I've never taken a quilting class, just doing it on my own and reading. Sometimes I go with the instructions and sometimes in reading them, they just don't make sense to me. When that happens I usually try to take the time to do a trial with scraps to see if what I'm being told to do really works. Often it doesn't so I just do it the way it makes sense to me. We don't all think the same or sew the same so I'm all for doing it the way you do best! I think an instructor would just confuse me; my mom taught me to sew 45+years ago and she's has left-handed tendencies and I am right-handed all the way but I do some things left handed.

Everyone, including teachers have their own way of doing things. The teacher is sharing what she recommends, but there may be other, better ways of making a quilt than what the teacher shares. I like the cookie analogy too...makes sense. You can always learn something new.
Especially for beginners a good teacher is so important....not good to get started out wrong.

When I taught a PP class, I told the ladies, "this is the way I do it, but I will also show you some other ways to do it. Pick what works for you." It all came out good.

I was told to reserve also...nope...if there isn't enough border/binding fabric left...I'll use something else, lol.

What I tell the folkls on the TinLizzieLongarm Yahoo Group is that there are as many ways to quilt as there are quilter's. There is no right or wrong way...just do what works for you.
I know a lot of how I make quilts would make the quilt police faint...but I get my quilts done!
Marge

I just cannot afford to pay for classes, so most of my "learning" is just trying or reading a book. sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Every quilt I make is a learning experience for me and I tell the recipient of the quilt that. So far no one complains and the non quilters say they don't even see what mistakes I am talking about. I guess I put enough love into my quilts to make up for the "oops" part of it. Most of my books come from thrift stores...

I had an instructor who was very unprepared to deal with tips for my dealing with being left handed. She did not realize that everything can look backwards and that I had to do some things in a manner that seemed strange for her. Her advice was "just pretend that you are right handed and follow along with the instructions she gave. I never went back.

How does cutting across the grain cause stretch? Or am I misunderstanding what you are saying? On the bias??

I'd hate to think what my left handed sis would have told her!

I made my first quilt from watching tutorials on YouTube and checking books out of the library. My grandmother had taught me to quilt when I was young girl, but I had never pieced before and was a bit apprehensive about that. I mean,it had been close to 50 yrs. since I had quilted. My first effort came out respectable enough, but I decided to take a class at my LQS soon after. WOW!. I learned so much. The teacher was great and I had so much fun. I wish I had had the tips and techniques she taught me when I made my first quilt. Perhaps I would not have struggled so much. I look forward to taking more classes as time and money allow. Unfortunately, she has moved across country, but we'll see what the next teacher has to offer.

A gal at the LQS told me that my color choices would not work for the pattern I had. Stupid me (newbee) allowed her to talk me into a "safe" color. I never finished that quilt because it was sooooo boring. Same LQS different person asked me if I was planning to use "all those" colors on the same quilt? Of course I was. She asked me if I planned to name the quilt "Nightmare on Elmstreet?" What a b****. This time I stuck to my guns and it turned out the way I imagined. That LQS went out of business. I wonder why!