Originally Posted by QBeth

Taking a class will help you two ways - improve your quiltinng skills and, in coming out of your shell. In my opinion, it's hard to find an unfriendly quilter. Most are very eager to help, especially a newbie!! Just remember, when you take the class, you're there to learn but not necessarily to finish something!!!! I can't stress that enough.

I was very much like you about my first class. Did I have enough skills to even warrant taking up space in a class? Would the others just laugh at my attempts? Look down on my little Pfaff Hobby machine? How would I ever keep up?!!

Happy to say that all my fears were totally unfounded! :-) The others in the class were wonderful; happy, helpful people. They even complimented me on my little machine and how light weight it is; they had to lug their big Berninas up to the second floor classroom. Ugh! The only problem was me :-( nervous, rattled, tried too hard to keep pace with the others. Then, I realized, most of the others were experienced quilters and signed up for the class not only to learn a new pattern (which they probably could have learned on their own) but, more importantly to them, they came to be with other quilters!!

Now that I've been quilting for about 15 yrs, I'm now one of those more experienced quilters who come to class, mostly to be with other quilters! My favorite LQS is my favorite hang out spot. Best world I ever entered.

I really hope you can summon your courage and take a class. Go with no expectations other than to "get your feet wet" in this wonderful world of quilting. It will be a good move.