I guess the worst "advice" I had ever been told was by a clerk at JA's when I first started quilting 10 years ago. She told me "If there isn't a pattern for it then it can't be done. It just wouldn't look right if you made something up on your own." She even had a very nice fake smile when she said it. I actually started quilting by following patterns on the net and in books to a T, even fabric and colors. Quickly decided that I don't want to spend weeks or even months making something everyone else has, what's the point in that?? She also laughed at me when I told her I was mixing 2 different blocks to create something unique. Said it wouldn't be worth the time to do that, why mess it all up? *Gasp*
I went back to that shop a few years later and talked to the manager, told her what had happened and that I didn't know why they even hired clerks like her as it really was the worst thing I had ever been told. Haven't been to a JA's since.