I just purchased a quilt kit from the LQS. I opened it up a few days later only to discover that out of 15 fabrics needed for the quilt only five fabrics were pictured on the quilt pattern! The entire quilt top featured fabrics from the same line in the theme of the quilt. The other fabrics in the quilt kit totally ruined the look of the quilt since two-thirds of the fabrics were non-descript fabrics. I know the LQS has a no return policy but this is ridiculous. They even had this quilt top finished on the wall in the store. The whole thing is misrepresented. I will return it but I have no idea if they will take it back. What else can I do? Has this happened to anyone else?

I would take it back and ask them for the kit that belongs to the one on wall. I bet it was such a huge success that they filled with what they had.

Let them know that you want the kit for the one on the wall.

Unless they have something posted that fabrics may be substituted in their kits, I would take it back and really make a stink!

Do you have anything like a Trade Descriptions Act like we do in UK?? It covers this sort of thing even if they have a no-return policy!

Unfortunately it is not uncommon to have totally different fabrics in a kit then are featured on the picture or as in this case the display. There will usually be a fine print notice to that extend on the outside of the package. I would still go back and talk to them. I hope the fabrics are atleast of good quality. I one time bought a kit at a quilt show from a beatiful quilt booth and they would not let me open the fabric bundle. When I did at home I found many of the fabrics were of cheese cloth quality. Blehhhh! I never bought anything there again.

oh wow. I've never bought a kit before, but that sounds awful! hope they make it right for you.

I think the store will be very understanding that you thought you were getting the exact fabrics on the pattern and I think they will let you return it.

I also think that when kits are made, they decide to change it up a bit every once in a while and that's not really a wrong thing to do. If every single kit bought was the exact same thing, then lots of people would have the exact same quilt and that would get boring.

Let the LQS know that this is the first time you have bought a kit and it's not what you expected. They will probably let you return it, but tell you to know for the future not to always expect the same fabrics as what the pattern shows.

Please let us know how you make out. :thumbup:

Boy, I learned never to buy a kit or bundle if I can't see all the fabric. I'm not sure if the seller intentionally puts in fabric that doesn't match or if it's an honest mistake, but I have been burned once too often. In fact, I have a piece of fabric right now that is cut the wrong direction (it's a directional pattern), and it's totally unusable. Not sure what I can do with it. Hubby says to pitch the fabric because it makes me sad to look at it.

I have only bought one kit. I had to cut novelty squares out. The bottom of the panel had been cut off. I phoned the quilt shop(in another country) and they sent me more fabric with extra yardage than I needed. I would definitely buy another kit but I would check it out immediately. Not every store would have been so accommodating. Also, the fabric I needed could have just as easily been sold out. The quilt is made and I am now quilting it. Looks great.

I was on an Alaskan cruise two years ago and went into one of the quilt shops when we were in port. I bought a kit to work on while we were at sea. I started it he next day and found it had very few of the fabrics that were shown on the package were in the envelope and that the yardage requirements on the packages didn't match up to the fabrics in the kit. Naturally there was no way to get back to the shop and really wasn't worth the time to mail it back when I got home. I chalked it up to a very irritating lesson learned.

I bought one kit that came in 12 parts. One of the blocks was on back order, and I was told it would be in in a few days. When I went in later on that same week, I was told that the whole series had been discontinued. It was for the Oregon Centennial and was called The Oregon Trail Quilt. I managed to fudge on the pattern, but wasn't able to match any of the fabrics exactly. No one will ever know this but me, but that one experience has made me leary about buying another kit ever again.

Alot of times when we created kits at work, we'd make as many as we could with the correct line of fabric...but if the kit was popular or if we ran out of a certain part, we'd substitute with what we considered to be an acceptable substitute. They might be in the same boat. If their customer service is up to par, you should walk out happy despite the "no returns" policy.

Thank you for all your valuable input. I have definitely learned a lesson here. I will never buy a quilt kit unless I can look at the fabrics and know that if there are substitutions made, I can live with them. I will be going back next week to see what the LQS will do. I can see where some substitutions would be alright but when the major theme of the quilt is ignored then there is no reason to use the kit. I will let you all know what happens. Thanks again.