I started out self taught from books. But because I always wonder if I am understanding directions correctly I took a beginners quilting class at Jo Anns after I had been into it for a couple of months. Turns out I was the star pupil in that class so I guess I understood the directions correctly. We made 4 blocks in that class from a beginning quilt making book. I went on to complete the entire quilt which was my first. Since then I have taken classes/workshops on specific techniques like paper piecing and machine quilting and one to make a type of pine tree block. I also took a long arm class. No class ever cost me more then $30 or $40. I'd say the paper peicing class was the best money spent. Don't think I would have quite figured that one out without some hands on instruction.