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Quote:

Originally Posted by BJ SewKkrazzy

Someone once said something about not only do we learn from our own mistakes, but we can learn from others'. Can't say I have had anything like some of these. But then being a Crazy Quilter gives me more freedom. When a clerk ask me what am I making, as they are taught to do at JoAnn's (I know, I worked there last year for a few months), I can just say I am crazy quilting...and watch the blank stares, because 99% of them have never heard of cq, and couldn't give any advice if they wanted to!!!!
Crazy Quilting means there are no mistakes...just room for more embelishments!!!

Back in the eighties I worked in a fabric store and one of the requirements for the job was being able to sew. I wasn't a quilter at the time but had made all kinds of cloths. Now, in the big chain stores they don't need to know how to sew to get the job. I was amazed when I learned this. I think every one who works in local LQS's do know how to quilt at least a little. A few questions might give you an idea of their experience.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjradj

I don't have a worst advice, but I do have a most eye-opening event. A year ago I was at an all day quilt retreat with my guild, in a "posh" hotel. Early in the evening, a dad with his little girl arrived at our door asking if anyone could help with his little girl's dress which was coming apart and he was out of pins. She was the flower girl in a wedding party.
NO ONE offered to help.There was dead silence as no one even addressed the group and said "OK, who can help here?" Here was an entire room full of "experienced" quilters who held office in the guild and had "impressive" quilt resumes. I was one of the newest members and sitting in the back corner. I was so embarrassed as the ladies of the guild were "too important" to do a measly repair job.
I called her over and it was just that the stitching was coming apart along the top edge where the straps were attached. She stripped it off and waited wrapped in her daddy's suit jacket while it took me less than 5 minutes to fix. Daddy and little girl were amazed and very grateful.
I lost a lot of respect for the "experienced" guild ladies that day.

I made cloths many years before I ever quilted. I have discovered that many quilters never made cloths first and they don't know how to do even the smallest thing on cloths.

The worst advice I received was from an older woman from a quilt guild who told me to NEVER, WASH A QUILT! Really? Can you imagine what mine would smell like in Florida weather after sweating like a pig on hot summer nights? Or having a grandchild drag hers across the kitchen floor or wrap the dog it their blankie because the dog was cold?

She then told me to NEVER USE IT either - It is for show only on the bed and to take it off when getting ready for sleep. Use another blanket to sleep with. OK, seriously, how many of us use our own quilts to sleep with? I know I would and my kids sleep with theirs. So, NO, I don't agree with that advice either.

She also told me that REAL QUILTS ARE MADE BY HAND AND ONES MADE ON A SEWING MACHINE WERE COMFORTERS AND THOSE MAKING COMFORTERS ARE NOT QUILTERS.

I didn't bother going to this quilt guild after the conversation I had with her. She made me mad.

I wash all fabrics that go into my quilts - I had an incident once where I thought I had washed all excess dye from border fabric BUT when it was washed after finishing the quilt it bled into the other fabrics (I was devastated). Luckily it came out after two more washes

That type of person is a quilt snob LOL

YES! A very Important Shop owner said her quaulity fabric never runs or shrinks,That why her's is so expensive. WRONG!

years ago when I first started quilting I was told by a friend not to clip the seams when you are sewing on the round. Well I soon found out that it puckered and looked offal.