I walked right into it. I wanted to go a class, just a one night quick thing or so I thought. I had 3 hrs to learn what I wanted to learn so didn't think it would matter if I showed up a little late. I've only been to a few classes and the ones I've gone to before didn't require much so I didn't take much. Took enough precut pieces (barely) no thread, no seam ripper. I mean, if I have someone instructing me I shouldn't have to rip anything out...right? Wrong and I didn't even do the ripping out right. I grabbed my most abused rotary cutter because it was the only one I could find. Some of my pins had a little rust but when I said most of my pins were on other quilts I'm working on, she seemed disturbed and said "more than 1"? I am grateful she didn't have my address to check out my quilts or I would be in serious trouble. I left feeling very inadequate and as soon as I got home, I started organizing my needles and pins for the 1st time ever. Anyway, she did say something I can use against her if necessary. I would love to make this quilt be perfect so I could take it back to her and prove I'm nor completely inept but I think we all know that probably won't be happening anytime soon.

please don't give up on quilting!

Thanks, Crafty Bear, won't give up on quilting but maybe classes!

you should have been given a supply list when you signed up for the class. the fault is the instructers not yours.

Don't stress. I have been to classes like this before. I used to take classes before my DH passed. There was a teacher that made you feel like you just never quite did it correctly. I remember when I took one class I was astonished when she said my fabric color choices were perfect. I nearly fell off of my chair. I didn't stress, it was just her teaching style and you definitely learned a lot. (It took me days and several stores to find all of the fabrics that would go together.)

When I was teaching classes, I usually had extra supplies just in case. I also gave a supply list that students received when they registered for the classes. Because of the classes I had taken that were pretty high stress, I always made my classes very relaxed.

I have had some nightmare classes as well. It is unfortunate that people like this are considered teachers. My worst one was the shop owner! Guess who stopped spending money there!

I always have multiple quilts going at once. Not all teachers should teach, hang in there.

Dear Lynn,
I've taken a class from this lady!I have a special name for her. It's just not worth it! Find a friend and make your own quilt class. Then you can enjoy the wine too! It makes me so mad when I pay my hard earned money and end up being with these sorts. Give me a call so we can quilt together!

There's where you lost me. It always matters when people show up late. The class was being held on a timetable and there were others involved.

Maybe I'm missing the point.

Lynn, maybe you weren't there early, with shiny new pins, lots of thread, a seam ripper, and plenty of practice fabric, but you did pay for the class and show up. I think the instructor should consider his or her objective to be helping each person in class achieve their own objectives, regardless of where they are starting from. It shouldn't be the instructor's job to criticize your preparedness or arrival time, (after all, you are a grown-up, not a fifth grader!) ...just deliver the class content as best she can.
I hope you don't bear a grudge as it won't help you have fun with that quilt.
I hope you can put her criticism in your mental wastebasket and DONT GO BACK THERE TO GET MORE!
:) :) :) :) :)

Just keep telling yourself: "No one can make you feel inadequate without your permission." Make it your mantra, primarily because it's true. The one who was inadequate was the instructor, and I know because I've been an instructor many, many times.

In order to give a good class, you have to have a well organized plan. That means that if people need supplies, the instructor needs to inform them of this via a supply list. She should also have back up supplies, and not just dull rotary blades, and the like. That's demeaning, and it's meant to be. "Come late or unprepared, and you get the dregs of what may be left." That's just petty.

The class needs to be well organized. You would not have come away feeling disorganized if the class had been well organized, and that falls entirely on the instructor. The instructor needs to be flexible, so someone arriving a little late does not disrupt the flow of the class. I always had people arriving late, and I'd pair them up with someone, or a couple of people, who had been on time, so they could catch them up.

The truth is, you had an instructor who may have had excellent knowledge and skills, but no clue as to how to get them across properly to her students. She was inadequate. And because it's hard for you to believe that she could be inadequate, you are taking the inadequacy upon yourself. Stop it already! I'm sure you are a wonderful quilter. And please don't let this stop you from going to future classes. But do yourself a favor next time. Go prepared, just in case.

Warmest Regards,

so, it sounds like you didn't start out really on the right foot-
showing up late is never really acceptable- the students who were there a few minutes early- had time to get in their space-and organized certainly do not appreciate having to wait on someone who doesn't care enough to show up on time-
so off to a bad start-
as for not being prepared- did you receive a supply list when you signed up for the class? should have-
if you are going to spend money on classes why not go on time and be prepared? then the class will be much more enjoyable for everyone- including you- and you will learn lots.
some shops do have problems with classes- instructors who are not that great- but if you are going to pay for the class it makes sense to go ready for the class-
then if the instructor doesn't teach you anything you could go to the owner and voice your complaints- when the problem is you- well you have no one to complain to-except maybe your mirror.
you should not give up on taking classes because of this one experience- you should learn something from it - go to classes on time- and prepared-
and perhaps check with others about instructors who is great to learn from- who is ...not so much-

Wow. I'm so sorry that you were treated that way. I would not give up on classes - but not take another from that person that's for sure. There are others out there...

Some people just think they are at a higher level than others. If only they realized that people are people and unless she's the Queen of England (and even then she should be bred well enough to know better) she shouldn't treat someone like that. I'm so sorry :'(

Guess I read this differently than most. I read this as describing every teacher's nightmare - the student who arrives late and distrubs the rhythm of the class; not prepared with supplies needed and with a negative attitude that she won't learn anything.....In a 3 hr class I don't have time to deal with a situation such as this. There are x number of other students who did come excited, well prepared and well in time to allow the class to start on time. If the student had taken a class from the teacher described and didn't learn anything perhaps she should'nt sign up again.
My point is defending the teacher....the only thing said above was

"she seemed disturbed and said "more than 1"? What would you have said. Now the statement about "having something against her", doesn't give any definitive info so we don't know what was said.

I read this as a self confession and a reminder to the rest of us to: arrive on time and prepared with supplies required and with a positive attitude.

and one more point.....we teachers are not the quilt police we are learned instructors , considerate and respectful guides of the craft you love.

I'm not sure I understand the meaning of the post. Will someone enlighten us

Yep, +1. Didn't even have to read the rest.

Wow, cool #'s:

sinceresissy
Joined: Jan 11, 11
Messages: 111

I agree with Holice and ckcowl. I see this as a lesson to be learned for better experiences in the future. When I sign up for a class at my LQS they immediately hand me the info & requirements sheet, or if signing up by phone or email they email it to me.If someone forgets I ask for it as I plan to be prepared to get the most for my money. They clearly request you arrive at least 10 minutes before class to set up, earlier if you feel you'll need more time. As to being adult and "not a 5th grader" how do we require punctuality and manners in a child, but not us as adults?

Holice, I agree with you. I don't see any QP lurking in the original poster's story...

Showing up late and with an attitude is always disrespectful, your disappointment, in my opinion is your fault.

Agree

I use to take things to heart, and I ended up with very low self worth. Over the years I have learned not to let other people control my emotions. You control your emotions, not someone else. Now I feel sorry for people with the kind of attitude you described. I can only think of how unhappy they must be, but I do not allow them to pull me into their place.

:thumbup:

well, i'm very sorry to say so but i'm afraid i must agree with those who cannot see the situation from your own point of view.

Learning will nearly always result in mistakes - no matter who is teaching or who is learning. So, to have not taken a seam ripper or stitch picker along was not a wise choice. That choice was apparently based on an unfair and realistic expectation which you imposed on the teacher.

Unless I was specifically advised in advance that i should not bring pins, i would automatically take those along, also. (I happen to be a "pinner". If i was sufficiently skilled to never need pins, then i would have chosen accordingly.)

I think it's more realistic and practical to arrive on time for a class and to arrive with extra supplies in case i make mistakes from which i cannot recover easily or quickly. That's what is most practical for my own needs and more courteous to the instructor and other students.

But she didn't say she did not receive the supply list.

I totally agree, and had it been me, I would have said... "Gee, I would have brought all those things, had I been given a supply list like most instructors give".

Live and learn. Perhaps you got something out of the class after all ;-)

Don't give up on classes.

There are a lot of online classes...I'm going to check out that Quilt University, I think it's called. I'm taking a new job and won't always have complete control over my schedule. Stuff happens. It's a pain for the teacher, too. Not defending how she handled it, but just let it go and learn from it. Takes awhile to get organized and know what to bring. Hang in there!!

Seriously??!! YIKES!

You went to class late with no reason other than you thouight there was enough time to learn what you wanted. What about the rest of the class? If I'd paid to attend and somebody arrived late, honestly, I'd be annoyed that we'd have to wait while that person set up and got caught up.

Other classes didn't require much so you didn't take much. You should have been given a supply list, but if you weren't, you might have inquired what was needed. Depending on the expected outcome of the class, materials needed vary widely.

You took "barely" enough pieces (which makes me think there must have been some kind of required materials list), no thread and no seam ripper. Did you think you wouldn't need thread? As far as the seam ripper, none of us WANT to use them, but it's kind of a necessary evil. Even the most accomplished quilter makes mistakes.

You took rusty pins and an "abused" rotary cutter. How either of those would help one who is learning a new method/pattern/whatever is beyond me. I wouldn't use them at home, much less when I wanted to do something new.

But the most disturbing thing to me is the last line: She said something you can use against her?

If you had indicated that the instructor was hyper critical of everyone, put down people's color choices, didn't listen to legitimate questions, or was otherwise rude to the students, I would be inclined to agree that you had run into a member of the quilt police. From what you've said, though, I don't think that is the case.

I hope that somehow quilting will help you see the positive in situations, whether at home or in a class. Maybe you can look at where you started and what your work looks like now and think, "Wow, look how much I've improved!" Or if you can settle yourself and sew for a while and realize how much better you feel after, you'll know how calming an enjoyable hobby can be. Better still, if you give a gift that the recipient loves, whether it's perfect or not, because it was made and given from the heart, you'll know why most folks have taken this addictive interest up.

Peace and Joy,
Robin

So you showed up late and ill prepared and blame the teacher?

It's always difficult to feel adequate next to people that are prepared.

Reach behind you, pull the handle and FLUSH that experience and move on. Don't waste your good brain cells and energy on that one!

The way I look at it is you didn't mesh with the teacher just don't take a class with her again there are lots f other quilting teachers out there .... you can even find people to teach you individually....

Sorry about your experience but I'm inclined to read your complaint as someone who thinks oh well, I'm entitled to be late, not have supplies, not putting any thought to the class, and have excuse after excuse to why, and then get upset because you weren't patted on the back and having your inadequacy seen as cute. I dread having a class member like this in my community quilting workshops and have been frustrated with them but keeping my desire to tell them to please leave not said.

As a past quilt teacher, I can let you know that it is disruptive to a class for students to show up late. And without proper supplies. But, a good teacher will try to let you feel like it is ok anyway. I always tried to have supplies available in case a student forgot something.

Hope that you will try another class sometime, but try to be there on time, and with all necessary supplies....you probably will feel better after that class.

I sincerely hope that the original poster was writing tongue-in-cheek. But I'm afraid she wasn't...

By her own admission, she decided what time to arrive and what to bring. Uh, what happened to preparing a little in advance and being polite enough to arrive in a timely manner?

She admits to bringing the minimum of equipment, and not particularly well-maintained tools, either...

Then she wonders why the teacher takes her for an uncaring dilettante? And she complains about the teacher's attitude??? Wow.

Sorry to sound harsh, but I honestly don't think the teacher is to blame here.

I am deleting my comments entirely... looking at more posts I see both points of view and realize I walked into a storm (backs quietly out of the room, whimpering in fear...)

I think the replies are spot on - both those who were 'pro' student and 'pro' instructor.

I took a class about 35 years ago and HATED quilting when I was finished. Really, really hated it. Said I'd never do it again all because of the instructor. There was no pleasing her.

Thank God for the internet and good friends...

I hope your post was tongue-in-cheek, if not, no sympathy from me!

I have seam rippers all over my house....yes, I am that good!! lol

Just a testament to how much ripping I do...sigh. I shall not give up though! lol