A New Approach To Quilting Classes: Online!

When you hear the words "quilting class", what is the first thing that pops into your mind? Do you imagine schlepping your sewing machine and all your supplies to your local quilt shop every Tuesday night? Do you imagine spending the entire day at a class offered at a quilt show, trying to keep up with the rest of the class, not knowing if you'll get your project far enough along to finish at home?

Those have traditionally been your choices. But now you have a new way to learn - quilting classes that you can take online, using the Web.

Quilt University, at QuiltUniversity.com, offers high-quality online classes and delivers them across the Web really well. You may miss the face-to-face contact of a regular quilting class, but there are still plenty of advantages to taking classes online.

Attending Class At Quilt University

So what's it like being a student at QU?

First, you preview the classes being offered. QU lists each class, the instructor, and a picture of the completed project. Further information about the class lets you know the skill level required for the class, the number of sessions the class is divided into, and the price. And you can also get the supply list right away.

When you decide to take a class at QU, you simply enroll in the class and pay for it, right on the QU Web site. Within a day or so, you will receive a password by e-mail. That password lets you see on your browser each lesson for the class in which you enrolled.

Each Sunday for the duration of the class, a new lesson will be posted. You can view the new lesson in your browser any time after it's posted, so you've got some flexibility.

If you have questions about the lesson, you can enter them into the discussion board for the teacher and other students to answer or comment on. Your password also lets you read the questions other class members have asked about the lessons, and the answers and comments to those questions.

You can use your password as often as you like until three weeks after the class has ended.

When you have completed the project, you can submit a photo of your work to the gallery for the teacher and other classmates to see. After you fill out an evaluation of the class, you're done.

Are They Good Classes?

The first class I took at Quilt University was the free class written by Carol Miller, who runs QU. Carol's class teaches accuracy and consistency in cutting and assembling while constructing a table runner.

My first step was to print the class outline and the supply list. The class outline showed me everything that I would be learning, and the supply list showed every piece of equipment and fabric I would need to construct the project.

I looked in the gallery to see table runners others had made in previous classes so I could get an idea of the colors and placement I wanted to use. I printed a coloring diagram and a cutting table for this project.

After picking my fabric, I began Lesson One, working my way through all three lessons. Each lesson describes in a nice, conversational style how to complete each step. It's almost as if you are hearing Carol speak.

The materials are clearly written and easy to understand. Charts and diagrams describe details, while many color pictures show examples. I printed the lessons so I would have my own text book.

I like the tips and advice Carol gives in each lesson. She explains how to care for your fabric, choose a ruler, check your mat for accuracy and press without stretching, in addition to giving full cutting and assembling instructions for the project.

I took my second class, Patchwork Illusions, from Karen Combs. I felt comfortable right away because the course materials were presented in the standard QU format.

Karen covers choosing values and textures to build the blocks with many possible layouts. I received Karen's expert advice on making quilts that look three dimensional. Karen uses fewer words and more pictures (and is slightly more serious) than Carol, but I enjoyed both classes very much.

Online, Or Down The Hall?

After taking these classes at QU, I got to thinking about the experience of online learning and its strengths and weaknesses. Here is what I've decided:

Strengths

• Online learning fits my schedule. I don't need to work on the project if I'm having a busy day. I work when it's convenient for me.
• I get better written materials online than I usually do in a "real world" class. A hallmark of QU is that the materials are well thought out, detailed, and clearly presented.
• I pay less for the class, probably because online is just so much more efficient for the teacher than teaching in the real world.
• I have more time to complete the assignment than in a conventional class. An online class doesn't end at the end of the day. And at QU, the teacher is available up to three weeks after the class is over for questions.
• I don't have to rush through the project. I can take my time for craftsmanship, because I work at my own pace.
• I don't have the peer pressure to keep up with everyone else in class, getting frustrated if I fall behind.
• I don't have to load up all my equipment and supplies to take somewhere for a couple of hours, and then drag it all back home.
• I can work in the comfort of my own sewing room without the distractions of other people's projects, problems, and personal lives.

Weaknesses

• I can't show the instructor what I've done.
• If I have questions, I have to be able to write them down very clearly so others will understand what I'm talking about.
• I have to understand written instructions and answers.
• I have to be self-disciplined. I can't just show up each week and work for a few hours while the teacher prods me along.
• I miss the comraderie. It's nice to get together with my friends to quilt.

Making The Right Choice

The best thing about online classes is that you can also take conventional classes if and when you want to. You don't have to give up one to enjoy the benefits of the other!

Here in New Hampshire, I'm definitely taking online classes in winter instead of driving an hour through rotten weather to get to class. But when the weather's fine and some of my best friends are taking a particular class at a show or quilt shop, you can bet I'll be there!

Stay-at-home mothers will love online classes because they can attend class without leaving the children. But given a chance to get out of the house and spend some time among grown-ups, they'll still find local classes a wonderful break.

If you think you'd like to try online learning but aren't sure how well you'll do, you can take a free class at Quilt University. The current free class registration closes August 15, 2000, but Carol tells us there will be other free classes offered if you miss this one.

Based on my experience, I think you should sign up today!

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