Tartan, I am with you I enjoy taking classes with new techniques I would like to learn and concentrate on what I want to get out of the class. I pay very little attention to how far ahead or behind others are and what their equipment looks like. Don't get involved in the petty things going on around me.

I love my guild, they made me feel so welcome, and they are so nice and I have a lovely time at each meeting and retreat. We have a class each month and can take it or not, we can sit and sew, if that's what we want to do. Some gals bring big fancy machines, some older machines, some smaller machines. (I take one of my 221s) I like taking a class to learn new methods, I do not get things done in a class as it takes me days just to pick out my fabric. but I do not worry about it as long as I am learning some thing, I'm good.

The only sewing class I have attended was given at a local fabric shop many years ago, and I found there as not enough give and take. There was a severe “Do it my way” attitude, and no room for creativity. I am incapable of doing the exact same thing as everyone else. I guess that is what makes me a fabric artist not just a “quilt maker”. There is nothing wrong with being a “quilt maker” but that is not me. If I want exactly what someone else has, I can just pay for something mass produced. That is not, and never has been, my style. I can’t even buy a piece of furniture and use it in the “right” way. I always have to make it mine. I think that may be a feature of my OCD. I much prefer being able to watch a video and pausing as needed to make sure I understand what comes next. I have a real issue with having something exactly like anyone else. (I even wear shoes that have giant orange flowers on a black background, even though I have no orange clothes.) I can accept that people see me as strange, since they said the same things about Eleanor Peace Bailey, she is one of the most influential artists in my world. I liked her philosophy “create what makes you smile”. My whole world makes me smile most of the time. I can’t even hang curtains like everyone else, half of mine are mounted about 12” below the top of the window frame, effectively giving me “skylights” to make the room brighter.

Hi Watson,

I am one of those who will walk around the room and see what others are doing. I need to stretch my legs at least once an hour. I would never touch another quilters work or tools. I may ask a question if the quilter does not look like s/he would mind. I have never done so with a critical eye. I often ask where they bought their fabric, if it is one I have not seen before.

I certainly have no intention of making any one uncomfortable. I will have to rethink this in the future.

I just don't like youtube, the people either talk too fast or too much. I much prefer written patterns and tutorials. But I do have fun in classes, I too like to check out the machines of my classmates, one always brings this huge Bernina, I take my vintage Viking 6430 from the 70's -- I love that machine! I also have a backup machine -- just in case. I did buy a new Janome a couple of years ago, but it sits in its case. I love my vintage machines, most use the same bobbins and feet. I learn so much from classes from the instructors, but mostly from the other students. I have no problem working at my own pace -- it is not a race. However, I have encountered several individuals that are always running a race in everything they do. I prefer to enjoy the process.

Hi, Tothill....like I said, maybe it's just me and everyone else is fine with it. Perhaps it is me who should loosen up and realize that people just want to visit.

Watson

I walked into a local yarn store in a state far away. As a male in a yarn store, I am used to the "Are you looking for your wife?" look. At this particular shop, the "You are in the wrong place" attitude was practically shouted at me.
One of the ladies finally asked, "What project are you working on?' I said, "I don't knit." And three heads nodded (all knowing) Then I went into slam mode. "I spin, what roving do you have?" None. Yea, they can't knit without spinners.

Thankfully most aren't so rude. One shop across the street from the Mayo clinic even had a guys corner with chairs and magazines of interest to non -fiber guys.

You sound just like me! If someone tells me, "There are two ways of doing this...", my very first impulse is to figure out what the third way to do it is!

I usually enjoy classes and don't let a bad actor or two turn me off if I'm having fun otherwise. I've never experienced a truly bad teacher, but I have had some inexperienced teachers that I've seen make mistakes (like not keeping control of the class, or just being so nervous they mess up a lot). I'll give a teacher like that a second try, and have not regretted it in most cases.

I've never heard anybody shun or shame someone for having a 'cheap' machine. I've seen all sorts of machines in classes, but other than some excitement when someone brings in a Featherweight, most people pretty much ignore what their classmates have brought in.

My experiences might be skewed, though - most of the sewing classes I have taken are associated with the local guild, which is a group of very nice people. I think there is a "culture" of friendliness and helpfulness that has been cultivated in the group, so most of my classmates already know each other and are supportive of each others work. I've had a lot of very positive experiences with that group. :)

I think it's okay (and polite) to adapt to "the herd mentality" while taking a class.

The instructor is attempting to convey an idea or technique to several people at one time. It seems to make sense to me to at least try it the instructor's way - for a while, anyway - after all, one paid money to do so.

Change it out or change it up after one gets home.


I do understand wanting to be individual - but - give the instructor a break!

I didn't mean to imply I get too inventive during class. I'm all over the place, but in class I try to be a good citizen and follow along.

Besides, if I don't listen long enough to understand what the first and second way to do things are, I won't know where not to go for discovering my third option!

There ya go! :p

Know what you are saying. I always feel like I am the straggler at guild sew days. Seem to get more done sewing at home.
I have some Orthopedic problems, and carrying the featherweight in and back home don't help at all. When they have them before the night meeting, I am too tired to go to the meeting!
(think that is also known as 'getting old-er!)
mariah

I take only those classes that will teach me a new skill. I have a (fairly) expensive machine that I Never take to class - it's too heavy!! Those who bring their fancy machines struggle to get them in the door, then set up, etc. I'm fairly old and have moved beyond the trying to impress stage, so I focus on what I'm learning instead of those trying to impress me. It's a lot more fun now.

I don't belong to a guild, easier to just make my stuff at home than to drag it all out, plus no time for it.
We don't have anywhere in our town for classes...used to years go, when I learned the basics, classes then, but the classes didn't advance, so I taught myself from youtube, facebook, blogs, books etc...

I used to teach quilting classes at the LQS. I have seen many different machines and many different sewing styles. Please don't compare yourself to what someone else is doing. The class is to help you learn a new technique. Every one learns at a different rate. Just enjoy the day and what you are doing. That is what quilting is all about.

As far as sewing machines go -

I am curious/interested in what other people are using. My "youngest" machine is from the 1980s or 1990s. The only reason I don't take my Singer 237 (a plain jane from the early 1960s - it zigzags, sews straight, has three needle positions, and sews forward and backward) to sew-ins or classes is because it's heavy.

As far wanting to see what other people are doing -

I am guilty of that, too.

I would be intimidated going to a class where I knew very little about the topic - wine - for example, would be one of them. How to recognize a knock-off from the real thing in the fashion world would be another topic where I would be completely misplaced.

I am intimidated when I get in a group where I know that most of the other people in it are more educated, have more money, have careers, etc.

But, on the other hand, most of them are breathing the same air I am, and most of their bodies function similarly to how mine does. (Although they might be better able to afford tune-ups and better paint jobs!) :)

(I do like the little red squiggle that shows me that I should check out the spelling on a word.)

Bear, we recently went to a get-together. Our neighbor is a dietician and my husband is a food chemist so they have a lot in common.
Well, everyone at the gathering were our boys ages. At first I felt really out of place. I'm outgoing by nature but I still
felt funny. But as the night wore on I just started mingling. I'm also not a foodie but since that's what sustains us it wasn't a foreign subject at least.
I sure felt old though. :)

I love classes at both the LQS and the large quilt shows. Because I make it a point to take new classes in areas of little expertise to gain more knowledge and skill. Knowing this I don't expect my work to be the best in the class since it is new. So I think if you go with the mindset to not be hard on yourself you will have a better experience. I usually go by myself but quilters are so nice it is usually easy to meet new friends and sometimes you can get some tips from more experienced classmates. There will always be snobs wherever you go but you can't let negative people ruin a positive experience. I think most quilters are way to hard on themselves. I also wouldn't worry about peoples fancy machines they sew the exact same thing so you will make a lovely quilt whether you have a 50 dollar machine or a TOL. I have a low end and a nice machine and I sew on my Walmart brother all the time and love it just as much as my big machine. And I used a small machine for many years before I upgraded and I did just fine. No real genuine person will look down on you for what you are using. Quilts are made with love not money

How you feel is completely up to you, and is always valid.

Is quilting big business? I suppose so. And that is ok. However, I buy what I like and can afford, not what 'they' want me to buy. As long as I am respected when I shop, none of the other stuff matters. If others feel like they are better than I am, well, that is their problem.

Isn't it amazing that our personal reactions to taking quilting classes have so much to do with how we felt about school? I am an assertive person, but never wanted to look dumb in school. It took years to overcome that fear of asking a question when I thought everyone else in the class 'got it'. Then one day it dawned on me that someone else almost always asked the question I wanted to ask and bailed me out.

Since my fear was holding me back, I mustered the courage to ask questions. At first, it was difficult to do, but it served me well for the rest of my life. I still ask the dumb questions.

However, I rarely take classes for quilting. My color vision is a big factor in that, as most or the quilts I might want to take in a class are complex with too many colors/fabrics in them. Too many colors/fabrics confuses my brain and frustrates me to the point where the quilt joins UFO pile, never to be finished.

I, too, decided that if I wasn't getting "whatever" - the odds were fairly good that someone else was not getting it, either.

Sometimes I did get (and still sometimes do get) that "gee, how dumb can one person be" snicker from the classmates - Oh, well.

I,like Terry enjoy classes for different reasons. Usually just to see what tips a teacher cans give. They usually have some handy tips to offer. I may or may not use her techniques after
the class. There are more than one way to skin a cat. I tend to be one of those faster sewers but try to hold back so the teacher can tell us her way to accomplish the next step. If others around me seem confused I will offer help until the teacher comes around. Just trying to help the others enjoy the process. And I do not own top of the line anything. Nor do I find the need for it. I would rather spend my $ on fabrics.
I would also rather have an instructor that can tell me what I am doing wrong if I get stuck. You don't get that with YouTube

I like to take a class where I can learn a new technique. I just am not into video classes, though I do have some Crafty ones. I like to see the demonstration and the have someone critique (politely) my efforts. I don’t get that feed back from a video. That being said, classes are a mixed bag. One of my local shops has a group that seem to take every class offered together. They and the teacher keep,chatting about their common church activities, and it is irritating. I won’t take any more classes there. I have had better luck at quilt shows that draw from a region so there aren’t as many cliques.

"I am incapable of doing the exact same thing as everyone else."

This is pretty much me. I was in one class taught by a friend of mine. The lady sitting next to me evidently stopped and was watching me. Then she said "that's not the way she said to do it". Before I could answer my friend's voice over my shoulder said "She never does what others do. Her thinking is so far out of the box that mostly she says "What box?" but her results are always amazing". It made me laugh and feel proud all at the same time.

Anyone who would snicker at someone in class is Way immature. I tend to grasp new ideas fairly quickly but I also understand how it feels to not get it when everyone else seems to be getting it. Snickering at someone is So rude.

I have never taken a class. Just doesn't appeal to me. I can sew a fairly straight line, have plenty of quilting books and have watched a lot of youtube videos. I just keep making quilts. I know enough to make quilts, good enough for me.

I had the audacity to take a 1956 Singer 301 to a FMQ class at the LQS that sold Janomes. The instructor was quite rude about my machine. Well, guess which machine did not jam, sewed exactly as intended, needed no instructor time, etc. The shop owners were not in attendance. I know they would have been unhappy with the way AnnieRose and I were treated because they were both vintage machine enthusiasts as well as being nice people. In fact, I gave her a pre 1900 Ruby that I didn't want to clean up.
My budget doesn't allow for classes in anything that I can learn on my own. Youtube and QB teach what I need to know. Coming from an apparel background, I did appreciate the help with FMQ, though one evening was enough. I think of that instructor when I make loops, which I like. She was adamant that you never cross a stitching line. Only stippling is FMQ. :p

I guess I am left feeling bad for people who are so limited in their outlook that they really believe there's only one way to do something and anybody doing anything else is somehow wrong. These "quilt police" type people all sound like they're probably struggling with a lot of insecurity.

I agree that - in many cases - there is more than one way to accomplish a given task.

However, I do think that - while in a class - it does make it easier for all the participants if they are all - more or less - going in the same direction - and reading from the same book - and the same edition - and the same page.

It might be appropriate for the instructor to say something like - 'I know there are other ways to do such and such - but for this class - let's do it this way."

cashs_mom, you have a good and true friend there.