Sensitive question
 

I took a quilt to a new to me LAQ in Feb. as she is very highly recommended. At that time she said she didn't have anything else to work on, but her dad was having surgery the next week so it would be the next week or two before she got it done.
I took a second to her 3 weeks later expecting to see mine being worked on. Instead she showed me one on her LA and mine was in a pile under several others.
I had hoped to give it to my mother the end of May. I want to call and just get a time frame for when it will be done, but dont want to sound pushy or rude.
Wondering how those on both sides of this situation think about me calling just for an update. It doesn't look to me like I'm going to get it in time as I would still have to bind it which I have never done before. The other person I used would bind them for $20 which I gladly paid.
Anyway, should I call and ask letting her know I'm not trying to rush her or just wait for her to call me when its done?

If you are paying for a service, then a polite phone call should be ok. Let us know how things progress.

Call her and let her know the first quilt you brought is for your mother at the end of May and you need it at least a week before that. That isn't being pushy. If you just wait for her to call it may continue to stay at the bottom of the stack. I do LA quilting and I don't mind my customers calling and asking the status of their quilt. I usually give them a time frame when they drop it off and some call a couple of days ahead of time just to check if things are on schedule.

I agree with greensleeves, except I would say I need it two weeks before the end of May. It's not a matter of being pushy; it's a matter of letting her know that your quilt has a deadline. With this information she will know whether or not she can finish it by your deadline. If not, she needs to tell you that so you can take it to someone else.

It would have been best to let her know about the deadline when you first gave her the quilt.

She said that she didn't have anything else to work on when you took your quilt to her, therefore you should expect your quilt to be done already. I would call her and explain that I need it done by the middle of May. Period. Two (plus) months is a pretty long waiting period.

It seems that this LAQ has had a change in the demands in her life since February, and she is no longer on the schedule she thought she would be on. You should definitely check in with her and let her know when you need the quilt finished. My mother had a similar situation with a LAQ last year. Honest communication helps.

Hummmm... nothing else to work on AND now your's is under a pile of other quilts???

I'd definately give her a call and explain you have a deadline. If she can't do it, you need to know.

I've done alterations for folks for years and would never promise something and not deliver. That's just good business!

I agree with giving her an immediate call. Call her and remind her that when you dropped the first quilt off--she said she did not have anything else to work on and yet when you went there 3 weeks later, she had a different quilt on the frame. Give her a deadline of having it done within a week. I do LAQ for customers (plus I work a full time job outside of the home) and I always give my customers an approximate deadline--and I adhere to it. I am always thinking about customer service and want repeat customers. I live in a rural area and do my LAQ business solely by word-of-mouth and it helps me support my children in college so to me it is exremely important to give my customers great customer service and complete satisfaction so that they continue to use me as there LAQ and so that they tell others. Giving good customer service is basically"free advertising" for your business. If I went to a LAQ and got the treatment you are getting from your LAQ, I would definitely be telling everyone I know--not to go to that LAQ. Good luck.

I agree w/HillCountryGal. It's customary to get an approximate turn-around time from your LAQ. Also for them to tell you what it's going to cost you up front for their services. My work load usually lends to a 6-8 wk turn-around. Many times I can get them done sooner, but after years of experience I've learnt to put a "life happens" buffer in. The reason for 6-8 wks, is because I do it part time & some times life just gets in the way. Also, there are rare occasions when my machines breaks down, or tension goes bonkers causing eyelashes on a quilt, or a tuck appears on the back of a quilt. I will completely rip out and fix situation of this nature and trust me it takes a LONG time to do it. Before I'll accept a rush job, I make sure that it's not going to ill affect any turn-around deadlines I already have in place. If I should be taking more time than I had promised (which I strive not to do), I call/email my customer although there can be situations in life that can make us not want to talk to anyone for a short period.... If a customer is getting concerned, there's nothing wrong w/them calling and finding out what the status of their quilt(s) may be. I have received calls within two weeks from customers even though I promised 6-8 wks. We LAQs understand that these quilts are your babies. We understand the cost, the love & the time invested in them. With all that being said, it is helpful that our customers let us know right away if there is a 'drop dead' date for when the quilt is needed. That way we can let you know up front whether or not we can meet it. Most of us go by the date we physically receive the quilt and place them in the queue on a first come first serve basis. A satisfied customer may try other LAQs because they are cheaper or faster, but eventually they stay with/go back to the LAQ that gave them the best product/service for their money. They may even pay a little extra just because the quality of workmanship & overall service is worth it.

If it were me and I was getting a little upset with the whole situation, I would call and ask for my quilt top and find someone else to do it. She has had it long enough and if she is unhapppy, so be it. She has had ample time to do it, even with a sick person in her life. Maybe I am hard, but sometimes you have to be. Good luck.

If it were me and I was getting a little upset with the whole situation, I would call and ask for my quilt top and find someone else to do it. She has had it long enough and if she is unhapppy, so be it. She has had ample time to do it, even with a sick person in her life. Maybe I am hard, but sometimes you have to be. Good luck.

By all means, call her! If she didn't have anything to work on when you took her the quilt, and she has a stack of quilts ahead of yours, she has obviously put your quilt on the back burner. A nice friendly call explaining when and why you need the quilt by a certain time is definitely in order!

with her stating that she was free to do yours, I would make the call. She shouldn't fee pushed...

I agree with this.your quilt should have been the top of the pile. Call her and ask what is going on and tell her your time frame.

I am a longarm quilter..so let me give advice from my side! I WANT my customers to give me a 'need by' date...it is very easy to push quilts aside and do other things when one works from home. A date gives me a goal. If your quilter is upset when you call to see how your quilt is progressing, you have the wrong longarmer. in my opinion.

I don't think it would be rude. My LAQ has always been very sensitive and nice about getting my quilt back to me in a timely manner. If this lady is not, then I would go get my quilt and take it elsewhere. In a nice way. :)

You can still be nice. We all have things come up in life that upsets our schedule. See if you can find another long armer first and then go ask for it back. and the other one if you left it also. good luck.

I agree with the others - getting a date and price when you drop a quilt off is necessary. Since this didn't happen it wouldn't hurt to call and find out the status of your quilt. Did you get a date on the second one you dropped off? My LAQ and I always discuss dates, price, what sort of quilting I want and the thread to be used.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease! She has no idea it needs to be done by a certain time. Let her know!

If it isn't done yet - it may be necessary to also get pricing 'up front' -

Speaking from the LAQ side, It is very easy to bump a quilt when a client tells me, No hurry, no rush, don't have a set date I need it by. If someone comes to me while the "no hurry" quilt is in que needing something done quickly, I will definitely bump the non deadline quilt. Your new LAQ is not a mind reader. She has no idea you wanted to gift the quilt in May. By all means, please give her the opportunity to do right by you and tell her that your intention was to gift the quilt and you really need to have it done within the next week or two. I am a part time quilter so I let people know that it usually takes me two weeks to complete a quilt as I only quilt on weekends. Most of my hand guided custom jobs take a good 16 to 20 hours of actual quilting time or more depending on density of quilting and how elaborate the designs are. This does not include design time and marking time if marking is involved. Also measuring and racking.

If your LAQ is doing an all over or computer generated quilt job it can be done in a day.

So please call her and let her know what your plans are. She should not be upset with you at all. This is simply a case of inadequate communication on both parts.

when I dropped it off we spent quite a bit of time going over how to quilt it and what color thread was going to be used on the front and back.We also went over the price. When she told me she didn't have any others at that time and it would be done in two weeks I just didn't think about telling her I needed it in May because It sounded like I would have it long before then.
I have seen her work and really want her to do it. I am off work tomorrow and will call being very polite.
Thanks for everyones input. I will let you know how it goes.

I agree with everyone. She told you 2-3 weeks. She needs a little reminder. My SIL is my LAQ, she works full time and does this in the evenings and on weekends. I'm not one of her top priorities due to the relationship (and family discount) but she always does 1st in 1st out unless someone does come with a rush job. Then she has called me and asked if she can put mine off. She has some ladies that drive 2 hours to bring her quilts and when they do they bring 6-10 king size quilts at a time. When they do that, she absolutely won't take in another quilt until she's done with them. By that time she needs a week or two break.

I agree with judylg. I'd ask for my quilt top back. She mislead you when you dropped it off apparently, since you found it under a pile later on. I had a LAQ that I used a couple of times -- first time it was finished right on the time she said. Next one was not, and I kept getting excuses. So....I found someone else.

She might do good work but she has very bad business practices. I would think twice about using her under the circumstances because she has already proven herself unreliable. Hope you got her price quote in writing!

I would say that you are paying her for the service and if the time frame that she gave you when you dropped it off to her has now passed, then a phone call is absolutely in order!

I would have asked when I took the second quilt in if my first one was almost done. Since she said two to three weeks and you were there at three weeks. It should have been done and ready to hand to you, or she should have told you then why she wasn't doing it yet. I would never let ANYTHING go more than a week past the promised by date without calling.

As a LA'er my thought is that you are not a priority with her. I would handle this situation in which ever way is best for you and gets you your quilt on time, and then I would look for someone who neither hoards loads of quilts and then doesn't get them done or promises and does not deliver.

I would call her and ask for a time frame, letting her know it's got a deadline attached. If she can't do it, then go get the quilt and take it elsewhere.

It's always good to be upfront with the process. She's had it since February and stated she had nothing else going on, yet you see a different quilt in the works. At that time I would've asked what was up and why was mine at the bottom of the pile when it started the pile. I would've taken it then. Some people who provide a service just don't realize you don't want to wait a lifetime for the finished product. My cousin will be doing mine. She lives in Florida and I know she let's everyone know what she has ahead of theirs and when to expect theirs. I've spoken with a couple here who have told me sometimes they have to "work one in" once in a while. No Thank You! They also tell me that it's not often to run behind a week or two. Again, No Thank You. Those weeks add up. It's taking me long enough to decide on a pattern and get it pieced (luckily the recipient of the quilt doesn't even know it's even in the thinking process). When I'm ready I will want a very good estimated completion date and I know I will get it.

The old saying "the squeaky wheels gets the grease" instantly came to mind. I'm sure yours was under the pile because the others told her they needed it quilted "now". I gave found that if I don't give a time I get pushed aside.

I agree with others who said - give her a call, find out what's going on and let her know when you need the quilt back.

As a longarm quilter for others, I always ask when the customer needs it back. Almost all of them do have a specific date they need the quilt returned by and I have made ever deadline with days to spare!

Nan - Indiana

Know how you feel it took 9 months to get my two quilts back. Found another quilter.

I agree with the other posts, if you are paying for the service; there is nothing wrong with inquiring on when a service will be complete. I wld also consider taking it to the other place if you were trying to give it to your mom by a certain time frame!

She has had it plenty long enough ...call her. That is just wrong on her part..

She's had it since February? I wouldn't hesitate to call and ask when it will be ready.

She told you she didn't have anything else to work on but then was working on other quilts ahead of yours? I'm guessing those people were "pushy" and that's why theirs got in line ahead of yours. That alone would leave a bad taste in my mouth.

Do whatever you're comfortable with but calling at this stage is entirely reasonable. IMHO.

I would definitely call and ask her when the quilt will be finished and if it isn't a reasonable time frame for you, I would go retrieve the quilt and take it elsewhere. The long arm quilter I have used has a little contract she and I sign. It gives estimated completion date and completed price and the thread to be used and the style of quilting. She has gotten the quilts back to me before the estimated completion date.

I finally got a hold of her. I said I was just curious how it was going and told her I was sorry I hadn't told her I wanted to give it as a gift the end of May.
It was a custom job and I have no artistic sense at all so she gave me an idea that I liked. She has been working on it and didn't like part of what she quilted so she is in the process of picking it out. We had a pleasant chat and she will have both done for me to pick up on my day off next Thurs.
Thank you all for your replies and I will definitely get a date from now on.
It is my first quilt that isn't a log cabin, so I am excited to see how it turns out.
Here is a picture of the top.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ps1f31d18a.jpg

thanks for the update. I would think picking out machine quilting would be a real bugger :)
Ask her if you do the picking out would she cut the end price, and by how much.