I love to teach about art quilting and I consider my niche market to be traditional quilters who want some guidance as they move into art quilting. When I mentioned this on The Quilt Show, Alex Anderson was intrigued and we talked more about it on an episode of her podcast.
Video link. (A thirty minute video with me at about 6:30)
And since then, I’ve continued to think about it.
First, why learn new things?
– Humans are designed to learn. We enjoy learning. It’s exhilirating!
– New skills are useful, of course. But, the very act of learning enhances our creativity. We benefit from this activity even if we never actively use the new information!
(What I learned from this ugly painting)
But, what about wasting fabric, time, and money?
– It’s not a waste. You bought that fabric to enhance your quilting journey. If it ends up teaching you something, but it doesn’t end up in a masterpiece, it was still useful to you! Just in a different way than you may have imagined.
– And the same goes for your time. You’re not taking time away from making “good” quilts, just because you spend time learning something new. In fact, you will gain skill, efficiency, and confidence due to that investment of time.
– And the money? Of course, you want to invest your quilting dollars wisely. Thankfully, there are many good and inexpensive classes available online and elsewhere. (#See resources)
My scraps at a retreat. You gotta make scraps to make a quilt! It’s not wasteful.
How do I select an appropriate class? And a skilled teacher? (#See resources)
– What is it you want to learn? Look for a teacher who’s routinely doing that.
– Ask your friends for suggestions on that topic and do some online searching. Read everything about the class, including the supply list, and the suggested skill level, if mentioned. Look for a gallery of student results.
– Email the teacher if you have any questions!
– Look for a teacher with expertise. (And if learning via Zoom, check on the teacher’s experience with this, as well.) Has she been on a prominant quilting show? These shows do their homework and will likely choose the best teachers. Is his schedule pretty full, so you know he’s in demand? Can you find the teacher on one of the group teaching sites? (#See resources?)
– What can you learn from the teacher’s website? Are there student testimonials or student galleries? Are there social media posts about teaching?
– Again, email the teacher if you have any questions.
I love Pat Pauly’s work, so jumped at the chance to take a 5 day class with her. This was my favorite fabric from the class, still wet.
Finally, EMBRACE this new experience!
– Do all the class prep required. But, don’t save it all till the last minute. Consider adding extra fabric.
– Go to class with an open mind. Remind yourself that the experience is worthwhile, not just the project you make.
– Trust the teacher. Follow her directions, even if you usually do things differently.
– Recognize that you’ll feel a little out of your comfort zone. That’s always true when learning isn’t it? It’s normal.
– Chances are good that you’ll be really happy with your class project. But if not, you’ll know that it taught you something, nevertheless. My favorite quote relates to this: “If you never fail you’re not experimenting enough.”
A recent “failure.” I didn’t waste my time or fabric. They both helped me answer my question.
I LOVE to learn! (And to teach.) I hope you’ll take an exhilirating class and enjoy it immensely. And if you do, I’d love to hear about it.
Resources:
Global Quilt Connection: This directory is geared toward guilds, but you’ll find LOTS of capable teachers, all with listings of their offerings.
Craftsy on-demand quilt classes
My own on-demand classes
Enjoy your learning adventure!
Ellen Lindner
P.S. See me on The Quilt Show, episode 3007. (You have to be a member, but there’s a free 7 day trial)
P.P.S. If you can afford a multi-day class I highly recommend it. Check out Quilt Surface Design Symposium (OH,) Quilting by the Lake (NY,) and Empty Spools Seminars (CA.)
