Well put and I agree. About the only way resolution is reached is for you to speak to the clerk in a private spot and let her know how her behavior made you feel. If she choses to continue her rude behavior, so be it, it will be the shops loss for I'm sure there will be many more people who decide NOT to return. After you express yourself, you can "move on".
If the "rules" of payment are not clear, a suggestion could be made that maybe a printed policy could be made available if not posted.

There is a witch of a woman who seems to enjoy constantly making nasty remarks to me at the quilt group I joined. Well I didn't go for three years. I could have been learning and sharing with other quilters for all that time.

I can work with anyone no matter how nasty they are, I might not like it or them but it my job includes getting on with what needs to be done and not dealing in personalities. If humor doesn't work, ignoring them does.

Anyhow, don't make the mistake I did because of a bad experience, I think the clerk acted thoughtlessly but doesn't sound as if she was being malicious. It does sound like she goofed or her boss did and she was asked to call you back.
She could have called you at home or asked you the next month for the $$. I would ask if guild members had shop priviledges that other customers don't. Some guilds do a lot of shopping and sewing for charity and work with quilt shop owners, at least they do here.

I would go out of my mind working and doing Masters or degree work, good thing your a quilter! Don't let anyone chase you away or keep you from doing something you love, more importantly, don't let anyone ruin your experience. This is your time out. My Mom used to say, don't let anyone rain on your parade. She was right. Best of luck, don't stop, lots of terrific advise here for you.. You can deal with this, easy peezy next to degree work. Go for it. Cindy

It sounds to me after reading all this, that you could help ALL the folks in this group, if you are willing to step forward and discuss what happened. I'm understanding that the store would give you free fabric and pattern for a BOM, with your participation as part of the deal. They should be more clear what they want that participation to be - is showing up to pick up the fabric enough? - or does one have to stay for the class? The shop should clearly spell that out. How about if someone doesn't finish the project - do they have to reimburse the shop for the supplies? That seems like that could shape up as a bone of contention, too. I hate to always be playing devil's advocate, but I would imagine the store started this program, not to give away free fabric, but to try to build foot traffic and sales. Granted, they should not have been so rude, and you should discuss that with them, too, although I tend to agree with the person who said that they probably felt comfortable with you, and did not intentionally try to offend you. But if participation is part of the deal, and you didn't participate, offering to pay whatever nominal fee it was, could have avoided this whole thing. Yeah, I know - hindsight!

Such good advice here! I think the same - and agree it was probably just something not well thought out, but never meant to hurt you.

Debbie in Austin

Well put Karen and I agree with you. I would not let this stop me especially if I liked the people in the group.
Shame on the clerk.

Absolutely need to say something to an owner/manager, they can lose business that way and need to be aware that their staff needs to learn more tactful customer service skills.

She was out of line yelling at you. She should have been more discreet. Deal with it. Don't let it fester and become a big deal in your mind.
"Don't let her (rudeness) live rent free in your brain."