Online Classes

[Pandabear]

This year I have been thinking of trying online classes through Craftsy.

Stupid Question Alert!!

I know nothing about how online classes work. If you sign up for one, do you meet online a specific times? Or is it that you are given access to the lessons and can watch them at your leisure?

How long do you have access to the video lessons?

Any tips would be appreciated. I've been looking at learning foundation paper piecing and Carol Doak has a class online.

[dizzyLiz]

Re: Online Classes

I love Craftsy classes. You have access to them forever, at your leisure. I've only taken one that wasn't up Craftsy standards and they contacted me, gave me the original class and a free class of my choosing. There was nothing wrong with the class just very short and not as in depth as most of their classes are. If you watch you can usually get them on sale for 1/2 off

[Kgrammiecaz]

Re: Online Classes

I am a Craftsy class junkie lol. I have taken over 40 classes - all on sale of course. And like dizzyliz I have received credit for that same class plus a free class. Also, when I purchased another class that I just did not like the first chapter in, they removed and refunded the class fee.

I know folks have had troubles with Craftsy sometimes. I find when I have the problems, I email them and they have always resolved the issue. If I do not like their answer, I email them again and tell them why. They have always listened. At least for the last year. I have enjoyed conversing with them.

Jennys classes are great as are Kimberlys. Leah Day is awesome with FMQ. Many of the instructors are terrific. Some I do not care for much, but I just do not see how we can like every one, especially if we do not like their teaching method. You just take the information and learn from it and go from there.

[ren29]

Re: Online Classes

I'm so glad this subject came up. I've been getting notices about Craftsy classes and was wondering, too, if they were worth it. Might just have to check them out since getting signed up for one at my LQS (which isn't so local) is difficult.

[slg0522]

Re: Online Classes

I like the craftsy classes too. They have several free ones, you could try to see if you like the format. They have sales often watch for them.

[buckeyequilter]

Re: Online Classes

I'm a Craftsy Class junkie also....I have so many. I really need to take my Kindle Fire out to my sewing room and work through some of them so I can at least have something to show for the money I spent. I usually don't pay full price for them though. I think Jenny's classes are good for learning a lot of techniques.

[Sharyn J]

Re: Online Classes

I've taken several Craftsy classes and I enjoy the fact that I can view the lessons anytime I want forever. I agree with previous poster to sign up for some of the freebie classes; they are not all quilting classes, so there's a nice selection of free classes. Get used to the procedure and also, check out the reviews on any class that you may want to take in the future.

Wait until the class you want is on sale. I never pay full price. Let us know what class you want and I'm sure you'll get responses from forum members for pros and cons.

I currently have the Carol Doak's paper piecing class. Although I've done paper piecing in the past, I found her class invaluable. She has a very nice relaxed style, doesn't talk too much about non-essentials and her tips are awesome! You get her 50-miniature quilts patterns (3") which I've used for gift cards in addition to all the patterns necessary for her projects. All of her instructions are very clear.......at least, I think so. You will not be disappointed in her class. I purchased a package of her foundation paper and it's very nice

[Kgrammiecaz]

Re: Online Classes

I'm a Craftsy Class junkie also....I have so many. I really need to take my Kindle Fire out to my sewing room and work through some of them so I can at least have something to show for the money I spent. I usually don't pay full price for them though. I think Jenny's classes are good for learning a lot of techniques.

I did not know I can pull them up on my Kindle Fire - sure going to tonight

[Guest]

Re: Online Classes

If you guys are junkies then I'm a full-blown addict in need of rehab! lol! I adore Craftsy and have a bajillion classes (although many are free and most were not full price). They just click with me and (am I a hermit???) I just love spending time watching them. I love being able to go back whenever I want and sometimes I don't get to the projects for a year. Right now I'm working on Joanna Figueroa's class and Camille Roskelley's. They are both awesome (and use pre-cuts!). There are so many quilts I want to make my mind is swimming! I just bought a gorgeous layer cake (and co-ordinating fabric) for the Wheels quilt. It's gonna be sweet! I can't recommend Craftsy any more highly, the only thing I would suggest is to make sure you have good internet speed first, and if it's an issue, click the 'HD' button to remove that option and speed things up. Definitely try a free class first (like either of the Block of the Month classes - they're fantastic!) to see how your computer handles things and to get an idea of the format. I have made real friends from these classes!!!! I have some 50% off links on my blog (Over the Kitchen Counter: Angie's Place for Cooking and Crafts) for some of the older quilting classes if you can't find them on sale and reviews of most of the quilting classes and the projects I've made (I have a whole 'category' for Craftsy alone! lol!).

[Bubby]

Re: Online Classes

I love Craftsy classes also. My most recent class was Camille Roskelley's class. I love the Joanne Figueroa class also. You have access to watch your classes as often as you like forever - they don't expire. The only negative thing I find is that once you are on their 'list' you get tons of emails from them. The classes themselves are really good.

[Pandabear]

Re: Online Classes

I've taken several Craftsy classes and I enjoy the fact that I can view the lessons anytime I want forever. I agree with previous poster to sign up for some of the freebie classes; they are not all quilting classes, so there's a nice selection of free classes. Get used to the procedure and also, check out the reviews on any class that you may want to take in the future.

Wait until the class you want is on sale. I never pay full price. Let us know what class you want and I'm sure you'll get responses from forum members for pros and cons.

I currently have the Carol Doak's paper piecing class. Although I've done paper piecing in the past, I found her class invaluable. She has a very nice relaxed style, doesn't talk too much about non-essentials and her tips are awesome! You get her 50-miniature quilts patterns (3") which I've used for gift cards in addition to all the patterns necessary for her projects. All of her instructions are very clear.......at least, I think so. You will not be disappointed in her class. I purchased a package of her foundation paper and it's very nice

It's the Carol Doak class that I'm looking into. I've always wanted to learn paper piecing and it from things I've read, she's the lady to learn from.

[buckeyequilter]

Re: Online Classes

OMG....I just checked and I'm enrolled in 42 classes. I think I better get busy doing some craftsy things.

[Lindagie]

Re: Online Classes

I've taken several classes; free and otherwise; all have been great and I go back to them often. I also just signed up for the Carol Doak class when it was on sale, but have not had time to watch more than the intro yet. I am happy to know that you liked it and feel it is worth the money. I have only tried paper piecing from a BOM class and had some issues with it, hope I learn a lot with this class. I am sure I was doing something wrong, as I did one block just fine, but the second paperpieced block gave me headaches.
I have never had any issues with Craftsy working with me if there was a problem or concern. One time something went wrong while ordering a half-price class and there was also a 1 in 3 chance to get it free. I was charged the full price for the class. When I questioned them about it, they just gave me the class free, so that was great.

[momtutor]

Re: Online Classes

It sounds like I am with the majority here. I love Craftsy as well. I like the fact, that once you buy or download a free item, you have it forever to refer back to. It is sort of like being able to repeat the class for how ever many times you want.

If I found a pattern I want to try, I print it off and put it with the material I buy for it. That way, I remember what I bought it for and have it all bundled ready to use.

[snippet]

Re: Online Classes

I've taken two classes from Craftsy and like them both. And they were free!

You can watch them at any time. Stop when you need to and start again anytime, or go back and watch a previous lesson. In my classes, each lesson was less than an hour.

I liked the question and answer part on the side of the screen. Often a question I had was already asked and answered.

The 2012 BOM class by Amy Gibson teaches several different things that I had no experience with - hexi's and paper piecing. And it's a free class too.

Take a free class and watch a lesson to see how well you like the format before you spend any money. And look for the sales.... do a search for Craftsy a few times, and then go to a sewing site that has ad space and you might find a Craftsy sale appear.