I hadn't taken a class in many years, I highly recommend them though. Money has been tight and I can usually figure out how to do what I want without taking a class. This past week my DH and I got to go to Hawaii with my sister and BIL, they have a timeshare, so we got free lodging (yay!) Every Saturday morning at the Iolani palace in Honolulu there is a Hawaiian applique and quilting class for $6.00, it was great!! I have always done freezer paper applique, was afraid of needleturn. So far it is going really well.