Classes
 

As a new quilter been quilting for just over two years. What stuff I do know my birth mother teaches me and helps me with. Me and my husband was talking today about when we come back from my brothers wedding about looking into finding me a place to go and get some classes so I can learn thing more and maybe be able to get my quilts to line up better.

Was wondering is it worth the money to take classes or try to find a group? I am unsure in what I should do. Any suggestions

It's definitely worth the money to take a one-day class for a pattern that you'd like to make. Check your local quilt shop, who will have a schedule. You'll meet new friends, have a good time, and go home with at least one block completed.

Both, if you can swing it.

But you should definitely try to join a local quilt guild - there are many (free) activities offered, plus the added benefit of meeting people you can turn to for information.

Most have smaller bee groups that you may be able to join, or maybe there are other new members there and you can create your own group.

But, for the money, you might get everything you need from the guild. Most guilds allow you to come as a guest for a meeting or two (or pay a small fee).
The annual dues are usually under $60, depending on your location and number of members.

Your LQS should also have some classes you can take (not free) but could help you learn some new techniques.
You can also ask them for help if needed - although I'm sure they'd appreciate if you bought some fabric from at the same time. Again, prices vary by location.

I know some communities offer adult courses in a ton of subjects - from yoga to quilting to woodworking. Maybe you can find something in your area like that.

There are gazillions of videos available, although that didn't work too well for you this last time.
But keep searching and watching. Eventually you begin to absorb all the information and put it to work.
There is no ONE way to a specific task or technique.

If you're having trouble lining your quilts up (I'm assuming you mean the blocks lining up), a basic quilting class would be worth the time and $. IMHO

I learned to sew and quilt at my grandmothers knee. I sew, she ripped mistakes and made me do it again. She also taught me to crochet. This was when I was about 8 or 9. What I learned stuck, I found I love to sew. Everything else I learned by reading, watching, experimenting, and reading posts here. Never taken a formal class.

Try Quiltique in Henderson NV I was there couple years ago and they appear to have lots of classes.

Both joining a Guild and hopefully your local quilt store has "open sews" that you could attend. At my LQS they are $10 a visit and you have a group of people to help you and give you ideas. It is well worth it.

Ask at local quilt shop for basic classes and also if there are any quilting guilds in your area. You might even try a search on line for quilting guilds in your town. A lot of churches have them too. Keep practicing

keep practicing and slow your sewing speed down alot. Just because the machine can go fast doesn't mean it has to.

Can you post some pictures of your work. I would think it is not as bad as you imagine. We are all our own worst critics.

Another idea is to make something like a table topper or small wallhanging rather than a big quilt. Big quilts are very bulky and hard to manage sometimes. They can pull your work out of the 1/4" seam if they are not supported well when sewing all the rows together.

Don't give up, I didn't!:D
peace

Don't overlook the free uTube videos. They have one on there about cutting sqaures and lots that are aimed at beginning quilters. Might be of some help until you have the time and money for classes and guild.

Craftsy offers some good classes and has some mini classes for free that are very helpful! I have been sewing since I was very young but did not start quilting untill about 2 years ago. There is a wealth of information here on the board I owe alot to the wonderful quilters here!!!!! Classes and groups are always good, I just am sort of a self starter. Just keep working and you will get better and better!

I always loved watching my Grandma quilt and made my first quilt when I was 16. Thank goodness for the internet, because I have learned soooooo much from multiple sources. My favorite discovery last year is www.missouriquiltco.com.

Go to Youtube and do a search for Missouri Star Quilt Company. OMG! I think I've made at least a dozen quilts from Jenny's tutorials. Her early tutorials cover a lot of quilting lingo, which might be good for a true beginner. She is so entertaining to watch and LOVES her quilting projects. I love to make baby quilts and use her ideas for several of the quilts I've donated to Project Linus.

There are tons of other great tutorials online, but Jenny from the Missouri Star Quilt Company has to be the best!

Definitely, you learn new techniques and new ways of doing things that can improve your skills

check out the Craftsy classes, the free BOM class will help you a lot and you can watch it all you want

Missouri Star Quilting tutorials are wonderful. I've learned a lot that way.

You can learn bussels of information on this board. I made notes the first three months which i review once in awhile. You can also learn from all the youtubes and the tutorials from here. I have sewed all my life but only quilted for about 5 yrs. I learned a lot on this board.

Thank you so much for the information. I have been reading and looking and checking out what everyone is working on. I have added all my projects I have done at least with fabric in my profile. The project I am working on is a mess but with the help from the board I will beat the quilt.

Have you checked out all the tutorials on this board? You might get as much or more help here than in a couple classes.

Cutting accurately and sewing a perfect 1/4" seam are the biggest keys for me. There's an incredible amount of information on the web, and I sure wish I'd had such videos when i learned to sew in the late 60's. This Board has lots of good info. Just post for help if needed. I'd suggest taking a class at a local quilt shop (LQS) for a simple pattern, and see if you can visit a few quilt guilds to see if they are welcoming and have some open sewing days. Some guilds only have meetings, no fun sewing. Enjoy!

I haven't check out the tutorials yet. I must say I getting better at the 1/4 seam. But I do need to slow down when u sew. My birth mother was in town for the day and she was showing me what I was doing wrong on my current quilt at everything is lining up. She was showing about pressing the seams in different directions which I am really bad about doing. So now I get to take out what I have sewed together and follow her directions and go slow and pin and it will work out.