From my grandmother and my mother. My mother still has the "No Tresspassing" sign in her sewing room. :P

As for what stitches... All of them.

If you are looking for a place to learn, try your library. If they don't have anything on the shelf, ask the librarian if they have any OLD home ec books around, from say the 50s or 60s. Also try used book stores.

Another way, and this seems sappy even to me even though it is valid, is a lot of communities have a quilting circle full of "little old ladies"- I'm sure if you supply your own material and ask nicely, you can learn. Or nursing homes.

It sounds so horrible saying that. Knowledge, left to be wearhoused until it disintigrates, be it people or books. Excuse me while I mourn the future.