I made a large laptop quilt for my bestfriend. Was xtra carefully that everything lined up, seams completely flat. Ironed everything perfect to send out. My co-worker's wife did longarm quilting and had "years of experience". Fine, only needed a simple meandering all over pattern.
Spoke to her explaining (3 times) that I wanted a medium stipple (not large) also wrote this as instructions when she received the quilt. She finished the quilt and brought it to me at work (where customers were milling around). I nearly flipped, what did she do-LARGE stippling that goes at an angle on the quilt rather than across making the blocks look alittle lumpy. I couldn't really complain and made out that I liked it. Not only that, now that I look at it she has a FOLD OF BATTING SEWN IN THE QUILT so there is a lump that is about 38" . How could that happen if she had loaded it correctly? She even told me how true and flat my quilt was and how "easy it was for her to load". I am so MAD and I paid for this!!!! The good news is my friend is not a quilter and you can't really see the lump. She probably won't notice it's there-BUT I WILL.

Do you think I should tell her this happened so she pays closer attention. Or just chalk it up to a learning experience???? I guess I'm bad, and should have meet with her to explain my thoughts, but I thought with such a simple design it would be OK. Thanks for letting me vent!!! :(

welll when this fold issue has happened on my long-arm.. it was because my fabric for the backing wasn't tight enough. Sorry for your disapointment.. I understand your being mad.. Personally I would apperciate someone telling me they weren't happy so I could improve myself next time... just my thoughts here. Maybe give you discount next time.. we all are learning this craft day by day. Another thing is what is small to one person might not be small to another.. maybe next time be more specific like a meander no larger than 6' or something ... once again just my thoughts.

I am sure she will love the quilt... but I do TOTALLY understand your frustration!

I understand your hesitation to say anything in front of others - but as a paying customer you have every right to honestly express your opinion - I agree that everyones version of sizes vary - I would definitely tell her...this is a great learning experience for both of you ... always see samples of work and she sould have patterns you could look at. Its so frustrating to take so much time and effort into getting the quilt just right only to have it "ruined" in your eyes. You are right though - your friend probably wont even notice unless you point it out to her...dont ruin the special quilt by pointing out what is wrong with it lol It was made especially for your friend from you and she will cherish it for that reason!!!

I agree with you in that I should have explained myself better (this is why I haven't said anything to her). But the lump to me is unacceptable. I know things happen and I'm sure she would correct it. She'd have to remove the stitches in 1/2 of the quilt as it's in the middle (of course). I don't know if I'd have time to do the binding once I got it back in time to ship for Xmas, so she will receive it as is. Thank you for your thoughts. I think I'll write her a note and give it to her hubby when I go to work.

Have a wonderful holiday!! :-D

I would tell her in a nice way that there must have been a miscommunication. I would also tell her that there is a fold. Be nice, but she needs to know. I would be upset too.

So sorry you had a bad experience like this. Since size can be a subjective thing ("Large", "Medium", "Small" ), I have a pic of meandering examples that I show customers with a ruler laid across it for scale so they can see what my interpretation of those sizes means. I think and hope it helps to avoid miscommunication. If I were you, though, I would definitely tell her about the fold since it indicates a lack of attention to the tautness of the backing and/or batting.

Its always good to keep an open communication going, everyone can learn from that. I always try and do my best on any quilt I take in and encourage first timers to come on in! We all talk and I lay their quilt, backing and battings out on my table and discuss the options and even draw pictures or use pattern examples I have, fill out my intake sheet, thread type/color, what areas get what treatment, trimming...etc. Quilts we get in the mail?-- I lay them out and call you to discuss an apple to apple approach while I've got my beady little eyes on it. just insurance that we are all on the same sheet of music. If you've taken the time and obvious love and care to produce the quilt top, I want it right for you!
I would appreciate your comments if I did something wrong as I will try and fix or make you happy any way I can with in reason. Sincerely--Dave B.

Another P.S.-ever think of something after you push post?LOL

I have had batting that has its own lumps, but there again-laying it out you should see those problems--take the time to do it! Can only help and avoid bad situations.

I'm new at Longarming -- so I've learned from the posts. Just want to say that I laid out my last customer's quilt and I ALWAYS run my hand over it before I start sewing. Halfway thru, I felt a large fold -- lump. I loosened the top and ran my hand up to get the fold out. It's not hard....and in my opinion, had your quilter done that she could have fixed the problem!

Another rule I have --- we DISCUSS the end result in private...not in your office. Don't take deliveries to your place of work. Just tell her the boss won't allow it. LOL

I'd be disappointed, too......Obviously, you won't be using her again!

Thank you all for your comments. You are right about checking the batting. I did do that when I cut it to take to her. The lump is only on one side. Something must have happened when she loaded it.

I would have thought she would have seen it (I did right away) as it's 3 thicknesses of batting. OOOOO well - it's done.

On to the next one!!! :thumbup:

Dee, I like your saying! Cool--Dave B.

I am also brand new to LAing and have not done anything for anyone else, YET. I plan to quilt for others. If I had someone who was not happy with my work I would want to know as well so I would not repeat the same mistake.

Regarding the fold in the batting, My rack has the batting hanging loose, it is not on it's own rail. I "float" it on the quilt backing then the top. However with each advancement of the quilt I check it. My rack has a wonderful feature in that I can lift the rail that the quilt top is on to actually inspect the batting to ensure it advanced smoothly with no wrinkles. It can happen depending on the rack set up. Not all LA racks are the same, similar yes but some have very different features.

I have a long arm business and treat every quilt as if it were my own - I would not accept a 'lump' of batting on mine nor should you. As a long armer, she should be continually smoothing as she goes - you would definitely feel the lump. The size issue can be a problem... however, it doesn't really sound to me that you got a meandering period.

I would hope that a customer of mine would talk with me if they were not happy with the job I did - this is the only way I would be able to be able to correct it or not have it happen again.

I'm sure your friend is going to love the quilt - she will be thrilled to have a piece of you with her all the time.

I am sorry that you had to recieve that quilt back with a pleat in the batting. I have done it myself and before I take any quilt off the longarm I roll it row by row to run my hands one the top and the bottom. To make sure that that didnt not happen. I also do that to make sure god forbid there was a pin or something else left in there after the delicate surgery that has taken place. I wold also let her konw that there is a pleat and prove it to her so she cant back peddle. If I do bad I expect someone to make such a statement about my work. It makes me a better longarm konwing that. I hope you can get this resolved with the longarmer.

It wouldn't matter how smooth YOU made the batting, I meant the LONGARMER should have made it smooth. No excuse in my book for that!

Dave -- thank you! It's so darned true, it's scary!

First off, you are the customer, and you have the right to tell her when you are unhappy. Anytime that you have someone quilt for you, have them show you examples of what they say they can do. Most LAQ's have examples ready to show customers.

There is no excluse for the batting fold however.

Sorry for your experience, but if you learn from it, you can keep from simular experiences in the future.

Thank you everyone for your comments - I'm over it. I'll know better next time. I did write her a note so she knows.
I'm going to send a pic to you can see it. Thanks again

After seeing the pictures I am speechless.

I am new to LA' and check the back and batting top and bottom each time I roll to ensure there are no folds and pleats. I just run my hands over but also look underneath every time. I have no plans to quilt for others but plan to rent out time on my machine and I have already made this technique part of the teaching when clients take their first lesson on the machine. I am so sorry you had this issue and wish you lived nearer to me then you could come and quilt your next project yourself!!

that is exactly why I do not send my quilts out I have taken several machine quilting classes and invested in a Bernina with the BSR foot and it is hard work but I do my own also check with quilting shops as the ones here has long arms you can pay an hourly fee for

I think I would show it to her and tell her gently that she might want to be more careful in the future. If she appreciates your business and wants more of it, she'll try to compensate in some way for the mess up. In the mean time, I'm sure your friend will love the gift , screw ups and all because you made it especially for her. Afterall, its the thought that counts.

It is hard to mix friends and business - next time use a non-friend to do the quilting. I agree about the folded batting - that is just sloppiness.

Somehow on one baby quilt the bobbin tension got loose when one of my students was using the HQ. I removed the bad stitching and requilted the baby quilt myself. Funny story about this particular quilt. After my student spent hours choosing the right shade and pinks and greens for which she was being paid, she found out the quilt was for a dog. She would have done her best anyhow, but wouldn't have been so fussy about the shades of pink. :lol:

since this was the wife of your co-worker, there's no way in the world you can say anything in any way that will not change the relationship you have with the man. anything you say will hurt his and his wife's feelings.

the deed is done. do you want her to take the stitches out and redo it? do you want a discount? if you just want to vent, then do it here where we understand. otherwise it's going to be very hard to work with him. all you can do is never use her again. if he should ask you why, tell him your cousin does it for you now.

In my opinion, any longarmer who is doing quilts for pay is responsible for her business. And that means making your customers get what they pay for. (No, they're not ALWAYS right, but do have a right to what they pay for.)
Talk to her. Not a note through a third person. Tell her that you are disappointed and why. She should offer to fix it or refund some of your money if not all. This sounds like more than a "communication" problem. It sounds like she is not as experienced as you were led to believe. The large fold in the backing is unacceptable. Not clarifying what you wanted for a pattern is not good practise.
Either way, YOU have to step up and talk with her before she takes on another client. Give her a chance to make it right.
Just my opinion , as someone who is starting out doing "cheque" quilts.

Just curious. How much did she charge for this quilt?

After time to think about it - you are right I am not going to say anything as I do not want to jeopardize my working arrangement with her husband (he's great, love him to death-she is really nice to although I don't really know her). Just THANKFUL to all of you who responded and listened!!!!! :thumbup: :thumbup:

Hi Laurie,
Sorry to hear of your experience. Recently I had a problem similar to yours. I go to a quilt group and said at one meeting I wanted a long evening dress making for our forth coming Ruby Wedding Anniversary party. How I wish now, I hadn't said anything. One of the girls said I will make one for you! How nice I thought. My DD came with me to choose a design - Of which I had made an initial sketch of, and a fitting. She showed me a couple of dresses she had made and they were really lovely. When she came round with it on the Monday before the party on the Saturday - with a couple of fittings in between- when all seemed OK, it was NOTHING like the design I wanted - I couldn't lift my arms up - or out - No smoochy dancing with my DH !! I panicked and we went out and after a long search - many shops I found a suitable dress. PHEW !!
I had paid for the material (shot chinese silk and organza) and initially she wanted payment for making it too, but after a chat I just paid for her petrol expenses. I have got nothing to show for it and no material - I couldn't do anything with it anyway.
I have also learnt a lesson from this and won't do that again. I have seen her since and we had a hug - and I said no bad feelings - I know she felt uncomfortable -
Dot.

Well, I guess it was a learning experience. I hope you had a wonderful time at your event!!!!

I agree S,M,L can be very subjective. I know, my expextation of a large meander differs greatly from other quilters I know. But, until I floated the batting and top on the LA frame, I had problems with the batting bunching up because it stuck to the top or bottom when the quilt was advanced. Perhaps this is what is happening. Not until I was familiar with the LA process, did I realize how nice those machines are that have some kind of release mechanism to help keep the layers smooth.

I am going to keep you in mind for next summer when I want to LAQ for myself --when in Bobcaygeon. Sounds like you would be a good teacher.

Your friend should definitely correct her error, since you are paying for her
work. In using a LA or short/mid arm machine, even though the batting
may be pieced, the quilter should pay attention to any folds, however slight,
and smooth the batting as you do each row of stitching. The top, batting, and
backing should be taut, and held that way by your side "clips".

I am pretty new to longarming (6 months)and couldn't imagine letting it walking out the door that way(the fold). I would definetly want to know! (but can't imagine missing it). Even though it was half way up the quilt it would have been removed if I had done it. Yes, it's time consuming but that's just the way it is.
Sorry for your experience.But don't let one person, keep you from all the other more careful longarmers there are, many who are on here who's work looks fabulous.