Oh dear. Happenend to afriend of mine. She took it to another long armer and they ripped it out and quilted it correctly. I know it is a lot of work but then you know it is right.

If you want to try this method, be aware that a slip of the razor can very quickly take out more than the stitches. I'd use a good seam ripper instead because I'd have more control over it.

I have 'un-quilted' a several of my quilts and completely done them over. I hate doing it, but there are times...

I get comfortable in my 'spot' on the couch, watch (well, more listen) to a TV show and 'unquilt' for as long as I can stand to. It is tedious, but it takes a lot less time than I thought it would - average is 5 nights for 2 or 3 hours. Bigger quilts mean longer sessions with my most used quilt tool, the seam ripper. Then I re-press the top and the entire sandwich goes back on the long arm.

This is exactly how I feel about it. Right now the quilt is tucked away in the cedar chest till I can stand to look at it again.

This is exactly what I thought when reading. So....although the quilting may be subpar, this person did volunteer their time and may be a beginner. I think it would be very unfair to go complain to the group about it. Also, I am sure the LA'er had good intentions and probably did put in a lot of time, it would be terribly ungracious to point out her errors. These are all volunteers and all differing skill levels...and all differing expectations. It would be different if you had paid $500! Then I would scream holy murder, lol! Chalk it up to a learning experience and move on. :)

Oh my, so sorry to have offended you. I have been sewing since I was 14 and quilting for 24 years and longarming for 4 and it has been my experience that bad tension frogs very easily. When you posted that it was not ripping easily I thought perhaps tension is not the issue and this may be why the longarmer never noticed a problem and was trying to give her the benefit of the doubt. It really is very difficult to make a determination without a photo.

SVAL,
I too got involved with a local QOV group to be their longarmer. I picked up 4 of their quilts. They are an hour drive from me, but on my way to take my disabled daughter to one of her specialists. When I got home I found they were sending used poly tablecloths, used poly sheets for backing. Twol of the quilts had construction issues that were difficult to fix. I was very dissapointed since I quilt for people who produce beautiful quilts and my stitching is prized locally and wins prizes. I just quilted them, returned them and told the woman that I didn't think I was a good fit for their group.

In your case, I recommend you tell your contact person that the quilt was done with a machine that appears to need upper thread tension adjustments since it is loose on the back side. If it is loose, the stitching is going to be easy to remove. Areas where she has gone over and over, not so easy.

If you are interested in solving this problem and willing to send it to me. I will fix it for you. It cannot take priority to paying jobs which are very heavy at this time of the year, but I suspect that a week or so of evenings of ripping should allow me to catch up with my current quilting load and work a space in the schedule for requilting it.

Do you have allergies - I have a cat and 2 dogs.
Sally

I agree you should say something, but I feel you need to go to the lady in charge of the group (moderator?) and speak with her first. So sad that all your hard work was messed up.

I doubt that QOV will even accept a quilt in that condition.

What a generous offer. Thank you for your service, both of you.

I agree that a private complaint would be best. The LAer would save face and hopefully correct the problem. I've had to tear out portions with loops and it was irritating but doable. Like you I try to make my donation quilts to be nice. You must be so disappointed.