Quilt Class Attendance
 

Have you ever attended a paid quilt class but only observed and took notes, making the actual item later in the comfort of your own home? I have done this before and may again on Monday. There was a lot of prep for the class which I have completed. We have the pattern which is very detailed, consisting of 8 pages of small print step-by-step instructions. I dislike lugging all the supplies and my machine to a class setting plus the location is an hour's drive away. Can anyone relate?

I once took a class, where a student "dropped" their machine on route to the first class. She observed the class rather than participated.

I would rather use class time to try the various techniques and complete it outside of class. This allows me to create a sample and to get immediate help if I am struggling with a technique. I usually leave the class knowing I can complete it on my own time, using the sample if necessary.

I can relate that it is difficult to bring your stuff to class but for me it is worth the effort.

Yes, I relate to just watching the technique and stitching later. I am a careful cutter, presser and sewer. In other words, slow and don't want others waiting on me. I don't rush just to finish in class either.

Monday, I took a class and left the machine for the Tuesday class.

This is what I do. I don't even try to complete a project in class. I prefer to spend my class time working on the technique and then completing the project at home.

Well, i dont know how this is gonna sound... but i have been both a student and a teacher - and i totally agree with the idea of just attending the class and working on your own later if that is how you learn and/or feel more comfortable 😊

When my experience consisted of being a student i could be pretty frustrated. I am the type who “enjoys the process” so i can be slower cuz thats how i enjoy things. But... many times after the first couple hours of an all day class i found myself behind - no matter how many of my friends tried to “help me under the table”! I’m serious this happened often in my quilting class journey. Then (in the mid 90’s) it seemed to be pretty much considered rude to kinda sit back at a certain point and just watch and absorb. Im thinking maybe some of the teachers took it kinda personally, but i made sure to clue them in that this was part of how i learned certain things. Most teachers accepted that, maybe a few didnt but i think somehow we all survived! My friends accepted that i learned on my own terms and we kidded around about it.

When i became a teacher years later i made sure to apply the lessons i learned and how i learned them as a student. I always had a class outline and expectations were clear - have a sewing machine in good working order and be familiar with it (bring your manual too). Sometimes prep cutting fabric was needed - sometimes not. I felt it was my job to help each student “where they were” so i purposely kept my classes to 6 students. I could usually size up skill levels and comfort zones in the first hour and proceeded as necessary. You can usually tell if someone is uncomfortable in a group learning situation. I always made it clear that any student was welcome to choose to observe at any point - or during the entire class - that it wouldnt hurt my feelings at all. I still took the class through the entire process so that nobody missed anything. I also made myself available by phone or would meet any student at the shop to help if they were “stuck”. I had to choke back tears sometimes because some of the students were so appreciative of how we handled things. I had many repeat students over the years and was so blessed to see their progress - many became friends. What more could a person ask for?

So... bottomline - you should proceed with a class as you feel comfortable. Machine or no machine, etc. And nobody should have a problem with that - especially not a teacher! You paid for the class, so you should feel free to participate however it best works for you!

I think it's fine as long as you let the teacher know that is your intent before the class starts, otherwise the teacher may think there is a need to get you " up and running", taking up time for everyone.

I’m highly distractible and tend to get nervous around people who are catching on a lot faster or not making mistakes lime I am. I’ve only taken one quilting class and that was my experience.

I took a OBW class quite a few years ago. The instructor insisted we make the 8 piece octagon medallions so we could see how our fabric created the designs. This was over the 6 piece hexagon because that was done in rows. Fast forward to today... the medallions are sewn but no quilt top because I can't lay the d@m~ things out to work in the corner squares. And I sure can't see myself fitting it altogether. And it's turning out too dark for me.
Sigh... it was expensive fabric too...
So .. yeah I can certainly see taking the class, taking notes and working out the details on cheaper fabric.

Interesting thoughts. Some time last year I was in my LQS and asked one of the employees (who is also an instructor there) if it would be possible to just 'observe' a ruler quilting class. I would, obviously, pay for the class but did (and still do) not want to invest in these tools if I felt it was a technique I was not going to be comfortable with - at least initially. Her response was that she didn't think that was possible and I would have to talk with the shop owner. Frankly, I was a bit dismayed by her response and have yet to pursue the subject or class any further.

I'm glad to hear other students are equally interested in 'observing' and that those teachers who have responded are willing to have those of us who are.

My LQS brought a local lady in to teach FMQ. I assumed I was bringing my machine & basic supplies. Previous day morning here comes an email from the teacher with a long list of “other” things, claiming she forgot to send it out. Sketch pad (which I had) was listed. Well, the pad & some stuff that was listed was never even brought up in the class. At least I didn’t run out and buy it for that day. I know people who are just downright allergic to cat hair and the example quilts she brought were covered with it.

Yes, I have. Some classes are so chocked full of information that there is little time for sewing. I try to make certain there will actually be sew time and not just demo time if I take my machine.

Nope, I have been a student/teacher...I love participating along with the others...You learn from others and they may learn a different way of doing things from you...short cuts...All the teachers limit the amt of bodies in class so everyone gets attention when needed and I just feel someone taking up space and not participating when another might have been bumped due to class being full isn't fair. I've never went to a class w/anyone just taking notes...But I guess it should be up to the teacher but I don't think it should be stressful, relax and enjoy and try...You can always go home and do over. At this point in our lives, quilting and learning should be fun not stressful...

:shock::shock:

In my mind, if you are a paying student, you get to learn anyway you want.

I have been both teacher and student. As a teacher I go to a great deal of trouble to write a complete list of supplies and find only half the people taking the class have actually read the list. It's frustrating to all when they don't have the necessary items to complete the class and ask to borrow or use someone else's items. I understand the need to be flexible with time, as some students learn more quickly than others. And am always happy to work more one on one to help them complete the project. I have had people attend my classes without bringing equipment required and have no issues if they learn best this way. But also have noted those that do so, seem to expect more information or clarification than if they actually completed the class as listed. This takes time away from other students.

As a student, I bring the requested items and arrive early to be set up and ready to begin at the appointed time. It's annoying to both instructor and other students when you come in late or right at the class time and have to get everything out and ready. Since I learn best by hands on method, this is how I prepare to take the class. I prefer to listen to the instructor and if I have a question ask the instructor not my neighbor. I have been know to change seats when my table partner kept asking me for assistance making me miss important instructions. If I could learn by just watching, I see no problem doing it that way if I have paid for the class.

Just me two cents for what it's worth:-)

This thread is connected to another in my mind: Goals, to have them? Most responders thought doing what you want, when you want, is the pleasure of quilting and that it should bring you joy. I taught all levels of sewing classes at a community college, so know lots. However, when I take a class I am often the worst student in that class -- don't understand, can't follow, too slow, etc. Still, when I get home I can make award winning quilts, sometimes using what I learned in a class, sometimes not.

I've come to the conclusion that what I produce in class isn't important. It's what I do with the information that is important. As a teacher, what I cared about was allowing the students to learn -- in a way that made sense to them. What I care about for myself is learning, improving, and enjoying the process.

I think it depends on how long the class is - is it an hour or an entire day? I like to do some of the project during the class if possible.

SuzzyQ: I also took a OBW class back in March. We made the hexagons but the instructor (a LQS owner) also explained about the octoagons and told us about and even gave us a pattern on how to add the corners to them. Some of us asked about just appliquing the finished octagons onto a square of fabric and then join the squares together. She thought that would work just fine and so do I. You might be able to salvage your fabric and add some "light" to it by that method as well.
Just thought I would share.
Murphy

The easiest thing to do with the octagon blocks is just to add triangles to four opposing corners, that will make a square for a straight layout. If all the triangles are the same color, they will form a little square of color. If you use two different colors, you get hourglass shapes.

This is one of my less-successful tops for a number of reasons and it never got finished. But I used thrift store fabrics and learned a new technique. I didn't have as much of the OBW fabric as I would have liked and so had to extend what fabric I had...

The main benefit I get from a class is feedback from the teacher or professor now that I am in uni. So just observing would not work for me.

I do not stress about keeping up, being the leader of the pack etc in the class. I am happy to work at my own pace.

I am someone who will ask a question if I am not sure. I know sometimes people post here how they do not like people asking about something that was already explained, but the way I learn is through question and response. Even if I heard it the first time, I will not have retained the information until I rephrase the information as a question.

Everyone learns differently and if observing the class and doing the work at home works for you, then that is great.

NJ Quilter, I woudl have followed up with the owner of the shop. Often a shop has to order in supplies specific to a class. If a person takes up a seat, but is not purchasing the supplies, the shop could lose out. You could have clarified that with the owner. An employee would be overstepping if they told you it was OK without checking with their boss.

I am a quilt teacher and do find that some people get more out of the class by doing what you propose.

One of the neatest purchases I made was a wheeled carrier about 20 inches square and 36" tall. I found that by putting a piece of plywood in the bottom for my machine, I could stack fabric around the machine and get the whole kit and kaboodle to my classroom with no trouble. A few clothes pins made it easy to organize my fabrics by hanging them on the outside once I arrived at the classroom.