I agree she's new so give. Her a chance to fix it.

I'm also in agreement about letting the quilter know you were't happy. Unhappy clients lead to bad publicity. If she wants to build her business, she will gladly repair the area that wasn't done to your satisfaction.

So sorry. Hope you can get it fixed.

I am a longarmer, and if you were not happy with my work, I'd really prefer that you tell me and let me correct the problem. It's a lot easier to add more quilting than to take quilting out.

it was great to have charisma chime in with her experience and good advice.

Ditto. Give her a chance to fix it. If she's new to LA'ing, I'm sure she would like the feedback, so she knows what to do next time.

I would frog stitch the white blocks, make an appointment and take it back. Just as you would appreciate constructive critism, so would she. Begin by telling her she did a great job on the other two (always start positive). Ask her if there is something she can do to make the quilt more evenly quilted. After mutually deciding on what will be done in the alternate blocks, end on a positive note...."I knew you would make this right". It is unfair to just be unhappy, never take anything back or give a bad recommendation if she doesn't know she has done wrong. Since she is a newbie, she will be eager to remedy the situation. :) We have all been newbies and need to know when something is not right....JMHO

I agree with Charismah and others who advised you to talk to her. As a Newb myself I would want any feedback on quilting I do for others, good and bad. However, there is a distinct difference between feedback and nit-picking because you don't like the quilting design. While I agree the star quilted in the big white center is sparse, it is not bad quilting, the tension looks good and the lines for the most part are straight. She looks like she was trying to do ruler work which isn't as easy as you may think. If you had absolutely no input or suggestions in how you wanted the quilt quilted the responsibility does not lie 100% with your LAer. If you were not specific in how much quilting you wanted those white squares quilted or if you envisioned a feather wreath in the white squares but did not say so that is not the fault of the LAer. It is a learning experience for all of us. Some beginning LAers just don't realize the balance needed in quilting. While some quilts will look great with densely and sparsely quilted areas combined, there still needs to be some balance. You said you were happy with the other two quilts and you need to let her know that as well and why you are happy. You need to be very specific about the areas you are not happy with on the 3rd quilt. "I just don't like it" won't cut it. Do you like the star but just feel there should be more background fill? Say so. Do you not like the star and want a feather wreath or feather heart in the area or a stencil motif? Say that too. Perhaps the agreed upon price did not include something as elaborate as you envisioned. If that is the case you and the LA also need to discuss it. In my mind the biggest problem right now is lack of communication between you and your LAer. Your quilt is completely fixable and not ruined and I am sure she will appreciate the opportunity to make it right for you. I would be mortified if I quilted for someone and they were unhappy with what I did and never told me.

I have a friend that is a professional longarm quilter, she always
asks her customers for the pattern they want to be used. I would suggest you always make sure you tell them exactly what you want.
So sorry they did not do a good job for you.

I have a friend that is a professional longarm quilter, she always
asks her customers for the pattern they want to be used. I would suggest you always make sure you tell them exactly what you want.
So sorry they did not do a good job for you.