cutting mostly) came over long enough to say that you have to draw the thread up before putting on bobbin cover. Nonsense! It was fun to see all the different machines everyone had. I had the only Brother (which was electronic and almost didn't survive the trip in from the car in the pouring rain), two ladies had Janomes, one mechanical, one small and electronic, the only other guy had a very old black metal Singer, another girl had an old brown Kenmore that the guy who fixes machines for the shop "fixed" for her and the needled wouldn't move... they called him and me came over and apparently had forgotten to screw something back together right.

I'm exhausted! I had a snickers bar and a bottle of water for dinner... the teacher had her husband bring her McDonalds right in front of everyone... which I understand, she'd been there all day. I guess it's good that I'm starting somewhere, but I think the teacher should be a little better at actually teaching. She didn't tell us how to pick colors or materials or threads... I think she really missed the basics. I also found out that we are ONLY "learning" to make the top... we will not be actually quilting in class so the quilt won't even be a finished product when all is said and done. It was 66 dollars for materials, pattern, and class. But, the class is 3 four hour classes.

Anyway... that's how it went. I was too excited I think, maybe just because my expectations were different than what actually happened. I really wanted to learn theory and technique before doing anything else. I wanted to learn to quilt and to gain knowledge that I could use in other quilting applications, not just be shown how to make one specific quilt!

They did have some fabulous material that had whimsical vintage sewing machines printed on it and I will buy some of that to make pillows with. I'll post a picture of whatever I make no matter how it turns out when the last class is done.

Kate, if you go to the shop, it is right across from Home Depot and Petsmart in the Sherwinn Williams plaza... kind of a whole in the wall type place.

Many classes are about making a specific quilt and with your day & time constraints it may beimpossible to find anything else. There are some good teachers out there, although a lot of them are simply qs owners or good quilters, not professional teachers. Keep shopping for a class about theory and technique - even if it isn't on a Tuesday it may be worth a vacation day to you.

In the meantime there are a couple books you might want to look at. I like Better Homes & Gardens basic quilting book - it covers all the basics and I still go back to it for answers. McCalls also has a beginning to quilt book thats excellent. And for color theory I would highly recommend Jinny Beyer's book on color, called Color Confidence.

Hope that helps!
And I hope next week's class is better for you and for the teacher.

Kate

Here is a link that might be useful: Complete Guide to Quilting

I had to chuckle about the GPS! Told DH....he chuckled, too. Maybe us Floridians could get together at a hotel/motel for a week-end mid-point (wherever that is), have a sew-along and help you with whatever you need. That would be fun, yes?

SharonG/FL

I'm sorry your class didn't cover some of the basics.

At the risk of sounding redundant, I think you should check out the on line "starting from scratch" class at Quilt University. I tend to learn by watching, but I've been amazed and impressed at how good these instructors are at explaining and showing pictures using the internet. Also, you end up getting a lot of personal attention and you don't have to worry about catching up or waiting around while the instructor is helping others.

Here is the description of the class: Have you wanted to learn to quilt but were daunted by long supply lists? Are you lost when the instructions tell you to buy 2 lights, 2 mediums and 2 darks? This class is for you! It is a soup-to-nuts approach to quilting for the absolute beginner. Carol will teach you how to buy your tools, how to select your fabric, which patterns to use and how to size them. The class is geared toward quilt making with a rotary cutter and a sewing machine, but some hand piecing instruction will be included and much of the information is the same for either method. You will learn the basic square, half square, flying geese, and quick-pieced 4-patch units. Students will then make a medium square or a lap quilt, using the two basic blocks learned in class. Variations will be included. Instructions will take you through the batting, hand quilting and binding. You CAN learn to quilt! Six Lessons. There will be an extra week between Lessons Four and Five, so you will have time to complete your blocks.

As a teacher I am dismayed & furious (yes, I'm a redhead!lol) that your first class went so badly - I stopped counting at 20 all the mistakes your 'teacher' made. Sounds like she may have been the owner or employee of the shop, but I'd stop short calling her a teacher. Keep looking & asking around - not kowing where you are, not sure what your options are - but the previous online suggestions & books will help - altho nothing like in- person-hands-on to really get it. I'm so sorry things went as they did - but don't be discouraged - quilting is SO worth sticking with!!

What a bum first experience. I think you drew the bad teacher. Don't give up. There are other ways to learn. I think Sharon is right. We need a "retreat" in Florida central to all of you. Sharon, Gwen, Kate and many others are there and we should get together and help out. Hmmmmm.

please tell us that you'll open up to those of us with GPS's willing to drive & are wanting to be where it's warm!!! lol! (not to mention a chance to meet you all!)

Thanks everyone. I'm glad that I wasn't misinterpreting what happened... it just didn't feel right to me. Maybe books and online classes are the way to go.

A sew along sounds fun... I've been an active member of the cooking forum here for years and have been to a get together and met several members and it was a total blast. There isn't one specific thing I need help with though... I just wanted to learn the basics! I felt like the teacher was "giving me a fish" rather than "teaching me to fish" to use a cliche.

I thought of a couple more things about the class last night... There were several kinds of fabrics there. Some of them had white obvious selvages and others had selvages that were hard to find and were the same color as the fabric. The teacher was talking about my fabric selections and said she'd never had mixed and match those two kinds of fabrics (she said the name, but I forgot), but that was just her. She didn't tell us not to do that or even what the difference was! Then when I was putting the post it tags on my cut stacks, I asked her where the pins were. She said not to pin the labels to the stacks because I would just be adding more. I didn't. Then she got hot and flipped on all ceiling fans. I was chasing my labels around the room for 20 minutes. I found the pins and used them without her permission after that. I only hope I didn't moon anyone while I was crawling under the cutting tables after my labels.

Even though your experience was less the what you should have expected treat it as a learning experience for you did learn a number of important lessons even if some of them were on the negitive side. If you return to the next class perhaps you could tell the teacher that you were disappointed the last time and explain why. She might like to learn too. Fon and Porter also have a very good book on the basics. Jayne

I think driving for 2 hours in that rain would have had me stressed out before I made it to class!
Some quilt shops are not really interested in whether you learn to quilt or not, just want to sell the fabric. Don't get discouraged there are many Net videos and books to help you learn.
Is this what you are making????
Rosa

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:2032176}}

Well, teaching is definitely a gift that not everyone is blessed with! I know that from my own limited experience attempting to teach anything. For me it's really hard when I have done something for a long time to go back and try to remember the very first steps!

That said, your teacher should be able to recognize that in herself and should delegate the teaching part to someone else.

Every class I have ever attended had people working at different paces. Sometimes they say you should have certain skills before you come to class, and there is inevitably one or more people who have no clue at all, which is frustrating for the ones who came to learn what the class is teaching. Some teachers will wait for everyone to finish a step, and some will try to make sure everyone understands the step and go on to the next one. But everyone works at their own pace.

I hope the 2nd class goes better. Maybe you could let her know you feel like you're not learning what you thought you would.

Donna

Rosa, yes that is what we're making. I did a little homework last night. No paper and pencil were involved. I thought my machine came with a 1/4th inch foot,but it didn't. It came with the seam guide foot and walking foot but not 1/4th inch. The one from HSN comes with it, but I got mine from Amazon and it wasn't included. I looked in the book and it said for piecing to select piecing stitch 57 and the machine would set itself so that the needle was 1/4th in from the right edge of the presser foot. It also made the stitch much smaller... I usually use a 2mm stitch, but the programmed stitch was only 1.6mm! So glad I realized that before I started piecing last night. I spent about an hour sewing and now need to press seams and piece the pieced pieces together. It was a little stressful because I was trying to do it perfectly! Before sewing, I read the pattern and it was easy to understand. I wish she'd given us a chance to do that in class!

I think if I were a teacher I would start by helping the students to set their machines up and having them read the pattern right off the bat. Then I'd go into a brief history of quilting and tell why I love it or how long I've done it for. I'd ask them what they are hoping to learn from the class and what their goals were. Then I'd explain the class objectives and basic quilting terms. Then talk a little about fabrics and colors and have them pic the materials. I'd probably bring in some brownies and punch or something too if it was a long class. I'm sure it's not easy to run a quilt shop and teach though so I don't want to pick her apart too much but I do think that there are better ways.