Originally Posted by feline fanatic

YES! A Notion to Quilt in Shelburne Falls offers classes and rental time on their HQ machine. I took the class and it was really great because there were only two of us there so we got loads of hands on time and could get really close to see what was what. We learned how to load back, batting and top on the rack. He didn't really give us any instruction on tension issues as they set the machine up for you and if you rent time they are always there to help with tension. Same with threading the machine and changing a bobbin. For LA he let us FMQ, follow a preprinted design with the laser light and use "groovy boards" which are kind of like pantos only instead of paper and laser light you are using a board with the design routed into the board and guided by a stylus that sits in the groove. Below is a link to their website, they are a very nice quilt shop with a lovely selection of fabrics. I found the class to be an excellent first exposure to LAing. You have to take their class before they allow you to rent time on the machine. They offer the class a couple of times a month.

http://www.anotiontoquilt.com/