Taking Classes / Survey

[Pam D.]

Newbies and Seasoned Quilters alike:

What kind of classes would you be willing to take from your local quilt shop?

This is an ongoing conversation I have had several quilt shop owner who are taking classes (non- sewing) with me. In our after class dinner meeting at the snack shop we have been talking about what quilting classes are working and what do not get filled. So we are throwing it out to the INTERNET…….
If you have the opportunity to take classes what class would you like to take with your friends…. What classes would you need to make your quilting projects turn out better? I am listing some classes but if you can think of other things I have missed, things you want to learn, please, add them to the list. (BTW, pretend you have no other considerations such as baby sitting, hungry husbands, and the class is a time convenient to you… that will come up in following survey.)
Thank you for answering in advance:
Classes:
Project classes where I make a quilt from start to finish.
Traditional pattern/ styles
Art Quilts / Landscape Quilts / Mixed Media
Pattern specific projects
BLOCK of the Months …… Improve you piecing techniques, skill builder type class.
Purse and tote classes with and without zippers, closure items.
Small projects: table toppers, runners, wall hangings
Quilted Clothing
Fabric Projects ….


Technique Classes:
Learn the basics of cutting, piecing, pressing …... beginning new skills, simple blocks advancing to triangles and more complex techniques.
Quick Quilting Techniques and Organization … strip piecing,
Precision Piecing….. Learning advance techniques, further skill building. Advance techniques: Y seams, partial piecing….. Others____________________________________________ _
Paper / foundation piecing….
Working with Circles and Curved Piecing
Applique by machine.
Applique by hand.
Hand Quilting: Traditional or……………. Modern Style/ Big Stitch or Embellished
Embroidery or Stitched blocks… embellishments
Domestic Machine Quilting
Quilt as YOU Go Methods

I tried to be inclusive, but, are there any other techniques you would like to learn? What makes you take a class? What holds you back from taking classes? What hours and length of class would you like to take?


.

[Paula D.]

How does one answer that? If you want to learn a technique, take that technique class. But I find it most enlightening to take a class from a renown quilt artist, because it's often the "extra stuff on the side" that I like to hear.

[Nancy R.]

I guess, like PDQuilt, I'm interested in learning from the "stars" of our industry. When I get a chance to go to a quilt show, I sign up for as many classes as I can fit in without destroying myself or missing out on the quilts and vendors. I glance through the classes at my LQS to see if there is anything of interest, but at this point in my quilting I'm looking for new techniques that might pique my interest at that moment, so I don't attend many local classes anymore. I instead read a lot of books and use the internet. But if, for example, there were a class on pictorial quilts offered locally and the schedule worked for me, I would sign up because I have a quilt of my dog in my head that will be wanting to come out sometime soon.

I do recommend that my friends who are beginning their quilting adventures sign up for classes. Especially classes in beginning free motion quilting since that seems to be the scariest part for my friends. I think that learning opportunities are important and I try to support them, but I think you also get to the point where what you are interested in learning become subjects that local quilt shops can't teach because the local demand is so low.

Nancy

[Jill B.]

I guess, like PDQuilt, I'm interested in learning from the "stars" of our industry. When I get a chance to go to a quilt show, I sign up for as many classes as I can fit in without destroying myself or missing out on the quilts and vendors. I glance through the classes at my LQS to see if there is anything of interest, but at this point in my quilting I'm looking for new techniques that might pique my interest at that moment, so I don't attend many local classes anymore. I instead read a lot of books and use the internet. But if, for example, there were a class on pictorial quilts offered locally and the schedule worked for me, I would sign up because I have a quilt of my dog in my head that will be wanting to come out sometime soon.

I do recommend that my friends who are beginning their quilting adventures sign up for classes. Especially classes in beginning free motion quilting since that seems to be the scariest part for my friends. I think that learning opportunities are important and I try to support them, but I think you also get to the point where what you are interested in learning become subjects that local quilt shops can't teach because the local demand is so low.

Nancy

Ditto I agree with you both, I think it depends on the stage you are at in quilting, for me now that I at a certain stage in my patchworking/quilting that I love to see what the experts are doing for that extra stuff on the side that they are doing. Also distance to class is a problem for me as I live about 2 1/2 hours away from a town big enough to have quite a few quilt fabric shops that have varied class's and about 4 hours to Sydney. I love the TQS shows and buy the DVD's so that I can refer back to a show when needed, I will look at the list on the TQS site for what I am looking for.

[Diane F.]

Newbies and Seasoned Quilters alike:

What kind of classes would you be willing to take from your local quilt shop?

This is an ongoing conversation I have had several quilt shop owner who are taking classes (non- sewing) with me. In our after class dinner meeting at the snack shop we have been talking about what quilting classes are working and what do not get filled. So we are throwing it out to the INTERNET…….
If you have the opportunity to take classes what class would you like to take with your friends…. What classes would you need to make your quilting projects turn out better? I am listing some classes but if you can think of other things I have missed, things you want to learn, please, add them to the list. (BTW, pretend you have no other considerations such as baby sitting, hungry husbands, and the class is a time convenient to you… that will come up in following survey.)
Thank you for answering in advance:
Classes:
Project classes where I make a quilt from start to finish.
Traditional pattern/ styles
Art Quilts / Landscape Quilts / Mixed Media
Pattern specific projects
BLOCK of the Months …… Improve you piecing techniques, skill builder type class.
Purse and tote classes with and without zippers, closure items.
Small projects: table toppers, runners, wall hangings
Quilted Clothing
Fabric Projects ….


Technique Classes:
Learn the basics of cutting, piecing, pressing …... beginning new skills, simple blocks advancing to triangles and more complex techniques.
Quick Quilting Techniques and Organization … strip piecing,
Precision Piecing….. Learning advance techniques, further skill building. Advance techniques: Y seams, partial piecing….. Others____________________________________________ _
Paper / foundation piecing….
Working with Circles and Curved Piecing
Applique by machine.
Applique by hand.
Hand Quilting: Traditional or……………. Modern Style/ Big Stitch or Embellished
Embroidery or Stitched blocks… embellishments
Domestic Machine Quilting
Quilt as YOU Go Methods

I tried to be inclusive, but, are there any other techniques you would like to learn? What makes you take a class? What holds you back from taking classes? What hours and length of class would you like to take?


.

Classes:
• Art Quilts / Landscape Quilts / Mixed Media

Technique Classes:
• Precision Piecing….. Learning advance techniques, further skill building. Advanced techniques: Y seams, partial piecing…
• Working with Circles and Curved Piecing – not the “cheater” methods
• Applique by hand – advanced level
• Applique by machine
• Domestic Machine Quilting – free motion (NOT stitch-regulated) esp. related to art quilts


Classes that interest me are usually canceled due to low enrollment. I prefer a class with multiple sessions.

I also want to learn from an instructor who can adapt to multiple learning styles. Just because someone is skilled in a technique, it does not always mean that person is good at transferring that skill to others.