When I was sewing in the garment industry, often we would get groups of people, usually from Asian countries. I got so used to having people standing over me watching my hands, it really doesn't matter anymore. I also made hot tub covers for another shop and the retail customers would just stand there and stare at you. I wanted to charge admission for the show. :-)

So take classes at Quilt University! You get great instructors, a 24/7 forum to 'talk' with classmates from around the world and the instructor, a Gallery to post pics of your progress and get critiques and guidance, some of the best names in quilting as teachers, hundreds of classes to choose from, low class prices, and you can sew at home in your jammies with the music blaring. What could be better?

I am a more nervous sewer around other people too. I am working on getting better with this :D:D:D

If you KNEW everything and DID EVERYTHING perfectly, you wouldn't need to take a class. When I took a seminar on Bernina machines, I was THE ONLY person in the entire class who had her button holes going the wrong direction. I laughed! So go with the flow, learn what you can and don't care what others are thinking. Odds are, their inner voices are having similar conversations as yours.