Take the class. You will never regret learning something, but for sure regret not learning.

PPing can be very easy and it can also be very complicated depending on the pattern you want to work on. A class will help to learn the basics and then you can fly as high as you want to go

have fun with it and please let us know what you think and how you like it. I love to PP.

peace

Paper piecing is hard for some people. I've had several demonstrations, taken a class, watched some videos and had some coaching form a quilt buddy and I still can't paper piece. It just doesn't make sense to me. My quilt buddy helped me every step of the way to get my BOM done and it was a simple one. I got it done when I worked with her but could not repeat the steps a few days later. I am definitely LD when it comes to paper piecing.

I don't have time for a class so if I want to learn something new I tackle it, how ever I was stuck the first time and went to the lqs and they showed me how to do it I went to carol doak's website and started with one of her patterns that was free and loved the clean lines i just had to remember to work with my fabric upside down and making sure my fabric was cut big enough.for the space. I wish you luck and have no fear

i would call the shop & ask if they are (assuming) you are already a paper piecer or if the class is geared to beginners-i am an avid paper piecer- love the technique and find it to be (easy)
that being said- the first time i tried it was in a class that was---way over my head- and very frustrating- i decided i would never paper piece again- and didn't for about 3 years- then came across something i really wanted to make & tried it again- with much better instuction--and much better outcome-then i was hooked---but that first experience was not a positive one- i would make sure the shop is gearing the class toward all skill levels before spending money on a class that may not go well.
or since the class is not til February- you could visit the Carol Doak website & do some learning on your own before class- she offers great tutorials-beginner patterns- lots of help- that would easily have you ready for any class that came along.

I agree with the others ... call ahead and ask if it's OK if you've never done PP before. If they say it's geared toward an experienced PP person - then go find an easy item and teach yourself so you have 'experience'!!

I'll give you another hint that will make PP MUCH easier ... use solids or batiks (ie fabric that does not have a right or wrong side!).

In 1992 I took a beginner's quilting class and then my second class was a "New York Beauties" paper piecing class. Similar to Mariner's Compass block. I loved it. I didn't know any better, so it wasn't hard and it went so fast (putting the blocks together). Be sure to go to Youtube and watch someone paper piece a Mariner's compass. The best thing would be a class. Carol Doak has a Youtube video that is wonderful. She is the queen of pping. But it doesn't explain Mariner's compass.

I haven't paper pieced but once since that time and I want to learn to paper piece so my dear mentor here on The Quilting Board sent me Carol's DVD and my good friend here, Fran, just sent me a huge supply of Carol's foundation paper (which would be nice for you to have) and as soon as the mountain pass is drivable, I'll take my machine over to get her running again and maybe then I'll try my hand at paper piecing. Oh, I just received in the mail "Foundation Factory, 50 Fabulous Paper-Pieced Stars by Carol Doak". I can change the size of the stars and print them right onto my foundation paper. So Cool!!!

I'm 99% sure the class will be geared for people who have never paper pieced before. I took a paper piecing class 2 years ago and everyone had never pp before. I feigned a migraine because I just couldn't get it and left. Now I realize it was the teacher, not me.

I would say go for it you won't be sorry

Definitely take the class if it doesn't assume you already know pp'ing. If it does assume you already know, see if you can take a beginners class before hand or find someone to show you the basics. I think it's a skill better learned when taught hands on. The class I took was for beginners and was for NY Beauty blocks. Just a 4-5 hour class but well worth my time as I just couldn't 'get' it looking at books and reading. I don't know if I can say I love pp'ing but I'm glad I know how to do it and am reasonably comfortable with it. And I love the results.

Personally I think a mariner's compass is not a bad choice if you've never paper pieced, because the pieces are the same shape whether it's right or wrong side up. Seems like a lot of beginners get confused when you are trying to use a directional shape, such as an L.

I was like Shelbie and everytime I learned a bit about PPing, it made no sense to me at all.
Alas! there was something I wanted to do that "made" me give it another try.
There's some good basic instructions on QuiltersCache.com ... and that's exactly how I got started and then just continued on.

Initially, I wasn't anymore impressed or thrilled, and then the more I did it, the more I liked it.
The precision results were enough to make me want to keep at it ... and man-oh-man ... the results are well worth the persistance.

You'll find there's a lot of how to variations out there. The more you do it, the more you'll get your own style figured out taking a bit from each person as to how to do it.

After you get started ... you'll be hooked ... and after that it's a matter of time and you'll feel right at home doing PPing!