Well, the Queen of Quilt-a-Way need not worry about any possible lack of perfection in any of my future works. I will NOT be back to Quilt-a-Way, neither for longarming nor fabric, notions, batting, or classes. She may be the perfect quilter, but she is terrifically unkind, and definitely lacks good business sense, basic manners, and social skills.
From her words, tone and delivery, you'd think I'd beaten her child, or lost bowel control in her store.
Stopped by the store yesterday for the first time. Great selection of fabric! Staff could have been more friendly and they need to leave the dog at home, it was very scary having it run at you when you walked in.
First, she said the borders were screwed up, “wavy.” She accused me of not measuring (?) the quilt border before sewing them on. I’m not quite sure what she means, as I had to measure and re-measure and then square everything up before I considered the top piece complete enough to bring for long arming. Second, she complained that the backing and batting were both uneven. Third she complained that I had used flannel sheeting as opposed to a commercial fabric made specifically for quilt backing, and this is apparently sacrilege to her.
I’m not accomplished enough to go to Quilt-A-Way ever again, but maybe you are. Here’s my experience:
This may be all very true and right, and I’m not saying my work was impeccable, just that I can think of a thousand different ways the longarmer might have handled it- like maybe telling me her requirements at the time I dropped it off to her? Or perhaps writing a kind note, letting me know her requirements for the future. Or putting her requirements on her website.
When I went to pick up the finished quilt, a woman (co-owner?) went to get the quilt from where the longarm and classroom space is. Shortly after she returned with my quilt, the other owner, who is the longarm operator, stopped teaching a class and came to the register area to give me some “helpful hints,” all of which amounted to a hill of bitter complaints and harsh critique of my quilt.
Next time?
Never again will I go to Quilt-A-Way. After hearing the following story neither will my quilter friends.
Great people, extremely well stocked, easy to get to.
A thousand better ways to say "you suck."
Beginners Beware- There is a very high performance standard at Quilt-A-Way, as well as the risk of public humiliation should you be unfortunate enough to fall short of that standard. Professionals only need shop here.
As I paid for the cost of the longarming, the co-owner made excuses for the other’s bad behavior. “She’s a perfectionist…has such high standards...was worried her work wouldn’t come out as well,” because of my choice of backing and apparent lack of trimming the edges to her high standards.
I will drive north to Barnyard Quilting and Sharon Peterson, in Fairlee, VT. Not only are they more civil, polite, and great business people, their super functional and eye-catching website very carefully outlines their requirements for longarming service, among other things having to do with all they have to offer. Sharon did my first quilt and was extremely helpful, gracious and kind, to say nothing of doing beautiful work. They also have a much better, up-to-date selection of fabric, as well as notions, patterns, and classes.
When I needed a longarm quilter to sew only the second quilt I’ve ever made in my life, I thought I would take it here, on my way to Massachusetts.
And in case I was so obtuse as to miss the meaning of it all as she verbally spanked me there in the store...just to be sure she got her point home, she said, “I will not accept another quilt from you such as this in the future,” and marched back to the classroom to teach.
I am a novice quilter, self-taught from books, youtube videos, and the help of a few quilter friends. It was one of these friends that put me onto Quilt-A-Way, knowing they offered longarm-quilting service.
Wow, hunh?
A very nice quilt shop tucked away in the woods but not too far off I-91.
I should have gone back to Sharon for this quilt, (and would have but I thought I might save time by dropping off this latest project on my way south to Massachusetts to visit family. My bad.)
This is a quilt we're talking about.
Really.
Quilt A Way Fabrics is a US Home Goods Store based in Westminster, New Hampshire. Quilt A Way Fabrics is located at 190 Back Westminster Rd, Westminster, VT 05158, USA.
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