"I was taught to . . . . "
How much of what you first learned in quilting still works for you?
How far off that original track have you been willing to go?
Does what your first teacher/instructor said tend to be what you automatically do?
I did know how to do some sewing when I took my first quilting class - which was mainly learning how to piece by hand.
Overall, I think think the instructor did a good job. I still do a lot of the things the way she taught them. We ran out of time before we got to the quilting and binding part. I learned that from a book.
Some of the things I do remember: (This was probably early 1990's - don't remember exactly when)
How to tie a quilter's knot - very handy -
We used template plastic for our patterns - or we used hers.
Coats & Clark Dual Duty (cotton covered polyester) was what she recommended for sewing
How to hand piece - technique very similar to Jinny Beyer's -
I find it useful to hand-piece a tricky block - especially when I don't know how I might want to press it after it is finished.
I don't remember rotary cutters. i do remember tracing her templates to use for our blocks. Trace ON the line - not around the line!