Wait a minute, ladies! If your car wasn't repaired so that it worked properly, wouldn't you take it back to be corrected? Or at least, let them know how unhappy you are with inadequate work then go somewhere else? The LA quilter should be told her work was unsatisfactory--no matter how sweet or proud she was. I understand it's uncomfortable to complain, but really... I know of one LA quilter who pulled out stitches from an entire quilt and redone it to the satisfaction of the customer. If the woman is doing the work for money, she should either return the money or redo.

SandyQuilter

I agree that if you wash it, it may look okay. However, I see a lot of long stitches. I'm not sure how those are going to hold up in the long run. If they get caught on something, they're coming out. So sorry this happened to you! I would probably say something to the longarmer about her stitches - she's got to get them under control!! I wouldn't want to pay for that quality of work for sure!

Agree with SandyQuilter & Kydeb & others ... before I saw your pics I thought washing would take care of the quilting problems. But after seeing the photos, I think I'd have an "unstitching" party with your quilt buddies and then get it PROPERLY quilted !!
There are areas of long stitches, just sloppy overall and thread breaks are unacceptable. Those areas aren't going to hold up for long. Her machine isn't running right ... or she just doesn't have a clue !?
I would at least call, or email the LA if you can't bring yourself to do it face to face - SHE NEEDS to know that her work is subpar and ruined a pretty quilt. Run, don't walk, and show it to the LQS who "recommended" her !! THEY need to know, before she ruins another quilt ! I have a hard time understanding how she thinks her quilting is even acceptable, much less something to be proud of ?? I'm not a LA but I've been mq my own quilts for a few years, and I wouldn't have let it ever go out the door !!

Wow, I can't believe that quilting is worse than my stippling on my DSM. So glad you posted that you are ripping out the quilting and having it re-quilted. Please post pictures of the quilt when it is finished.

I have my quilts done by a reputable LA Quilter and she does beautiful work but she had a lady that showed her some work which was nice so she hired her and when she did a quilt of mine it was a mess. My regular LA Quilter fired her on the spot and took out all the stitching ( can you imagine) and redid it and it is beautiful and all the quilting stitches by her employee came out in the wash and she did give me a discount which was not needed as the quilt was done so nicely. I still go to the same person and she does everything herself now so it does take a little longer for quilts to be done.

oh how disappointing. So sorry that happened to you.

Why does it seem that so many people think that sending out to a long arm quilter is the only way to go?
In the old days, it was all done by hand. Many, many quilts are still done this way. You can tie them, or quilt it simply or elaborately by yourself or with others in a group. You can send it out to a group to be quilted by hand. And, you can even quilt it yourself on your domestic home machine.
I'm just saying, sending it out is not your only option.

The first time I use long arm service and came away very disappointed as well. It was In the Woods block of the month quilt, after we talked on customizing the quilt bec of the appliqué and how I wanted it to be done - I was little nervous in leaving it there but after being in the drawer for few years, and my dh wanted it to be done. The excitement on what we talked about was awesome until the day I picked it up, I actually cried. He decided himself to use edge to edge leaf pattern on it all over the appliqués and several puckers, several wrinkles. I really can't take out the stitches bec of the appliques and holes. Needless to say, I shy away from long arm service for long time, and definitely would not go back to him again. I finally found 2 nearby and have been happy with the results so far. My dh bought me a Sunshine 16 for Xmas last year which is very basic to me but I can do smaller quilts on it. Just gotta practice on my own.
I suggest to find someone else and good luck on your decision on the quilt. Sorry you had to experience that too!

I would get my money back, this is the worse quilting I have ever seen from a longarm...so so sad!!! Then I would
show the lady who recommended her...then I would rip it out cuz your quilt is beautiful!

All of this is very good to know. I've had to un-do a few mistakes in my day, but usually I catch the bad stitching within the first row of my quilting. The last one I did, I thought...maybe it would fluff up in the wash or maybe it wasn't really that bad, but a friend, non-sewer, asked me if I was happy with it the way it was and if I'd be proud to send it to a customer knowing it wasn't perfect...No. I ripped out the stitches and when I re-did it, it was lovely and I was very proud of the way it turned out. It's a good learning experience for the quilter and the topper.