What you learn in a quilt class stays in the quilt class?
 

I was showing a few quilters at guild a new way to make prairie points I learned how to do in a class. One member said that was the same as stealing from the instructor and I shouldn't do it. I didn't back down and kept on showing it just shaking my head. (this same member will skim through old quilt magazines on our free table and take pictures of the patterns she likes so she doesn't have to take the whole magazine). What is everyone's opinion about sharing what they learn from a quilt class? Not the written handouts just what was demonstrated.

I heard a teacher talking about this one time. Her take on it was that there's really nothing new under the sun and you can't worry about someone passing on the techniques that you teach. Printed matter is a different story, but she said she had no problem with someone passing on her techniques although she appreciated at least getting credit for it.

Well..after you learn it....you know it. So it becomes knowledge. You are sharing your knowledge. It's nice to share. In my sewing world, I would pay no attention to that person and continue on just like you.

A technique can't even be copyrighted. It was fine for you to demonstrate it. The lady who was taking pictures of the patterns, however, was violating copyright law. It's odd that she sees fault in your action and not in hers.

Stealing from the instructor? I'd like to hear the explanation for that, as you paid for the class.

She's a hypocrite and a cuckoo bird. You can tell her I said that, too. :D

I guess all guilds have one of each. I guess my guild got lucky and has two in one. LOL

Peckish--cracks me up! Especially after a somewhat contankerous meeting this month!

I agree that the written materials should not be handed out or copies. But showing what you've learned is not wrong--hopefully you also said where you learned this. I had to chuckle--one of the highest compliments to a teacher (and I was educator for 35 yrs) is when a student shares what they have learned with others--who hopefully will get excited and maybe seek out the teacher at a later date.

Ticklish question to be sure. The lines are so blurry. Techniques cannot be patented or copyrighted. If I can help another quilter by showing her how I do something I am not infringing on another. Almost all classes I take at my guild are to learn techniques. And, it is true, there is nothing new under the sun-just revisited. I am sure that you know that is true about patterns. I can't tell you how many times I see patterns come out that are remakes of things traditional. And yet, the newcomers feel that they have reinvented the wheel. I am sure they are not necessarily aware that others have put patches together the same way-maybe different sizes, different colors, etc. Please keep showing others techniques to help them enjoy quilting more. My biggest complaint is about designers who feel that use of a pattern is a one time use and that if you want to make the quilt again that you have to buy a new pattern. They have the wrong idea of the difference between 'design' and 'pattern'.

That's hilarious! :D Some people really need to get a life.

How do we learn if we don't share?

That would mean that there are an awful lot of YouTube videos out there that are stealing.....

Stretch out this reasoning to other areas. A certified mechanic couldn't share how to repair something with a child. A chef couldn't share with his staff. A sewing teacher goes to an advanced coutour class but couldn't teach a method in a classroom. Poppycock.

I think our world revolves around sharing. If we can't share our knowledge/joy, etc. then we might as well be a hermit & lock ourselves up in our homes & never venture out.

I teach knitting classes. You're right and she's wrong. Sometimes people have a thought and it pops out of their mouth without examination.

And that thing someone wrote about a quilting pattern being one use only for some designers boggles my mind! Not enforceable, even if it were true.

Great comeback Peckish. Love it.

Replace a new or recently learned quilting/piecing techniques, that is taught to new learners, with modern day medicine, antibiotics, vaccines etc, etc, etc, or any other innovation in modern life that has been learned and taught to others.
Some people are a lost cause to...... whatever the appropriate word is.

Dumbest thing I ever heard. Who’d the quilting teacher “steal” it from?

Years ago, I was in a class where the instructor spent most of her time asking questions about our techniques, ideas and tips of how we do stuff. Thinking back on it today, she was phishing us for her own benefit.

Where would the world be if we never shared anything? Knowledge cannot be unlearned. No one person can own the rights to knowing something. Imagine if Nana had never taught us how to do anything, like bake a cake.

peace

I learned a technique in a Sharon Shamber class. I paid for the class. I have shared that knowledge and gave her credit. We all do this. Would this quilt curmudgeon think differently had to said the class was free or not mentioned the class at all? Here is a definition: curmudgeon (plural curmudgeons) (archaic) A miser. An ill-tempered person full of stubborn ideas or opinions. Fits. Ignore her and keep sharing.

It's always easier to see someone else's fault. But someone should point out that she is violating copyright laws. Whew! I don't think I'd like to do it, though. Sounds like a tyrant type person.

We learn new techniques from this board. I share those ideas with others. When I took a class after buying a new sewing machine, the instructor stated she always learned from those in the classes. That woman passed those on to her students. Sharing ideas is how we all learn.

Betty Cotton has patented her Cotton Theory method of quilting. "Cotton Theory U.S. Patent No. 6696129"
This is a technique, not a pattern. I have made one quilt with that technique. It's great if you don't want to be wrestling with a large quilt. The only time you have the whole quilt at the machine is for the last strip, and that's almost like putting on the binding. You are working near an edge.

Peckish - I definitely LOL at your comment!! :D

SusieQOH - I agree :D

To me, quilting is sharing by it's own tradition. Whether passed from friend to friend or given in a lecture. I think instructors know that information will be shared. On the other hand, I have taken expensive classes and have had people request a lecture or demo on it. That bugs me. They should have taken the class themselves. I will give a lecture, but not neccesarily on a certain skill or technique. Just an overview of the class.

Give me a break! Share the technique, onebyone .... and I hope the other members share it again and again.

That's the craziest thing I've ever heard!

With that thinking only the first person to use a rotary cutter and those who have paid her for the class on rotary cutting should be able to rotary cut.

I'd say that person is a control freak and wants to stir the pot. IGNORE. BUT printed material is often copywrite stuff and requires special permission. WHICH I learned can take up to several months. LOL

A long time ago I learned this aphorism: "See one, do one, teach one." It's how we learn, and it's how we become teachers. I've been a certified server trainer at the restaurant I work at, and I can tell you that teaching others so many times over the years made me much, much better at my job. (Also avoiding having them catch me not doing as I said, but that's another story, riiiiight?) So, I see this as trying to squelch the basic human impulse to teach another after having seen one and done one.

And Patrice, I loved that squished comment, lol. I'm gonna remember that.

I'm intrigued now to know this different method you learned! LOL

this past few months I have been like a sponge
watching very talented quilters on youtube,
learning from experienced folk who pass on their tips and knowledge
learning the best way to do this or that
and sitTing through many many ads for quilting tools etc
I have learned so much from everything I have watched
but now I am trying to experience quilting for myself at my own sewing machine
I am learning which way works for me when theres more than one way!
I dont see that anything I do now is breaking any rule of copyright
its just using the knowledge I have learned
and trying to get my fingers to coperate! LOL

If you're not familiar with it, there's a podcast called "Just Wanna Quilt". The person hosting it is a law professor at Tulane University and many of the podcast episodes focus on copyright. Very interesting listening, and guests have expressed a range of opinions. I'm not up to date, but I know she plans on publishing a book about copyright law as it pertains to quilters.

Great comment Peckish. I was thinking it but I didn't say it. For sure a true hypocrite.

Ignoring someone is the best revenge. Obviously ignoring someone is the ultimate slap in the face. She got the slap loud and clear.