CheapO quilters

[Annette R.]

gone

[Carrie H.]

I agree 100% with Poobear1929, I have been quilting for many many years and have come to learn that there are teachers who have class to socialize instead of teach. There are guilds that are snooty and some that are friendly and welcoming to other quilters. It doesn't matter how much you spend or save on quilting. It is the act of creating beauty, warmth and art in your own way. We all have that right. I think we are all sisters worldwide as quilters and petty things need to be left behind.

[Jean H.]

Hey Y'all
I have kept up on reading this blog just to see how other people feel and this is my opinion, 100 years ago quilts were made from what people had old clothes other blankets flour sacks and they are still around if it would keep you warm it would work so on that note you get my drift. My grandma came from Sweden and grandpa from Norway they had 14 kids had a farm in Henning, Minnesota and Minot North Dakota no money in that house they made due. she made everything with love and that's what holds the quilt together...Jean

[Judy M.]

Hi, Everybody!
I'm so glad I started quilting in the early 1980's! It seemed to be a much more caring, sharing time. I learned SO MUCH from the older ladies in my quilting group. We shared techniques that we already knew and even shared patterns. We also took classes through our newly-formed guild (Desert Quilters of Nevada). I'll always cherish those years. Quilting has become BIG BUSINESS, and where $$$ is involved, sometimes the good things get lost. But I DO understand annoyance with an unfriendly quilt shop--a quilt shop is MORE than just a store--I like a welcoming atmosphere, too. And I would get really ticked off if I was slowed down by a classmate borrowing an essential tool! I do understand a quilting teacher being annoyed at someone wanting information without taking the class--but I wouldn't hesitate to share, for instance, needle turn applique if I didn't teach a class on the subject.

[Judy M.]

I couldn't agree more, the harder the sales pitch, the less you wish to buy!!! My lqs is a dream, they have chairs (comfy ones!) coffee and tea and cookies, you help yourself. There is never any pressure to buy anything, and I often just go there for the social side, but saying that, how can anyone visit a quilt shop without buying anything, I know that I cant. So I have found that there welcoming attitude makes sure that the shop is alway full, and they are doing a roaring trade!!!!
Lynn in cold wet UK

[Eileen K.]

My daughter hates going to quilt shops with me. She says they're worse than libraries. I have to agree with her. Many times they are SO quiet and we feel like the employees are listening to every word we say.
What's the harm in a little background music? How about having Ricky's cds playing and for sale?
Eileen in NY

[Hannelore N.]

So, Lynn, where exactly is that wonderful shop? I live a lqs desert, also known as East Midlands.

Lorchen

[ANN W.]

I live in the same crafts desert called the East Midlands, uk, BUT there is a very good fabric supplier in Leicester -Kisko- Also in Weedon Northants there is a very friendly shop selling all requirements for quilting- Bramblepatch. they also run classes.

[Hannelore N.]

Lynn, even though I'm on the wrong side of Nottingham for the Bramble Patch that's where I go a couple of times a year. I always combine it with one of their Saturday workshops so it's worth going a distance and I get a whole day of fun out of it.

Lorchen

[Hannelore N.]

I got another cheapo

After our quilt guild meeting we had a class to learn a simple way of making bulls eye quilts.

It all had to be pre-paid a month ahead of time.

ONE of our quilters stayed through out the class, when I asked her where her sample block was, of which we were all working on. Her reply was OH she didn't sign up for the class.

Yet, she got the same lessons, and learning experience the rest of us paid for.

Have the guild treasure send her a bill for the class. It is only fair then next time she will know nothing is a freebe.

[Hannelore N.]

As a teacher, I am amazed that at EVERY class I have taught, I have: 1 person who comes unprepared.
1 person who has a malfunctioning machine and wastes time fussing with it.
1 person who disregards basic instructions such as pressing or the specific seam allowance and then is frustrated that things aren't going together right!

I've had a student who bragged about what a professional she is and tried to teach stuff I wasn't teaching.

I've had a student who actually contradicted me and tried to tell everyone I was wrong (which I was NOT). I was speechless and since it was a group of HER friends at HER house, I let it go!

I once participated in a block exchange where we chose a pattern and it's colors and everyone in the group fo 12 made us a block. I asked for NAVY and one person insisted on using her stash and buying NO fabric and gave me a block with a very light blue instead. I puzzled over it for a while and then took the block apart and fixed it. It's the first quilt on my profile.

Thanks for letting me vent! This was very theraputic!

[Annette R.]

I teach crafts in a seniors park in Texas. I am prepared for the person who can't or won't thread a needle, some people without supplies that I list to bring etc. I always take extra supplies and am prepared to help almost anyone. And because we are seniors the occasional person will come who has decreased vision and struggles or the person who is beginning to get Alzheimers and still wants to participate and doesn't realize how much trouble they have with simple directions. the supply issue I understand because many of us live in RV's here in the park and do not pack up the whole sewing/craft room when they travel.

My TWO pet peeves are the people who think that just because they heard what I just said they are experts and can now teach their neighbors what they don't even understand yet. And the people who come to the class with such limited grasp of English that they need a translator or I have to do everything visually by demonstration or sign language. We have many French Canadians in our park and I don't speak French. I don 't mind if they come with a friend who can help interpret but they usually do not warn me that the other person will be translating so I am not prepared for someone else talking over me.

I would no more think of trying to teach a class in the middle of someone else's class and I really try not to even tell things I have done along the same line if someone else was the teacher nor would I go to a class in Quebec and expect to be catered too because I only spoke English.
and I am truly not picking on the French that is just the experiences I have had I would feel the same no matter the language barrier.

I think I am a pretty accepting and patient teacher but when my tongue needs stitches because I have been biting it so hard when the class is over I wonder why I do it. It is a volunteer position so I don't make money at it and it sure isn't for the glory guess I am just a glutton for punishment because I go back for more. But the one student who does something fabulous after the class that is better than I can do makes it all worthwhile. So now I have vented too and need to finish preparing my class for tomorrow.

Ann with the lacerated tongue lol

[Beth A.]

About a year ago or so I was trolling at Joann's looking for sewing machine needles. I heard a woman say to he friend, "Have you ever done one of these Blocks of the Month kits?"

The friend replied, "Yes, I tried that once, but I didn't like it. It was crazy! You had to sew all these little pieces of fabric together!"

What did she EXPECT when she was piecing a quilt?!?!?!?!

BethMI

[Eileen K.]

About a year ago or so I was trolling at Joann's looking for sewing machine needles. I heard a woman say to he friend, "Have you ever done one of these Blocks of the Month kits?"

The friend replied, "Yes, I tried that once, but I didn't like it. It was crazy! You had to sew all these little pieces of fabric together!"

What did she EXPECT when she was piecing a quilt?!?!?!?!

BethMI

Makes ya wonder about the future of the gene pool, doesn't it? :twisted:
eileenkny

[Eileen K.]

ROTFLMBO!!!! Thats almost as good as the Cottonelle "Quilters" sitting at the frame with knitting needles, lol. Some people just don't get what making a QUILT is. My SIL's new husband was telling me the other day his aunt makes fantastic quilts and that he had one there at the house. When I asked to see it he pulled out a knitted afgan. Yes, it was very pretty (she is quite talented!!), but I had a heck of a time explaning to him that an afgan and a quilt are two different things - the only thing they really have in common is that you can sleep under them lol.