Welcome, welcome! Your enthusiasm is contagious! You will enjoy a retreat much more after you have learned the basics . A class teacher will break down the steps into manageable parts, answer all your questions because you’re a paying student, after all, and you can work on your first project as homework.
A retreat is generally an event that participants plan in advance to sew their own projects without the interruptions of home and work life. Quilters are more than happy to give advice, answer questions periodically and show their way of doing things when asked. But what they’re paying for is usually a weekend to concentrate on sewing and, when not, then relaxing. That’s not to say there aren’t teaching ones —there are— but More likely they are for folks who know the basics and want to learn a specific technique. I have never been on a quilting retreat but hope to, someday.