I am a very confident sewer and quilter and do well on my own. I enjoy taking classes, always learn something, be it what I am working on there or sewing and quilting in general. However, since my mind starts thinking class=school=doing well=making stupid mistakes, time consuming too. I get frustrated with me. I think it all comes down to me thinking I am an inferior sewer (student) when I know darned well I am not. It is hard to overcome. Yet when I come home and pick up where I left off, I do not make the same silly little mistakes. This is not nearly enough to make me stop taking classes, it is the way I am. I am always striving for perfection, do not end up with it. Just a thought I would share and see if anyone else does the same thing.

So you make more mistakes (or you think you make more mistakes) when sewing in a group or in front of a teacher? Sounds like performance anxiety! I take piano lessons and can't play with anyone else in the room, including my teacher. I've told her that she should stay in the car and listen on her cell ;-)

I understand:) I can learn about anything and enjoy new challenges......BUT.......don't give me a test on it!!!!!! My mind goes completely blank....I guess it's just the way I was made:( I love my quilting and I approach it with "NO Rules".
Just jump in and enjoy the process.

Yep I would have that if the quilt police came knocking on my door and gave me a pop quiz, I'd fail the test. Nerves get to me.

Maybe somewhere deep down you just dont want to make others look bad, so you make these mistakes when your in a classroom setting! ;)

Now there is a thought, although I am not sure about it. So I rather make me look bad. Now there is a whole new thought.lol

I don't get nervous in a class, just distracted by talking to friends and listening to chit chat. I don't get a darn thing accomplished. I have been in charge of our guild's national teacher classes for our guild for the past 10 years and have found that the most successful classes have been lecture only. That is how Ricky Tims teaches and it was wonderful and relaxing. No pressure and the retention level was way up.

I think you have identified your problem and with taking more classes you will overcome it! I hope you do anyway.

I don't take classes for that reason. I end up being distracted by what is going on around me. I do better buying the pattern and doing it on my own and at my own pace. I rather spend the money on fabric and not classes.

LOl, are we twins? It is extremely common for lots of talented individuals to make silly mistakes in classes. I now take classes for the tricks and tips I learn. I have just had to accept that in classes I do the stupidest things. Keep taking classes and forgive yourself for any little goof-ups you make.

Kat

I have taken classes sometimes they were great and other times not so much. Now I go and really don't care if any body likes or dislikse what I'm doing. what I'm really doing is picking everyones brains for all I can learn from them. I took a class with Nancy Halprin years ago. The first class I ever took and all the women were ga- ga over her and I didn't even know who she was. She was teaching her famous chicken pattern with templates and I couldn't even cut out a good template. Everyone finished the block but me. Did I ever learn a lot just by watching and listening.

Keep it up if you find someting your interested in and want to learn about it.