I personally much prefer books and online sources to classes. When I first started knitting, there wasn't a LYS in my town. The closest one was about 1.5 hours away, so all the basics (after one brief initial sit-down with a friend to get me started) were learned without taking a class. Now that I'm more proficient at knitting and have an even EASIER time understanding concepts I see on the internet or in a book I am just not motivated to take a class. I like being able to use my own yarn on my own time schedule, at my own pace.

Ooo..where to start? I'm ambivalent about taking classes, having taught a few in recent years. It depends...on the teacher. If you get a chance to take a class with Nicky Epstein or Nancy Bush or Galina Khmeleva, run, don't walk, to sign up. There are a few others in that catagory and also a few "big names" I wouldn't go next door for. As for learning, there isn't much that I know about knitting that I didn't get from books or videos. (If you want to learn the two-handed Fair Isle, spend your money on the Philosopher's Wool book or video.) As for shops insisting that you buy the wool there, I'm ambivalent. If the class is free, or VERY cheap, maybe. I parted company with a nearby shop as teacher when that issue came up....when you get them into the shop for the class, they usually buy stuff, so don't be greedy!

I personally enjoy knitting classes, I always come away with one or two ideas I hadn't thought of on my own. I enjoy spending an afternoon with other knitters and if it is a brand new technique I like to see it demonstrated and then go home and look it up on the internet and read about it. I think I could get the same satisfaction I get from a class if there were a knitting group that got together to knit, talk and swap ideas, but since I don't have that I take advantage of the occasional classes that come my way.

I'm much more of a book/internet person. I just don't think I would learn too much from a class. Now a workshop at a festival or yarn show, maybe.

Books, books, and more books. I've never taken a class, I think I'm too whacky to take a class, and couldn't focus and would probably just be a distraction. I took a workshop once and although I really liked it, it also kinda drove me bonkers.

I'm more of a learn by trial and error I guess. HOwever I have found so far that with my thoughst of spinning a class is the only way I'm going to be able to actually learn. I think because it's more of a feel kind of thing, then learning certain stitches and/or techniques.

I took a class to remind me how to knit (I had learned as a teen) but I was way ahead and completed two pairs of mittens in what took most of the other class people to finish just one.

I mostly learn from a book, ask for suggestions on my blog or ask my SnB gals for advice/demonstration etc. There have been a few classes at one LYS that have peaked my interest, but I've passed because they've gotten ridiculous about the "all supplies must be purchased here" rule. If you don't have a receipt proving that you bought your needles from them a year ago they make you buy new AGAIN! That is bad business so I walked out and mostly don't even go there unless I'm in a "must need it now" bind. Plus, I know how the three main LYSs in the area treat their instructors and I'm not behind that either.

I learn by book and internet. But I have taken two classes, one on fair isle and one on finishing at Stitches. They were both good classes, but in all honesty, it wasn't something I couldn't learn from a book or the internet which made the price of the classes considerably high. With that being said, I highly doubt I'll take another knitting class again unless it's taught by someone "famous."

i have never been to a knitting class, i taught myself how to knit beyond the basic knit/purl from my mom. and i'd much preferred by asking knitbloggers than in a class environment. having said that, my LYS asked if i want to teach a sock knitting class. hmm..

Being pretty much self-taught with a book on my lap, I took my first classes last spring -- workshops, really, and while I learned a lot, it was the rubbing of shoulders and camraderie that was most interesting. (And how could I resist the likes of Lily Chin, Lizbeth Upitis, and Joyce Williams?) That said, I just signed up for a two-color knitting class at my LYS; first class is tomorrow. It meets for a total of 4 hours and there's a limit of 4 students -- last I heard, I was one of only two. That's not even a "class," that's just sitting down with another knitter for a few hours and getting lots of hands-on. And what I'm looking for here, mostly, are tips and tricks and advice on technique, not actual "learning to knit" instruction. I will blog about it, no doubt. ; )

I am much more of a read and try it on your own kind of gal. Particularly with knitting - I know how to purl and knit and increase and decrease, so I can pretty much do anything without need of too much help. Its usually much quicker for me to figure it out on my own than to take a class.

However, I did take a lesson (not a class - very different in my mind) on spinning because it is kind of a body-memory type skill, that for me, if I'm not doing it well right out of the gates, then it is going to be very difficult for me to correct it later if my body already "memorized" doing it the less optimal way.

I learned a lot from a couple classes I took when I was starting to knit. I took one on weaving in my ends which was extremely valuable. Now that I've got some experience, I think that the classes like one on socks, or something more basic wouldn't be helpful at all. But the more advanced classes, like sweater design or a 4 hour seminar on finishing would probably be helpful. The internet and books are such a great resource, that the beginning classes are redudant. `

12 years of school, 4 years of college, 3 years of law school. I am seriously DONE with school in any form. No classes for me!

Still, I like learning new things from books, the internet and knowledgeable friends, of which I have many.

My grandmother taught me how to knit and purl when I was a child, but I taught myself everything else I know from books. There isn't any technique I can think of that I would want to take a class on. But if it was a workshop where I was likely to learn some techniques that aren't published anywhere, I might be interested. The great thing about knitting is that you can make it up as you go along. If you need to do something, just look at your knitting and it will tell you how to do it.

Books, all the way! And the internet too. I think that unless the class was extremely well taught, and had fairly advanced subject matter, I'd be bored out of my mind. For advanced techniques, or things like spinning, I think one on one demonstration/lessons are the way to go. The only time I'll take a class is if a renowned knitter is teaching something that looks and sounds really interesting or unique - Like the guild workshop that Lorna (Lorna's Laces Lorna!) taught on using knitting to make cards and knitting journals.

Sounds like I'm with the majority here... definitely books and bloggers. There are knitters I would definitely take a class from - many have been mentioned already - for their technical expertise and the opportunity to get hands on training from them. But I don't think I'd go take a class at a LYS - I'd be doing it for the camaraderie mostly, and I could do that with a SNB and a lot less cost. And heaven knows the last thing I need is more yarn that I really don't want.

I started knitting about a year ago, and I have learned exclusively from books and the internet, both blogs and instructional sites. I've never been interested in taking a class, just because I know I'd rather learn something new at my own pace and in my own way.

That being said, without the vast resources freely and easily available on the internet about knitting, I may have turned to classes. All hail the internet!!

And I think there are blogging knitters and non-blogging knitters, whose experience and purpose in the craft can be very different. Keeping up a blog and interaction with the universe of knitters, patterns, yarns and techniques available online and that I learn about from other blogs is a major contributor in my daily knitting experience, and I can't imagine the craft without it.

This may be my longest comment ever. Good question, though!

Steph, that's a fascinating question, but you're opening a can of worms here :). Besides, I think you know the answer for many of us - book, internet, and once in a while, a friend. I took a class once on color knitting, and, well... waste of time and money. I would have learned **just** as much from that Philosopher's Wool video. That's the reason I always feel good putting together tutorials and videos - I know a lot of people learn in this particular way :). I've never experienced taking a workshop with one of the great knitting teachers, like Nancy Bush, so maybe that would change my mind.

I am probably the unique one. I learned from a friend and taught myself from books and internet, but I have taken classes from my lys on moebious and mitered squares. They were small workshops and gave the general concept and were not expensive. I didn't mind buying the yarn at the store because I bought yarn I was going to buy. For the most part, I learn from my snb, someone can always show me a method.

Definitely book, internet, and friends sending me stuff I don't know how to use and have to learn how to use, quick, or I'll feel like a dork. Hence the sudden dogbrush purchase (I don't have a dog) in answer to the question, what the hell do I do with these dyed locks, for example....

I forgot to mention that although I love the instructors at my lys and they will help you out at the snb or during work hours, a few people in the class were well behind the level of the class, for example in mitered squares the woman next to me asked how to purl, that was the onlt frustration process. So, we should have moved more quickly.

Like most of your other commenters, books and internet and the odd knitting friend (virtual, and flesh and blood!). I do plan on taking spinning classes though.

I learn best from books, online photos/videos, or one-on-one instruction. When I was just beginning to knit a few years ago, I used a kid's knitting book to learn the basics. When I got ready to try my first sweater, the owner of one LYS was very helpful to me as I went along. She was always available for some coaching through the confusing parts. I did take a class on intarsia and felt I was behind the others the entire time...too much pressure to keep up meant that I walked away feeling I didn't really learn anything.

I have taken 2 classes and I enjoyed them quite a bit although it has been at least 2 years ago. I have since moved from that town but I made some fun friends by doing those classes. At my current LYS, I haven't taken any classes because the times are never good for me and my LYS owner is very good with one on one stuff when I have questions but I do like visual instruction. Once I see it, I will know how to do it. Reading doesn't always work for me. I'm a visual learner. With that said, I sure do have a lot of books. Sheesh!

p.s. In response to what Kristi said about having to prove purchasing needles from a LYS in order to take a class, I'd never shop at a store like that. I am pretty loyal to my LYS, but the owner seems to like it when I bring in stuff from other places so she can see if she would be interested in carrying it. She will wind it for me because I've been to stores where they will not.