One of the Quilt Shops is offering a monthly project where you pay for the first block pattern and fabric to make it....if you bring it back completed the next month you receive a different block with fabric for free. You must also stay a few minutes to listen to instructions and about new products in the shop.This goes on for 9 months. There doesn't seem to be a completed quilt to show at this time and I don't think they plan to show it....maybe more of a mystery? If you have participated in something like this could you share your experiences about how it ran and if you knew more about what the complete project was going to look like before you enrolled?

I'm doing one now thru my LQS. It's Marti Michele's American Beauty. I paid $10.00 to start and as long as I bring my block completed to the next meeting, the next block is free. If I miss a meeting or haven't finished the block, I pay $5.00. Later I do have to pay for the sashing kit. I'm not sure how much that is. I like doing it like that.

Yes, I've done many Block of the Month (BOMs)...I paid $5 for the first block, and as long as I showed up on the day(s) in each of the following months and showed my completed block, then I got the next one free. At the end of the year I had 12 blocks. They usually try and sell you the finishing kit for it once you have all the blocks done.

Our LQS showed us the full pattern up front so we knew what we were making. We got to choose from a variety of patterns. I think they usually had 4or 5 different ones going at the same time...so it would suit everyone's style.

I did something similar where you paid $10 and got a block kit. Then each month if you came in on the designated day to listen to what they had new in the shop or new products, you got another kit for a block. By the end of the year, you had 12 blocks big enough to make a twin quilt. If you did not come in on the designated day, you could still get the block kit, but had to pay $5 or $6. But we did know before hand what the final product would look like.

I only bought their finishing kit once...all the other times, I used the blocks and made my own style quilt with them.

You don't need the finishing kit - they are usually really high priced. And I agree with Stewy...they are usually trying to entice you to buy something new.

I went in their every month and picked up my block and left...never purchased anything from them...but lots of ladies were lined up at the counter spending $$$$$

This is how the one I was in was run, too :D:D:D

I've done one like described above. Buy the first block for $5, make the block and get the next for a dollar. If you don't get the block made, the next one is $5. They had the quilt up to see before they started. I'm doing another one this year that requires applique', which is definitely NOT my thing. But I liked the finished quilt and I need to make myself work out of my comfort zone. Maybe curves and Y-seams will be following close behind?

I participated in one (they called it "Blockbusters") a couple of years ago. It went for a full year and at the last session they gave ideas for finishing the quilt. I think it cost $5 for the first block and if you brought the completed block from the previous month for the next installment, you got the fabrics for the current block free. It was a lot of fun and I managed to make every session so my 12 blocks cost me $5. It did get a bit taxing after a while tho - making sure that the I was free to go to the meeting on the first Saturday of every month for an entire year.

I did 2 where it was $5 to start, $5 for any missed month. I ended up paying about $15 total for each, including the starter fee. Then one LQS switched to $2 start/missed and giving you 2 pieces of fabric. You then used your stash to fill in the rest. It was okay, but I couldn't keep up with it. The other LQS switched to where you had to pay every month and just had to pay more if you didn't finish.

My feeling is that I either don't want to be penalized at all (so where you pay for the whole club and just show up when you can) or if I do complete the block, I want to get the next one free. Not pay less. That's not fun for me. And also the I have to make a block now or else mentality isn't fun either

Heh, we're talking about the same one!

I have only been to one quilting store and have not heard anything about this idea. If they did offer something like that there I would participate.

I did it once. $5.00 to start, different block every month, didn't pay more if you kept up. Given a choice of 2 color schemes up front. This was offered twice each month, and you could attend either session, so it wasn't too difficult to attend the 'class'. It did introduce me to some of the gadgets available, although I didn't buy them. And also got a few pointers on block construction.

But -- my completed blocks are just that -- blocks. I have yet to sew them together. Another UFO.

Never heard of this, but it's an interesting concept.
An LQS I know of offers free fabric once a week if you stay in the shop and sew it into a quilt. They donate the quilts to the shelter.

Please don't call creative attempts to entice customers into one's store a "gimmick." These LQS don't self support, you know. The sale of their merchandise pays the bills....and doesn't often provide much real income on top of that for the owners, either!

This BOM sales technique in several formats has been around for a bit over a decade and was wildly popular for shops and customers when it began. For us personally, it was a way to demonstrate a new product that may not have been sold in our area before or may have just very recently come on the market. Those customers who bought it that morning of the block/demo received a 10% discount on it, but they were also invited to come for the BOM and make no other purchase.

In most small LQS, I ask you, HOW else can you get demonstrations of new things to the customers, expand on the inventory and keep things fresh in the shop?

Your local grocery store has "taste testing demos" all the time; do we resent THEM? This sort of thing is simply good business, "marketing".

I, too, am really worried about the cost of goods for our art these days, but expecting a LQS to survive on "air" and no paying customers is a bit far-fetched. Visit these demos when you can, you might actually learn a thing or two and enjoy the energy and company of like minds on that day!

Jan in VA

I am going to one at Ben Franklin on Saturday. My DM wanted to go to a Block of the Month, so we found this one. It is $25.00 initially. I don't mind because they have good fabric and I want them to stay in business. It will be a chance to meet more quilters, too.

This is in Monroe, WA. is anyone else going to this? It started in January, so we missed a month, but I am sure we are going to get caught up. It is going to be 30's and 40's fabrics.

All the ones I have been to before show you a finished quilt. I still think it is a very good deal.

I did one where it was $5.00 the first month/block & they gave us one fabric piece. No charge for each additional month if you finished it & did "show & tell", which I enjoyed.
It was to test out a new pattern so it helped them & us.
I enjoyed the group experience very much & always learned new things. The LQS was exceptional, but unfortunately closed.
Miss it.

if the procedures are explained clearly and in detail from the beginning ...

if there are no hidden costs that will suprise and bite you in the wallet at some future point ...

if you like the fabrics ...

if it will be fun ...

if it fits your budget ...

then it isn't a gimmick. the shop is taking the bigger financial risk. unless they ask you to sign a contract up front, they can't be sure you will buy the finishing kit from them, so they are risking their cost of the supplies for the second through last block. they might make back that cost by attracting you to other things they have for sale, or for the finishing kit. they might not.

a program like this puts the customer in control. (well ... if it could be said that quilters have any control at all over our urge to spend on fabric and supplies. but that's another topic altogether. :lol: )

from a consumer's perspective, it sounds quite tempting. :-)

I'm doing one. It's a Frog quilt with hand embroidery. I wasn't tempted at first, couldn't think of what I'd do with the end result but decided to join in for the fun of it. Ours is $5.00 a month. You get a package with the fabrics cut out and the directions. Every month, it's the same charge and they won't care if you just collect them and sew them later. Some of us get together at the shop on Sunday afternoons for a free sit and sew so I may work on that then.

Well said. As a former LQS (gone broke) owner, AND a LA quilter who appreciates quilting quilt tops made of LQS quality fabric, I appreciate and support LQSs.