I need some classes. Do you join a guild to get the instructions? or do they want you to be accomplished. And, I am not sure I'd be accomplished if I worked on it for many years. I just love it, though. I sometimes feel what I do is not worthy of sharing but I can't help myself.

Blessings,
Ruth

Gracious, if guilds only wanted experienced quilt members, they would have a hard time getting members. I belong to a quilt guild and most of the members are beginner/intermediate quilters (myself included).

I know my guild offers classes to beginners and the LQS also have great beginners classes.

Are you near a JoAnn's? The one in my area has classes for all skill levels. I even see very small kids back in their classroom. Don't be intimidated or afraid to ask questions. That is how you learn.

I use to teach for adult education, I had beginner and advance classes, so check you adult education program with your town. This is one of the most affordable ways! My second recommendation would be a quilt shop. You can pick the project you want to work on and the shop owner can help you pick a class that meets your experience requirements. Quilt guilds are alot of fun, and I think you would enjoy a guild, but likely not for classes. The guilds that I have belonged to only had classes with the guest speakers, and they are normally only one day classes working on what that author selects. Although, in joining guild you can meet other quilters who often have mini sew groups that are always fun where you can get help from your new friends!
I hope you find something, classes are fun!!

I don't belong to a guild but I take classes at my LQS or on line.I understand being intimidated by how good others are,I sure am.But everyone started somewhere.

I take my lesson right here if I need help there is always someone who help me along.

Yes, it is so much easier now. When I started in 1996, my sister sent me a couple Eleanor Burns videos. Now you can just go on the internet & see a video tutorial of just about anything. A picture is worth a thousand words & you certainly do learn from others.

Guilds are great sources for help and inspiration. I doubt I will ever be "accomplished" either, but my quilts are filled with love and that is what is important to me.

We have members in my guild that don't quilt, they just like seeing other's quilts.

Me too! :-)

I thank you all for your responses. I have had a passion for quilts since I was a small child watching the elders hand stitch everything. My grandma used to make collars and cuffs and bibs for judges and lawyers in our town. They were the finest linen and all by hand and were startched just so. Her quilt was on a board that daddy nailed on the wall by her chair under the window. She'd just pull it out toward her and add to it. She was disabled with her walking before her 60's so she had everything at arms length, even a nosey grand daughter who worshiped her. I can't hand stitch worth a flip. Wish I could, but I'm about too old to get the grasp of it let alone hold a tiny little needle. Machine sewing is my love. I've sewn everything you can think of at one time or another, on this old Kenmore and I love her to pieces. I need a new cord or a new motor. I hope he can put just a cord on it. Keep yer fangers crossed, well think of crossing them. You can't sew with yer fangers tied up. Love
Ruth

Our guilds take all level of members, and do not question your experience. They are all there to help and encourage each other. So definitely try to find a guild you feel comfortable with, they are very worth it. :D

Our guild has a demo on something every month. We sign up to take turns showing a technique or pattern we have learned.

I wish there had been guilds around when I started in the early 70s. There weren't any books in print or magazines until around 1976. Now they are all everywhere. Fun!

please do not think you are not worthy---walk arround a quilt show and listen in to the comments 95% you can hear positive comments even if they dont like the quilt--the 5%are not worth worrying about not happy people--i over heard a comment 'it would be quite good if she had spelt the title right"so so if you are clever enough to get a picture uppp WE NEED EYE CANDY PLEASE hope i did not hurt your earsyou tube is a great teacher

In my area Hancocks has relatively inexpensive classes and so do the LQSs. Check out local guilds before joining any. Seems like all of them are different. Here there's two. One is very exclusive. It's a group of friends that get together to sew and they don't allow anyone else in. The other one never sews, they only have business meetings. I joined a "club" called the Strips and Scraps club. We meet once a month and sew for several hours at a local quilt store. It's free but it seems I never get out of there for less that $10 or $15 dollars, sometimes more. Check around, ask at your quilt stores.

Are there any churches in your area that have a quilt ministry? I did not even know how to sew before I joined the one at my church. The women there are so knowledgeable and helpful.

Ruth, I have had the best luck taking classes at my LQS. I belonged to 2 guilds but they were just too big for me. One was in Syracuse and one was in Columbus.
I don't really know why b/c I'm very outgoing and not intimidated by a large group but guilds just didn't do it for me. My quilt group is 15 members and we go to each others homes once a month. It's so inspiring and fun!!
Just telling you what works for me :D
HUGS, Sue

Thank you. I feel there might be hope for me. I'll look around. I'm not much of a clubber, but I love to learn.

Blessings,
Ruth

I wish I lived close to you. You seem like such a sweetheart and I would love to sew with you. I have no one to sew with and it gets lonely sometimes but I have a very supportive family (none of them sew) who encourage me. I am blessed.

Ruth if you lived near me I would love to sew with you. I live alone, and would love a sewing partner. I am not into getting out and in a quilt guild or anything, just come to the board when I need friends. Bless you Lisa

Where in NC do you live? Anywhere near Shelby?

Greensboro, long way from Shelby. I've been wanting to go to Mary Jo's but I wouldn't want to go unless I had a bag of money to exchange for some loote, lol. Thank you for you nice sentiments. Yep, it would be nice to have a sewing buddy.

Blessings,
Ruth

Look at the shine on your doggie. My daughter has one like him(?) or her. His name is Rufus and he is the smartest dog on earth, it seems. I've been sewing most of my life. But there is knowledge in making it look so good. I see these postings and I want to hide my work. But we do what we can, don't we. Thank you for you nice thoughts. Blessings, Ruth

I love this board, too. Seems like I should personally know most of you folks. But, I don't, but I feel it! You are so nice, thank you so much, Blessings, Ruth

I know there are guilds around. I was talking to my nurse at the clinic and she said her church has one that meets once a month and makes blankets (they haven't called them quilts, but most similar) for homeless and destressed families. I like that. My LQS is closing. I went there this weekend and just didn't go any further. I am sure JoAnn's and Hancock's have something, I just haven't looked yet, but I plan to this week. Thanks so much. Blessings, Ruth

If you have a local or area guild, please join. Don't hesitate to take your problems to the meetings and ask for suggestions. We all learn from each other and often they have classes/demonstrations/trunk shows that are invaluable (and free) instruction. Ours has been going for 25 years and it just gets better and better. We have elderly ladies, middle aged experienced quilters, young learners, and a couple of middle school girls just learning to sew. What fun! Whatever your level of experience, you will be welcomed and valued.

Ruth, I would LOVE to quilt with you if I lived nearby. But we wouldn't get anything done b/c you make me laugh way too much HAHAHAHa :D I love your sense of humor :D
HUGS, Sue

Oh, anything you do is worth posting. I'm sure you are not alone. I am not perfect in what i quilt. And maybe that is the problem, those of us who are not perfect are so in awe of those that are, that we do not post our work. Hmmm, when I get home tonight, i am going to take a pictue of my screw up from this weekend and post it. Let everyone know that hey, it may not be perfect but I made it!

oh we all love to see what everyone is working on and we really don't pay much attention to how experienced you are one bit! so you just show us everything and never feel your work is not worthy, it most certainly is! even when our points don't match or our edges wave we should still be proud of our accomplishments and show and tell is always GREAT! if there is a local guild around to join you should, it can be a wonderful resourse. also ask at a local quilt shop about any little sewing groups in the area. i met one and joined them about a year ago, a little group of ladies who have been getting together a couple times a month for years and in just the first 3 times i joined them i learned so very much! we work on quilts together, we show off and we share. if i know how to do something the next lady has always wanted to see done, well, thats the next tutorial. we are always showing each other new ways to do things