Free is nice. But somehow the person teaching needs an income to live on. If they don't charge for the Tute, they get an income some other way. A laborer is worthy of a wage.
I'm retired with a fixed income that needs to be supplemented. I love quilting and my work is worthy of a wage.
Some shops in my area dictate the fee for classes and 75% are for beginners. I kept looking around with my portfolio until I found a shop willing to charge more for intermediate and advance classes.