I have never taken quilt classes as I learned from my Mother and Grandmother when I was 7 years old. I wasn't allowed to cut blocks but did a lot of hand sewing of the blocks together. Then came the old Singer tredal sewing machine and it was the best machine for sewing quilts together and that is when I started makeing quilts and sewing my own clothes. Got good exercise while sewing....heheheh! The sewing machine is still in the family and we pass it back and forth. I do have new Baby lock sewing machine and not real happy with it.