length of the quilt. I WAS going to enter it in a quilt show, but can't now. What should I do. I feel like ripping all the stiching out (thats alot for an oversized king quilt) and re doing it.

Sounds like you have a wonderful husband who will appreciate the front and love the quilt (and you).

It looks like you have enough advice to make a decision good luck.

ok here's my opinion (and just like butts everybody has one!) By all means take out the stitches, remove the backing and batting and then put your quilt in the washing machine on cold and gentle, air dry and press and poof no more needle holes! It's a long tedious process but much better than having a quilt that will irk you every time you look at it. And the others are right, this can't be put in a show unless you don't have any hopes of winning. Being a harley girl myself I can feel for you - can you post a picture, would love to see it.....

So sorry for you experience. She should have consulted you before finishing the quilt.

Oh, Cracker, I'm so very sorry!! I see you've used this quilter before with good results, I've got to wonder what she was thinking doing that to your quilt without consulting you! Perhaps she is having problems with health or medication that is interfering with thought processes? That's just a plain dumb thing to do. Even if you're doing something for free for someone, and they don't have enough material, you CALL them and tell them, ask what they want to do, not just make it up as you go along. If she does quilts professionally, she has to know this, that's why I ask about meds or health, that's a serious malfunction in judgement. As for the show, I have no idea what to tell you. But for the quilting, I would take it up with the quilter. Calmly, though, even though you feel like strangling her, hee hee hee. "Please explain why you did this without consulting me first?" And then really really listen to her explanation. Don't jump to conclusions, or get angry, that won't help a thing. If you want the solid material replaced, she should certainly do the 'unpicking' and replacement without charge. I personally think she should also give you some of your money back for the quilting job, because it was not done to your specifications. As for suing her, I don't know. What have you lost monetarily? Was there a cash prize offered at the quilt show that you could have gotten? You could perhaps recover the cost of your material and thread and her labor, but I doubt you'd get anything really worthwhile out of a suit, and you do have to pay costs involved to start that. And then there's the aggrevation of the whole thing. I truly believe that anyone who does work for us should be first given the chance to explain their actions, and make good the work. Many years ago I managed my husband's mechanic garage, and I used to get mightily irritated at people who would call up and rant that they had to take their car somewhere else to get fixed because we did it wrong. We are all only human, if we made a mistake, give US a chance to make it right first. Well, I have discovered over the years that there are many people who would rather feel victimized and rant about things than just listen and let the offender correct a mistake. No matter what the venue, we seem to have become a nation of "yellers", witness popular shows like "Bridezillas". As Jerrilyn (jrob) said, put it down, calm down, and make a rational decision when you can. It is SO much work to lose, and such a disappointment, truly! But in context, nobody's lost a limb, or an eye, or a life. Well, unless you get a hold of the quilter, that is, I guess, hee hee hee. Now, that was to make you LAUGH. I hope you get it sorted out, I do believe in forgiveness, but I believe in accountability for our actions, too. If we all wimp out and don't say anything when something is wrong, it just keeps being wrong, keeps being an irritation. Love the sinner, hate the sin. Good Luck, let us know what happens. Hugs, Marji

2 comments

by spider3 11 Jun 2009

Beautifully said! Sueing someone takes too much emotional investment & time that could be better spent somewhere else. You may be able to remove the holes left from ripping out by easing the cotton fibers w/ a squirt of water & gentle coaxing with your fingers & do get the extra fabric 'just in case' (if you don't use it now - your stash would welcome it I'm sure!)

by daisy530 11 Jun 2009

Sometimes you have to spend time to make a point--not just take the easy way out. Nowadays, people have so little regard for other people's feeling and property. This "quilter", and I use that term loosely, showed she had no respect for Crackers time or feelings. Cracker, I hope you know that your time is valuable, and just because you lost the price of materials, doesn't mean you should roll over. Maybe print out all these comments and give it to her. Has she even apologized? Women should have been confidence in themselves, and stop letting other people take advantage of them, because this is what she did. Shame on her!

I thought If I could undo the solid part, add some of the origional material and have that section re-quilted it would be ok. I picked a few of the sthes out and it shows. So that is not an option. I am sick beyond belief.
I have used this quilter many times with good relsults and she does a WONDERFUL job quilting.
I think I will order some more of the printed fabric before it is discontinued so that I can have it on hand should I decide to do something else with the quilt.
I think over time the origional stiche holes will disappear. Right now it's sitting in a basket as I want to cry everytime I look at it.

What a shame. How does it look on the front? The quilter should never have done that without your approval. There are ways to add a border to the backing to make it larger but that's not acceptable. I don't think I'd use that quilter again. And I certainly wouldn't recommend them to anyone else.You can still enter it in the show. Hang it on a wall. Most people only look at the face of a quilt anyway. You could print an explanation for the back and hang it with your quilt. You might even get some sympathy votes. Any avid quilter would certainly empathize with your disappointment. And after the show give it to hubby cause you already know he doesn't care. Have we seen a picture of this quilt? You know you have to post it.

1 comment

by cracker 11 Jun 2009

From the front it looks wonderful. I guess if it never leaves the bed noone would ever know. But I can't take it anywhere to show it off. I could live with the pattern being the wrong way, but the other is not acceptable.... at least to me.

I am so sorry to hear this, u spend so much time on something & someone else ruins it for u. I would probably set it aside for now, u have vented your anger to us so that will help n the meantime I would try to get something else done for the show. I'm sure the QTs will have a lot of advice for u. Weigh ea. one & come to terms with whatever u decide. I would never, never use that quilter again & n a nice way I would let them know that what they did was very unprofessional not notifying u a change was going to b done & that u would never recommend their work to anyone else. *4U

I know how disappointed you are but it should help you a little to be able to vent & have so much support in your corner! A real hug would be nice too but a flower or two will have to do. I agree with jrob, sometimes when you back away from it for awhile & give it some time, it will work out somehow or at the very least become acceptable. I think when the quilter was changing *ANYTHING* from the original plan, she should have contacted you first in order to have your input as part of the solution. Maybe if your husband is ok with it, that should be the most important thing to help you get over your disappointment. (I always find that a good cry helps too.)

I know you must just be sick over this. This is when I just lay something aside and give it several days or even weeks of thought until I come up with a viable solution. I'm sorry this happened
to you.;(

I have to agree with most of the other girls...I wouldn't pick it out...If Hubby doesn't care..let him have it the way it is....(not too many people look at the back .Make a wall hanging to enter in the show! You can get a smaller project done b-4 the show AND you will have a project to accent the decor of your Harley Quilt!!

I am very sorry to hear this..I know you put alot of work into the quilt...If you have time to do another I would suggest you do that instead of trying to salvage this one....judges will notice things you wouldn't think they would...as far as this quilt goes set it aside until you would have time to figure it out when you aren't so upset..your hubby will appreciate it anyway and you can be proud of your work regardless...As time goes by and you want to rip the stitches out, you will be more patient and possibly not tear it any way...I do not think I would use this quilter again just for the sole reason she/he did not converse before hand with you...I don't think the LORD wants us to sue each other but to forgive each other for mistakes and bad deeds done to us...I would not recommend you entering this quilt in a show if you are trying to get high marks for workmanship....although you have done a wonderful job, the quilter has done the damage and it would be noticeably...soo sorry.

What a terrible disappointment, so much time spent on a piece of art and then a lousy quilter! That's no way to do business. My commiserations and a flower.

Oh dear, what a disappointment, I am so sorry! What about making the quilters fix it right? *4u.

1 comment

by cracker 11 Jun 2009

If I can get the solid piece off without any problems I will have her to re do the lower section. If it's not too noticable.

Malani, I am sure you can give this quilt to another - but start over - do another for your husband and the quilt show - but don't use this quilter - unless she does the second quilt for free. Sorry you had this trouble - I will be praying for you. *4U

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oh this lady would have her head rolling if it was me she should of told u the problem before she done things her way did you already pay her? i would sue her for sure

Unbelievable! Sue her in small claims court. Be sure to report her to the Better Business Bureau. You can try to remove the stitches. Where on earth did you find this person. This really burns me up! I would just scrap the quilt and start over.

2 comments

by cracker 11 Jun 2009

I'm letting the fabric store know who reccomends her and show them the quilt. I took a class there and they KNOW the headaches I had with it.

by daisy530 11 Jun 2009

I wouldn't scrap the quilt--go ahead and give it to your husband, but after entering quilt shows, you can forgot about any ribbon unless there are only 3 quilts entered--then you would get third. Upside down backing is certainly going to disqualify it. This woman had plenty of time to think about what she was doing--she even planned to add the mismatched fabric. A handmade quilt can be worth several hundred dollars, and she RUINED IT! Don't give her a little slap on the hand, or she'll keep doing her sub-standard work. By taking on this job, she has an implied liability.

got no solution but sending a flower to cheer you up a little

Have you ever done business with this quilter before? I think they should have to make it right. Hopefully you come up with a solution that will get your quilt into the show.
Bev

Being a machine quilter I'm afraid in taking out the stitches it will be obvious where they were. It's unforgivable what was done. She should have contacted you about the material shortage and turning the backing the wrong way is also sad. I hope you didn't pay her. Hugs, Shasta

Invest in a good unpicker & magnifyer, unpick all the backing as you will never be happy with the results as they stand.