On line quilting classes
 

I am considering talking a on line quilting classes at Craftsy.com. Have any of you taken on-line classes with them or any other places. What was your experence? Was it worth the money? Was it hard to follow the directions?

Janie

i have viewed many you-tube tutorials, but have not taken any classes. i, too would like to know if anyone has done it and had success. we'll see who answers!

I have taken the Quilting Quickly courses taught by Jenny Doan From Missouri Star Quilt on Craftsy. I also signed up for the machine quilting course but I found out that this is for those of us who Free motion quilt on a domestic sewing machine. The ones taught by Jenny are very informative and she makes it fun. But on the other hand , if you just want a quick tutorial, go to their website or You tube and get them free!

I have signed up for two different classes the past month and have been to busy to do anything but pay for them! The good thing is it is always on there so can go back and do it later.

I have only done the 'free' ones on u tube, but please let us know if it is worth the money.

I signed up for one on Craftsy at the first of the month, but haven't had time to take mine either...just pay for it. Right now my machine is still in the shop being serviced, so when I get it back, I am hoping to put this class to good use. It's on FMQing, of which I am not very good,so I am hoping to improve my skills there. I guess we'll see if I get my money's worth in the new year.

I have signed up for the Quilting Quickly classes by Jennie Doan (excellent teacher). I have the first class for beginners, very easy to follow and great info and just bought the Quilting Quickly II because it was only $19.99, half price. I recommend them. Once you buy them you can assess them anytime, no time limit.

I got the Crafsty class on fmq. I can't think of the name of who does it, but I go back to it all the time. I buy them when they are on sale. She also has a pictorial class I bought I have watched it, but not tried to make one yet.

I won a class from Craftsy at a craft show but, have yet to do it. I keep saying,"One of these days" I need to put this on the to do list and soon...

I just bought three of the classes this week on sale for $19.99 each. I know but it's just money, right?
I got the Stupendous Stitching, Quilting Quickly and Paper Piecing. I just looked at the beginning of the Stupendous Stitching last night. It looks good. I have to make sure I have all the materials to begin. But it looks like it should be good; at least at those prices. I wouldn't pay full price for them no matter how good they might be.

Another terrific site for online classes is Quilt University. Now in their 11th year, they even have a free sample class (borders) that you can try so you can test the format. http://www.quiltuniversity.com/index.html
Their class catalog. http://www.quiltuniversity.com/catalog.htm

I have taken online classes at Quilt University a few times; they do classes that "meet" once a week for several weeks depending on the class.

The good: the instruction has been very good on the classes I have taken. A new post with instructions and pictures goes up once a week with a step to carry out at home, and there is a discussion forum for chatting about your work. You send in photos of your progress; they are posted in a class webpage open to all the students. The teacher comments on your photos, answers questions and works with you on problems you're having. The weekly posts can be saved to your computer; they stay up on the website for a while after the class ends. I very much enjoyed the class on designing Hawaiian applique and treasure the quilt I made for it.

The bad: I signed up for a couple of classes (you sign up and pay in advance) and when they started I was just in a bad time or headspace for doing the class. There's no penalty for just reading along without participating, but I felt I'd wasted my money.

I'd sign up with them again if it was a class I really wanted to learn, scheduled at a time when I knew I'd be free to participate fully and get maximum value out of it. They also have a forum for student chat which is open to everyone, though it's a bit kludgy (threaded posts in one huge forum last time I looked.)

p.s. Ghostrider: great minds think alike, and post at the same time, too! ;)

I signed up for one on FMQ and love it. Lots of tips to help me out.

I too would recommend Quilt University.

I took a quick look. They have a money back guarantee. I'd give it a shot especially since you can get for less right now. The only problem I've had with online classes is that you have to stress to family members that this is CLASS TIME that you have PAID FOR. In fact, I may sign up for Judy Martin's class on quick strip paper piecing since I am paper piecing deficient.

My primary disadvantage for this class is that my computer is on a different floor. Fortunately, I do have a Netbook and home Wi Fi. An advantage is that the Craftsy class appears to be better geared towards 'work at your own pace' rather than completely something week by week (which, I know, is hard for some people - life gets in the way).

Thanks for this thread. I was looking at them too.

I signed up for paperpiecing with Craftsy a couple of weeks ago.(Of course not for the 19.99 special they have now).
I only looked at the first lesson, but it seems quite good. This is my first on line class and as a matter of fact, I don't take many classes at quiltshops either. I took this one, because it does not expire, you can go on your own pace and I love to paperpiece, so hopefully I learn something new again. I noticed also that you can ask questions and read other students' comments as well. Also you can use your scrap material, if you don't know if you like the pattern in a particular lesson.

I've taken the several of the classes and was able to purchase them on sale for $19.99. I especially like the Stupendous Stitching class. The best part of the classes are that you can watch them at your on pace 24/7 and if you not satisfied you can get your money back. The instructors are great.

here's another yea-sayer for QuiltUniversity.com I have taken many classes and have found the ones I've actually done the work for great.

I didn't see the sale price when i looked. Is it over now?

I took Karen Combs "More Patchwork Illusions" at Quilt University last Spring. It was a good way for me to learn. We would be given a bit of information each week for six weeks. We did homework and "chatted" with other students and the teacher. I liked the results. Attached are a few of the blocks that I made.

I signed up for the FMQ too! Merry Christmas to me from me! I'd like to compare notes with others who are taking or have taken it, so PM me if you'd like to too. I figured since I don't make tops, I need to be able to quilt better so $20 investment is not bad. I've watched a few of the class/videos, but it hasn't wow'ed me yet. But I fell asleep twice (not because it was boring, but because I was just so darned sleepy) so I'm so glad I get to go back and watch everything again. I know there are videos for free on you tube, and I love most of them too. But I wanted something I could watch from rooter to tooter which is what a newbie like myself needs! I wanted it all in one, easy to access place. For specific things that can be shown in 10 minutes, You Tube might be the best. I fell in love with machine quilting when I accidently found Leah Day on You Tube and I watch the ones from Missouri Quilt all the time.
knlsmith, you have to be a member to see the sales price. I sent the link to my husband and he gulped and said, "If that's what you want" and I said, "Well, it's only $20, and it usually goes on sale for $25 or more" and he said, "Oh, it says $60" LOL! I don't have the flexibility to take a class at the shops, and I love the fact that I can ask questions and replay things as much as I want to for the rest of my life. I hope they come out with one for using a frame too.

I signed up for the FMQ and gave it to 2 friends as gifts. I also just signed up for quilting quickly. I did have an issue with one of my friends not getting the link (a computer mishap) and the customer service was wonderful and she got her course the next day. I like that everything is in 1 place and I don't need to search a bunch of stuff on you tube. I also have a laptop and it's great to take the laptop to the sewing machine and watch and pause and do. There have been lots of sales (maybe just for the holidays) so I would wait for the next one to come along.

I've been taking a quilting course via craftsy and enjoying it very much. I can go back and watch something again, ask questions and get an answer, etc. The instructor is Wendy Butler Berns, and very "human."

I am taking 2 classes! I have a friend that took on line classes and loved them. I figure at the price you cant go wrong.

On the FMQ course, in the first or second video, there is a sampler quilt hanging in the background. Did anyone notice that one of the pinwheels was wrong? I know she starts quilting this quilt later in the class, so I hope she fixed this!

I have taken a few via Quilt university! Let me say that while the classes are great, finding the time to commit to them is NOT easy! I never did get to finish my natural dyeing class last summer...life just got FULL way too quick!

I thought I recognized those blocks/patterns. I took a class with Karen back in 2000! LOVE her stuff..she is just great! YOur blocks are stunning...way to go!

I have been tempted to take the classes by Jenny Doan because I love her tutorials so much. I hate to admit it, but, I don't know how they work. Do you get discs? Are they online? How do you interact with her about them?

Wishing for time to sew!

I've enrolled in several classes through Craftsy... love the classes and their website, which is extremely easy to use. Like someone mentioned above (forgot who!), I only sign up for the classes when they run a sale; I have never paid full-price. It's easy to get yourself on their mailing list so that you receive the special offers when they run. I'm a member of the Quilter's Club of America and get lots of great offers through them also.

For Stitchlady - Yes, the classes are entirely online (you do not get a disc, nor can they be downloaded for offline viewing). They are in "chapters" so you can watch as little or as much as you want at one time. The website remembers where you left off, and it will take you right back there - very nice feature. You can interact with the instructor and other students through a message-board-like setup. There's a place to post pictures of your completed projects also. The Jenny Doan classes are WELL worth the money. She's a pretty awesome teacher!

If you need to know anything else, just post and I'll try to answer.

I have signed up and completed both of the Quilting quickly classes by Jennie Doan and felt that both were well worth the money. I can refer to them any time. She uses the pre-cuts and specialty rulers but what you learn you can adapt to your own ideas and supplies. That said, I've ordered one of her templates and some charm packs to make a table runner because it will be so much quicker to make! Have also signed up for the FMQ class by Wendy Butler Burns to give me the confidence to try it on my Janome 6600. That's my challenge for 2012. Am about half way thru that class and have been pleased with the info I've gotten. Also, besides owning the class, you can submit questions and usually get an answer by the next day.

i have thought about it but i am afraid i will sign up and not have the time

I am terrible at taking on line classes ~ Quilting or otherwise. I get too distracted by whats going on around me and end up not following through. I am a hands on person and can go somewhere to take classes all day long. The funny thing is..I like watching You Tube and learning. I think my problem is..I know more than I think I do and get bored with the details..but it is the details that make the classes. I guess for me I need to chance my way of thinking and just slow down. I have seen a few classes on Crafty that sparked an interest. =)

With Craftsy, there it is money-back if it's not for you.
But it looks like the $20 special is over for now :(

I have signed up for several quilt related classes on Craftsy, and I love them. The first I signed up for was $19.99 and the others were $19.99 with a buy one get one free special during December. I think if you join their web site they will begin to send you information when they run specials. I find the videos well done and I love that I can add my own personal notes (or bookmarks) any time I like during a video. It helps me find a technique I would like to remember.

The Sew-Cal-Gal blog is running a FMQ challenge this year, with an emphasis on improving FMQ. It is not an 'online' class but tutorials. It could be helpful though. Here is the link http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/p/free...challenge.html

I have bought both of Jenny Doan's on Craftsy for half price and I loved them. Play them over all the time. Made three quilts that she made. I also purchased the Free Motion Quilting class but have not tried it yet. Her price was cheap so I bought it.

I have done the quilting Quickly classes with Jenny . I thought they were well done. I really like the fact that you can access them any time forever.

FMQ with Craftsy
 

I've recently purchased this machine quilting class with Wendy Butler Berns and it is very informative, you can also put the video on pause and there is a place to take notes, when you write a point down it marks the time on the video, so if you want to go back and access that part of the instruction later you can. Also, there is a box to ask questions or make comments, you just have to watch when you are taking notes that the Ask a question box hasn't popped up or your note-taking will appear in the question panel! I have to purchase a walking foot, she does some designs with it before you get into the darning foot and FMQ. I'm enjoying it and there is a wealth of information there, plus a glossary of quilting terms. She is demonstrating while she is explaining so you get the visual as well as the auditory instruction. The lessons are in chapters and there is a menu. They also answer the questions in a timely manner and there are other students that can respond to your inquiry too.