WARNING RANT: Frustrated at quilting class

Part of the frustration in this isthat the LQS owner is also in the class. The owner lets the instructor use the shop for class and we pay the instructor. It is not a lot of money but i still feel ripped off at this point.

You sound lie you should be the replacement instructor! It sounds very frustrating! A lady sat across from me at the VERY EXPENSIVE Eleanor Burns workshop I attended, and announced that she forgot to wear her hearing aid that day! Knew it was going to be a very long day! So sorry your experience was so bad. I'd want to tell the owner how bad the class as been, so that teacher won't be teaching there again!

Hi Kellie. Our hard earned money is too precious to hand over for goods or services that are not up to scratch. In your case, even though you are not paying a lot of money, it sounds to me like you are not getting anything at all for what you are paying. It actually sounds like you are taking on quite a bit of the responsibility that belongs to the teacher. Perhaps look at a class that is aimed at intermediate and above - that way people will have experience already. Having said that.......if the intermediate and above classes are not taught by a teacher who gives out a complete requirements list prior to the class, then I'd probably give it a big miss.
My other suggestion is put yourself forward as a teacher for beginners classes. You're already half way there. Might not be as silly as it sounds you know...

I have taken a lot of classes, mostly for how to use my serger (8 threads). So for one, how to make a bathing suit on a serger, the instructor , who is the manager of the store made her own instead of helping. Total waste of time. I was trying to learn it so I could show one of my dd's.

As far as quilting classes I'm coming up on my second one (paper piecing) The instructor is coming from somewhere off island. So that will be interesting. When I was in the store one time I was chatting with a guy quilter and it came up that he thought the manager was a terrible teacher. The fact that I was talking to a guy (no offence guys :))and he said that made me smile because I couldn't agree more. She wasn't too bad on the FMQ class though. So not horrible, but could be better.


To add.. In the email flyers they ask for volunteer instructors. lol

I am really sorry for your bad experience with that class. I would not go back, because it is not fair to announce a class and that the more trained once have to teach the newbies.
If I choose a class, the theme must be clear and I am expecting a clear material list, what I have to bring. And at least I am expacting an example from the result done by the teacher, that shows what the ready Project should look like. This Piece tells me, if the teacher is able to teach me.
I wish you good luck for another quilting class

Sounds like a crazy way to teach. When I teach my classes I have done a finished article of whatever we are making. This is because 1. I want one and 2. I know if there are any issues. I also make a full copy of instructions for everyone and at least 1 page is color. I also supply the iron and ironing pads. I send by email to everyone in advance a supply list. My girls are all different levels so some work well on their own with a little instruction, some need more help. They all pitch in and help if I am busy with another. I just have a great group of girls, we have a lot of fun and sometimes I find it hard to take their money, but I teach them so I can continue my fabric habit and they love it. I do things I choose and things they choose.

I've never been to a quilting class, but I have been to other "craft" type classes and there has always been - at least a supply list and a general lesson plan of what is going to be covered.

I think I would definitely speak up - privately with either the teacher or the shop manager/owner because he/she should be at least concerned that the the disorganization and unpreparedness could cost them customers. Who knows, maybe they will even offer you a job! :)

I have never taken a class and your experience is one thing I am afraid of. I frankly do well learning on my own as long as I have the resources I need. I almost failed algebra every year in school. I got a C in calculus that I only attended 4 times. Finally in college I was directed to a self paced algebra class. I sailed through, finished before anyone else and had 3/4's of Algebra 2 done before the course ended. That is when I realized I learn well on my own.

I am really chicken to try a class. I get those first day at a new school jitters just thinking about it. Yet I can and have taught. Such a different experience being the one teaching a subject.

My quilting classes were nothing like what you've described! How unfortunate you had this bad experience. In my classes, no one was allowed to join later. Everyone paid up front & came with the required materials. In my beginner's class we made a sampler of 8 different blocks, one each week. We did some work on our own at home. It was a worthwhile experiece & I learned so much. Better luck next time. The owner of the your LQS needs your feedback. JCY

When I took a beginners class, we were given a list at the time we signed up, of materials we needed to bring to class. This included all the different tools you would need (plus some I have still never used!) and all of your material. I made it thru the first four classes, and then signed up for the next four (both classes were quilts), but by the time I was finished w/the second series, I had had enough.

The main instructor was the owners daughter in law and she and her helper spent a lot of time joking around amongst themselves and sometimes you would have to wait several minutes to get a question answered or some help. By then, I was involved in the BOM and another club, so I quit signing up for the beginner classes.

This weekend, as my family enjoys a long weekend at the lake while I'm working, I'm finally going to quilt the top from the first class and get it done for my husband for his birthday next week. Hopefully Matilda will play nice.