Originally Posted by
Wonnie
If I spend $40.00 and up for a class plus, anywhere from $100 to $150 for fabric or supplies, is it not reasonable for me to expect that in addition to learning how to make the quilt, picture, basket, etc. that I would have a usable object when I was finished? I have run into this with all kind of classes actually....quilting, stained glass, basketry, etc. Either the instructor spends all of her time with one student, with one of her friends who is, also, taking the class, has a lackadaisical attitude or who is primarily only interested in the money they took in initially for the class. Anyone else experienced this? I feel smaller projects should be chosen that requiring minimal supplies to teach the basics that will result in a completed project you can be proud of and which stimulates your desire to learn more. What say you?
My thought is this....you take a class to learn to do something. If, at the end of the class, you have the confidence to take what you have learned and finish at home...then your class was a success. If, however, you don't feel like you were taught or the instructor spent too much time talking/fixing someone's machine/etc., then I would ask for another class free of charge. If you want a small project to take with you, then I would ask the shop up front. Will I finish this in class? In some cases, it is reasonable to expect to finish. Unfortunately, in some...it is not. When we did classes at my shop, if I felt we didn't accomplish enough or got sidetracked...I offered another class free of charge just for those ladies and we would finish up. I never left anyone in a lurch. Sometimes an entire class can divert you from the original topic...i.e. I had a piecing class that all of a sudden wanted a color tutorial. We took the class out into the shop, played with fabric and color...and ended up scheduling a second class. I wasn't comfortable with how much we had gotten done, because it took about an hour out of the class. The big thing is communication. Ask when you sign up....