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When I first started to quilt, I tried to teach myself from books and magazines. I had a bachelors degree and had learned many things from books so I thought, “How hard could this be?” Well, there is a lot that a book doesn’t tell you, unless you find one by a very thorough author! My first attempt at quilting was colorful and dramatic. It was also so crooked that no two blocks lined up.
So when I saw a small sign outside a shop in the mall that said “quilt classes” I knew immediately what I had to do. I was overwhelmed by the beautiful quilting fabrics. I was used to garment fabrics, but these brilliantly colored cottons and OMG the batiks! I was practically drooling. And the staff was so friendly and kind!
My first class was Celtic knotwork appliqué with Beth Ann Williams. (Leave it to me to try something like that right off the bat!) But I was enthralled with the knotwork and the class was listed for beginners.
My earlier attempts had scared me and I shied away from the vivid colors I loved, instead choosing to put dark blue on light blue. Hardly inspired. And I don’t even *like* blue. But Beth, pointed out that a monochromatic color scheme was a perfectly valid choice.
Beth’s knowledge and skill, not to mention patience and persistence, were exactly what I needed. She taught us more than we could possibly absorb about the different kinds and sizes of threads and needles, about preparing fabric and choosing batting, about cutting and sewing and making our own bias tape, about Celtic history, and color theory. By the time we were done I had one small wall hanging, a huge amount of information, and a budding passion for quilting.
Every quilt shop I have ever known has classes. Just walk in and ask and they will usually have a selection from beginner through advanced and everything in between. Most classes require you to buy the book or pattern being used. This is due to copyright issues and makes sense if you think of it from the pattern-creator’s or author’s point of view.
You will usually need your own sewing machine and basic sewing supplies and, depending on the class, you might need special gadgets like a certain kind of ruler or notion. You’ll also need fabric, and some teachers offer ready-made kits or at least guidelines on what to choose. The most important thing to bring to any quilting class is a good attitude and willingness to learn.
And don't worry if you can't thread the machine or have never used a rotary cutter. A class designed for beginners takes this kind of thing into account. (Or it should - ask when you sign up how "basic" their basic class is.) If they expect you to have a certain level of knowledge before you start, they should tell you so, and if you may be able to meet up with the teacher or a knowledgeable employee before the class to learn some of the basic skills.
Most classes I've taken lasted about 3 hours, which is long enough to learn the technique and get a lot of sewing done. Some more complicated projects can take two, three, or even four 3-hour classes or they may run all day on a Saturday. One class I took was an "overnight" class where we started at 7pm, stayed up all night sewing (with occasional breaks for snacks and games) and presented our completed quilt tops to the shop owners the next morning when they brought us all breakfast. That was a blast! We made Jewel Box using Eleanor Burns' technique.
Next time I will talk about online quilting classes. Yes, you can learn to quilt in your pajamas from the comfort of your own home! I'll tell you where to find them and how to participate.
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