Longarm quilting is not cheating
 

I rent a longarm at my LQS and was quilting today (I.e. with headphones and tuned out to the world). A customer comes into the classroom where the longarms are and gets my attention and proclaims that what I am doing "is cheating, and defiling my quilt". I literally stood there speechless. She was in her 80's (I'm guessing) and has probably only ever hand quilted, but her total lack of filter just baffled me.

I had to get that off my chest :) I am so glad we all do our own thing on the Board and respect each other's amazing work!

hehehehe....at 80, she probably no longer has a filter. I'm sure she truly didn't understand how quilt policey she sounded!

I'm with you, different strokes for different folks. Everyone should do what they want without hearing someones' opinions. You handled much better than I would have. No quilt police, just rude people.

Amazing...and I truly believe that those who bash other's method choice, quite frankly are jealous. Ive seen that alot. Its too bad really, but dont sweat the small stuff..QUILT ON!!!

I probably would have just laughed....little old "lady" indeed. LOL.

I am sorry she was so rude to you....you kept your cool and said nothing, which is way more than I could have done....people (in general) have a hard time with change and will resist until they absolutely have to change.....complaining the entire way....I would guess that were she to ever try quilting with a LA, she would be thrilled and amazed at what she could do, quickly becoming an advocate of machine quilting....I love what can be done on a LA and am very jealous of those who do.....one of these years I will find the room and $$$ for a LA.

Be proud of yourself for saying nothing!!!!

If she would like to quilt all of my tops, I will let her.

I bet she thinks using a rotary cutter is cheating as well. If not... then its always interesting what "new" gadgets some will use but still claim to be "pure".
If it is indeed cheating just throw me in with the rest , as I will have lots of great company!

Yikes. I think I would have had to tell her to get back on her meds pronto. I hear Lithium is great for quilting police disorder.

My jaw would have dropped, I think. How long did it take you to get over the shock? Sometimes people just are very vocal when they shouldn't be.

I'm with you, different kinds of methods for each of us. Everyone should do what they want without hearing someones' opinions. You handled it much better than I would have. Happy quilting!

I guess I'm a BIG cheater !!

Eighty year olds with no verbal filters. You just have to chuckle to yourself.

After all did you machine piece or hand piece? huh cheating. Did you rotary cut or use scissors ? Huh cheating. Did you drive your car to the shop or take your horse ? huh cheating. :o

Seriously, who says that to a complete stranger. It still blows mind my that people think that they can say what ever they want with out regard to what their comment could mean to someone. I am assuming that since she is in her 80's she is stuck in her ways and not embracing new technology. in 50 years someone will say the "future method" is cheating b/c the long arm is the only way. Sorry you had this experience

And loving it:thumbup:

My first thought was that the "little old lady" was totally jealous! I'm willing to bet that she would also be jealous of this board - using the internet to talk a out quilting? Cheating for sure!

They are two totally different skill sets, both requiring practice and talent. It's like comparing apples to oranges. JMHO.

My motto = "Just because you THINK something, doesn't mean you have to SAY it."

You handled the "quilt police" with grace and dignity. At 80 years, she probably doesn't have a filter any more, and answering her with a sharp reply probably wouldn't have made any difference. I hope when I'm 80 that I will still be going to quilt stores and buying fabric to add to my stash. I believe that the elderly have the right to say anything that is on their mind even without a filter, and we just need to listen. We can chuckle about the comments after they leave. JMHO
Sue

EXACTLY!! As someone who does both hand quilting and Longarm I know of what I speak. I think I would have been left speechless as well, for about a nano second. I just don't get why some folks think this.

I agree, my jaw would have dropped to the ground, how dare a perfect stranger give her opinion when not asked, but I also agree w/Susie, because I am truely looking forward to the day when I am 80 (if I'm that fortunate), and have earned the right to say, freely, whatever is on my mind (within reason, of course). She could probably share a lot of experience and knowledge within all those opinions of hers. Bless her heart.

I don't think that 80 year olds have the right to be rude. No one does. Anyone, however, is certainly entitled to his/her opinion about any given matter.

Glad you had grace in the situation. I'll bet she's never tried it (as neither have I and would LOVE to!).

Yes, you are correct... but I was taught to respect my elders, not necessarily agree with them, but respect them.

(respect: deference to a right, privilege, privileged position, or someone or something considered to have certain rights or privileges; proper acceptance or courtesy; acknowledgment)

Hmmm- my head wonders whether she was really a quilter or just a wannabe quilter. Thanks for being the true lady in this situation I have just talked to the Quilting Police and they said longarming a quilt was absolutely fine. So she can just go away now and be happy (after she had a drink or her meds!!).

Your post prompted a memory of my mother and I attending a national show. There we were in front of a amazing work ( my opinion) and my mother ( hard of hearing and in her early 80's) blurts out ... "I thinks is ugly" .... I was mortified as the creator was standing next to my mother . I lean in and tell her who is next to her... and then she says " Its still ugly". I was beyond embarrased ... and my sister and I both took about 5 steps away from her. She had never been so ..innapropriate. So I can feel for you situation , and offer to you that your gratious lack of response was problably to most appropriate response.
At that age ( I am just learning) .. you just never know what will come out of their mouths.

I agree! There are people who are just plain rude...even though she's around 80, she's probably been this way her entire life! They deserve to be ignored!

Filter, schmilter -- she was just plain rude! I have a friend that is a handquilter ---- I informed her she has nothing over me ---- it took a LOT more for me to learn to use the longarm than it EVER took her to do the handquilting. LOL One day she was giving me a bad time and I asked her if she REALLY believed our foremothers wouldn't have used the "ease" of the longarm had it been available.......LOL She couldn't argue that one. and BTW -- don't you wonder what our foremothers went thru when, oh horrors, someone invented a dumb thing called "sewing machine"!!!????!!! LOL

Forget me not when I am old
When I repeat the same things
When I insist on having my way
When I forget your name
When I spoil your plans

Forget me not when I am old
When I am just taking-up space
When I am a burden on your day
When I call you a hundred times
When I seem to presume too much

My child, afford me a little dignity
- spare me a little patience
- show me a little kindness

Forget me not when I am old
for this much I have earned:

Through countless sleepless nights
-caring for you
Through a thousand tiring days
-working hard for you
Through these many years
-watching over you
-to see the beauty of who you have become

Forget me not when I am old
For your care of me
Brings out the best in you
and sows the seeds of your own tomorrow.

I once (years ago) had a lady blast me in the grocery line about how "Lazy moms were nowadays" because I was buying disposable diapers and baby food, back in her day blah blah blah. She picked the wrong day to call me lazy. I smiled and replied very sweetly with, well if I didn't have to work full time and go to school full time and was able to lay around the house all day like mothers use to I would have plenty of time for cloth diapers and homemade baby food. The checkout lady had a hard time not laughing.

Some people are just set in their ways and opinions. When it comes to making a personal item, there is no cheating. I applaud you for your restraint with the lady.

lol.... I had a neighbor (in upper 70's) told me just last summer that I would "ruin" my quilts by machine quilting them. I told her... No I would not.

I make my quilts for them to be used. She makes hers and DARES anyone to use them. She expects them to be placed in a safe spot for keeping. Not me!!!

You just have to laugh and go on your merry way. :)

I'm proud of you for keeping your "verbal filter" in the "ON" position. I know that mine would have automatically switched to the "OFF" position and I would have fired back an equally rude response. Then I would have had to feel bad all day that I hadn't controlled my tongue to an 80 year old that could have been my mother (who had NO problem voicing HER opinions).Good for you for being silent! I bet your quilt is beautiful!!

If I 'had' to hand quilt and not long arm quilt - i'd of never taken up quilting! fact :-)

If it were a practice piece I was working on, I might have offered to let her try it to feel the joy of creating in this new way!

I am very sorry you had to experience this. Some time back I was in a DR's office hand sewing binding on a machine quilted quilt and was told that I had ruined the quilt by machine quilting it. I have several hand quilted quilts that I did before I got my Gammill. I enjoy both the hand quilting and the machine quilting and find a place for both. I always admire the hand quilting but I tend to do more machine quilting and I also admire the beautiful machine quilting that I see.

You gals are so supportive :). My momma always told me if I didn't have anything nice to say then I need not say anything at all. But it did take me a good couple minutes to process what she said. Ah well, win some loose some ;). I will just have to post a picture of the finished quilt today!

Good one, Candace!

What an interesting old woman! I think I might have engaged her in a discussion of what she meant by cheating and defiling, not in a combative way, but just to hear more of her opinions. Sometimes people start out on the offensive just because they want to get a conversation started. I think the loss of the speech filter is often a part of the aging process. It seems that she wanted to talk to someone. I hope someone talks to me when I'm old and crabby. DH says I'm halfway there, and I'm not sure which half he means. LOL

I'm glad you just let it go. Quilting definitely allows different strokes for different folks, so best to ignore the quilt police.

Personally, I prefer doing LA quilting to home machine quilting (I tend to do large quilts, don't like fighting all the fabric layers, and was lucky to be able to afford to buy one after years of renting) and I prefer using pantographs to computerized quilting (feels more handmade to me).

That being said, I have taken several quilt classes from award winning teachers that sew large quilts on home machines (Diane Gaudynski and Susan Rasmussen) and enjoyed them immensely. Some of their tips also carry over to LA use. I have also seen computerized quilts that are lovely. I also admire handquilting, but I also tried that and my hands don't like it.