CheapO quilters

[Jules M.]

I have seen the claim written several times that their LQS is run by snobs. I have heard this repeated over and over again. I guess I never have been to a quilt shop that I have had that experience.
I am not sure what you mean by snobs. It is the price of fabric, the 'tude of the employees, a combination of both?
From reading some of the comments on this MB it would appear that the LQS is the worst place to shop and take classes. Goodness...I view it this way....without guilds, quilt shows (which by the way many of the LQS sponsor by being vendors and pay for advertising), and LQShops these things keep the art of quilting alive in the community.
My expectation when taking a quilting class is that everyone should be prepared and at least try to have the supplies at hand. I perfectly understand someone forgetting a pair of scissors or a spool of thread...it happens. My other question is...in all fairness...I have also paid for the class...is it fair to me that my class time is taken up by someone who doesn't know how to use their machine? I guess I figured that those who attend are adults and don't really need the 'warm fuzzes' of attention to get thru the class.
As someone suggested there is room for everyone in the quilting world. Whether you spend $$$ on your hobby or you are careful and are the finder of good things to reuse or use up, we are all quilters.
Sometimes women are their own worst enemies. We can all agree to disagree and just move on and quilt!!

FW (who has donned her telfon suit (quilted of course)

Well said!!!!

[Jules M.]

I am not putting down LQS and saying they are all run by snobs, just the one closest to me. I will drive the 30 miles or so to go a shop I feel it worth my dime. They are supper friendly, down to earth people. Just the nicest group of people, I even took a class there. However, they don't always carry what I need...or some things are pretty expensive. On top of that it isn't always worth it to fight traffic to drive there. Like accessories for my Viking. So those items I will turn to other means to get cheaply.

I do agree that it can be hard to be in a class with some one who doesn¡¦t have all the tools they need. Like a ruler or rotary cutter. The one great thing I loved about the shop I took my first class, she had plenty of cutters and rules, that if need be, could be used by those lacking what they needed. I took a beginners class, so some people didn¡¦t want to invest in a lot of tools right way without knowing this was something they would keep. The foresight of the shop owner kept the lack of tools a non-issue. Most of the women in my class ended up purchasing everything they were using by the end of the session anyway. Our also teach patiently help anyone who had issues with their machines, which we all didƒº

However, to me the opening comment to this thread just sounded petty. I always thought quilting was rooted in family values, value in hard work, and being frugal. The reason why my great-grandmother made quilts and made clothes was because they didn¡¦t have much. They also shared with their neighbors, reading through some of her diaries and her mother¡¦s diaries, they truly didn¡¦t have much. I guess I am a little shocked that those would complain so much about sharing a tool or a spool of thread. As long as I was asked, I have no problems. To me quilting isn¡¦t about all the cool tools, fabric, the amount of money something cost, it is to me a way to connect with some one I may have never known. It is learning a craft that has been passed down through generations that I can pass down to my daughter. It is leaving a little piece of me behind for future generations to cherish. And it is about SHARING, not just tools, but ideas, stories, support and everything else our society is slowly loosing because we as a country are isolating ourselves from each other.

[Jules M.]

My LQS owner is not real friendly; however, after several visits to the shop, I have developed a kindred spirity with the employees. The owner usually is not the one who usually waits on customers but most of the customers know her personality. I agree that the passion and love for quilting is from the heart and passing on the traditional will grow a community of oneness and maybe restore America to its roots of hertiage and warmness.

[Jules M.]

Poobear1929, I find it so interesting that you have your great grandmother's diaries. (Journals and diaries are another lost art.) You must find some fasinating details in them. Would you be able to share some interesting tidbits that you found out about her time and activities. I know I would be interested. It's a peek into the past. My great aunt just died a week ago at the age of 103. She was an incredible woman who sewed everything by hand.

[Jules M.]

retiredgrandma5, thank you for the interst in my family. LOL, I could literally write a book on all the information we have about our past. My family has been research our genealogy for over 10 years. Also my great-grandmother's family had the foresight to keep a journal of everyone in the family. Ever year up to about 1949 they would have a family reunion and at the reunion they would document where everyone was at, who married, who pasted, who was born and they also documented old family stories. It is pretty neat to read.

Now my great-great-grandmother's diary from the last year of her life is actually published and I believe the Ohio historical sociaty has it. I have a copy. My family were one of the first group of settlers in Northwest Ohio.

Anyway, it has been a while since I have read any of the diaries, but I do know my great-grandma wasn’t a good quilter I don't think she really enjoyed it, but she was a darn good seamstress. Matter fact that was how she made her living. My great-grandma was something else, she passed away at the rip old age of 103. I remember she had bags and bags and bags of fabric. She was a bit of a fabric nut, plus fur. She liked fur. She use to make me all kinds of cloths when I was younger. I remember she made me these bell bottom pants out of crazy powder blue fabric with brawn zig zag strips. The worst part they were polyester :lol: Now I am only 29, so when she made these I was around 5 or 6 and polyester bell bottoms were completely out of fashion. I still laugh about it when I think how my mom made me wear them as to not hurt her feelings.

Now her daughter, my grandmother was also a very good seamstress. She use to make me the most beautiful dresses. I called them my twirl dresses, because I could twirl and make the skirt form a bell. She is the one that taught me how to sew and use a sewing machine.

I stop sewing in high school, because it wasn’t cool. Plus I was too busy with other things and never thought about sewing again. Then for some reason about a year ago, I decide to pick up quilting. I think my grandmother to talking to me. I don’t know, but I haven’t looked back. My Aunt is probably the best sewer in our family living. She actually makes handbags and sells them.

Anyway, I know this is wayyyyyyy off topic. But I am SHARING

[Jules M.]

Maybe we could make it a separate topic on the forum. But you are so fortunate to have this information. I have a few things from ancestors and I love finding out about what their lives were like. (I have children a little older than you.) I remember my great grandmother who was born about a decade after the civil war. She died when I was twelve but I do remember sitting on the porch and watching her bead. The great aunt that just died was the last of the ten children. My youngest grand child was born about 135 years after my great grandmother. I feel very fortunate to be able to have touched both ends. My great aunts were very skilled seamstresses. I'm a wanna be. I have fun quilting and I think it does give me a connection to the past.

[Jules M.]

There's nothing wrong with disagreement. So far that's all I see that this is. IMHO nobody has gotten out of line.

There are many quilting forums where it is assumed that everyone agrees on everything. Offering a different opinion can turn into a very ugly experience.

I certainly hope this forum remains a place where all types of quilters feel welcome and open, honest discussion is allowed. Even if not everyone agrees.

[Annette R.]

Having been in some discussions here that got heated, I will remind all what Ricky reminded me. Let us all agree that we can disagree without being disagreeable. Quilters, be they young or old in years , traditional or artsy in style, rich or poor, frugal or extravagant, have one basic trait in common: We all strive to make something beautiful which will be appreciated by someone-the person who made it the recipient of it the person who inherits etc-and to that end we are all the same.
I am an extravagant quilter - I buy the fabric I want on sale if possible but if I want it, I buy it. (well maybe not if its a really espensive item like a long arm) But I worked long and hard to bring us out of poverty and now I can splurge when I cose. But remembering those poverty days, I do not find fault with my friend who struggles. Let's try to understand that we each must do what we think is best for us. Cheating, stealing I have no time for But beyond that you must follow your own conscious and end the end we wil all be judge on the same criteria. Ann

[Annette R.]

Please reread the original post. I said:

I'm not referring to quilters on a tight budget, there is a big difference. Quilters on a tight budget know value.

I am referring to CheapO quilters as the ones that can but will not spend the money for quality supplies/classes/books but expects the best for little of nothing. We all know these type of quilters and being around one too many recently has had me reaching my limit with being overly nice to them.

[Annette R.]

I love to see this type of discussion and the opposing viewpoints! Yes, sometimes the banter can get heated, but I prefer to call it passionate. I consider myself frugal because I don't rush out to buy every new gadget that comes along, but I DO buy the best that I can afford, so I know I'm not cheap.

As a quilt shop owner, I see the difference between cheap and frugal every day. If you bring your discount store fabric into class because that's what your budget allows, you're frugal. If you're using a rusty needle in your machine, you're being cheap. If you bought your machine at a discount store for $200 for budgetary reasons, you're frugal. If you bring your broken sewing machine to one of my classes, then ask to use the shops' computerized machine for the evening, you're cheap. And if you think that the $200 machine is going to behave like the $2,000 machine, you're simply mistaken. I could go on, but I think we all know the difference. I want everyone to love quilting as much as I do, so if I can't say something nice, I keep my mouth shut. I know I can't afford to do otherwise.

Food for thought - do you know your LQS owners' name? I always introduce myself to new customers, and greet as many of the returning customers as I can by name, and they love it! (I've had over 700 people sign up for my mailing list since I opened 6 months ago, so I have A LOT of names to remember - yippee!) On the other hand, not nearly as many have remembered mine, but I don't mind one bit - they will!

[Annette R.]

Having been in some discussions here that got heated, I will remind all what Ricky reminded me. Let us all agree that we can disagree without being disagreeable. Quilters, be they young or old in years , traditional or artsy in style, rich or poor, frugal or extravagant, have one basic trait in common: We all strive to make something beautiful which will be appreciated by someone-the person who made it the recipient of it the person who inherits etc-and to that end we are all the same.
I am an extravagant quilter - I buy the fabric I want on sale if possible but if I want it, I buy it. (well maybe not if its a really espensive item like a long arm) But I worked long and hard to bring us out of poverty and now I can splurge when I cose. But remembering those poverty days, I do not find fault with my friend who struggles. Let's try to understand that we each must do what we think is best for us. Cheating, stealing I have no time for But beyond that you must follow your own conscious and end the end we wil all be judge on the same criteria. Ann

Very well put, Ann!

[Annette R.]

I love to see this type of discussion and the opposing viewpoints! Yes, sometimes the banter can get heated, but I prefer to call it passionate. I consider myself frugal because I don't rush out to buy every new gadget that comes along, but I DO buy the best that I can afford, so I know I'm not cheap.

As a quilt shop owner, I see the difference between cheap and frugal every day. If you bring your discount store fabric into class because that's what your budget allows, you're frugal. If you're using a rusty needle in your machine, you're being cheap. If you bought your machine at a discount store for $200 for budgetary reasons, you're frugal. If you bring your broken sewing machine to one of my classes, then ask to use the shops' computerized machine for the evening, you're cheap. And if you think that the $200 machine is going to behave like the $2,000 machine, you're simply mistaken. I could go on, but I think we all know the difference. I want everyone to love quilting as much as I do, so if I can't say something nice, I keep my mouth shut. I know I can't afford to do otherwise.

Food for thought - do you know your LQS owners' name? I always introduce myself to new customers, and greet as many of the returning customers as I can by name, and they love it! (I've had over 700 people sign up for my mailing list since I opened 6 months ago, so I have A LOT of names to remember - yippee!) On the other hand, not nearly as many have remembered mine, but I don't mind one bit - they will!

Ramona, I spent a week working at The Chester County Hospital in West Chester. I was DYING to find some time to get away to come visit your shop. I headed up there one evening, but got lost and it started raining and I gave up. I was so disappointed. I really, really, really wanted to come visit! Good luck to you!

In response to your question, I do know my local shop owners names. Three of them are very friendly. The fourth one is a "snob". Nobody really cares for her, her shop is WAY over crowded, BUT ... you can almost always guarantee that she will have what you're looking for. In a small town, that keeps a business alive.

Chelley

[Annette R.]

I have never taken a quilting class. My tools are pretty basic. A good pair of scissors I bought on sale about 10 yrs. ago, a beat up old iron, a chalko liner (my one extravagance), a plain ole 12" wooden rule and needle and thread. I don't generally go into quilt shops (I don't like the atmosphere). Finding and gathering up new fabric usually takes more time than money for me. I shop at garage sales and thrift shops and friends give me fabric when they clean out their sewing rooms -- I don't ask, bags just show up on my doorstep because people know I quilt. The only things I buy at the fabric store are batting, printer fabric, thread and sometimes backing fabric. I do like metallic thread but I buy it on sale. The beads I use are from my stash of 10 years ago when I taught beading. Most of my other embellishments are "found objects" or from the dollar store. Sure there are lots of new products out there but that doesn't mean I have to buy them. Compared to many quilters I spend very little money.

Now I am frugal. It has been said that I can pinch a penny till it squeals. But that isn't really the reason I work the way I do. I believe that working this way helps me be more creative. Going out and buying whatever I thought I needed wouldn't encourage me to stretch creatively.

Don't worry I'm not even tempted to borrow your rotary cutter, fancy rulers, thread, etc. I'm happy working the way I am.

How much money is spent on quilting should be a personal thing. What concerns me is that new quilters are getting the idea that certain products are absolutely necessary when they are really optional. Quilting can be a very expensive hobby, but it doesn't have to be.

I think it's fantastic that you have found a medium for your creativity! I'm also glad that you have found the joy in quilting! All the best - Martha

[Annette R.]

PoohBear1929 I'm so sorry to hear that you've had such a poor experience near your shop.

To those who were surprised at the thread, I was surprised at my first retreat when I sat next to a lady who spent more time borrowing my things than she did her own. I guess that experience has stuck with me more than I realized.

And it's not that I don't want to share, that's not it at all. I will share with anyone as my guild can attest, but sadly in any hobby, as in life, there are some people who are trying to get all they can with little in return.

I guess that means that quilting truly is a slice of life, the good and the bad, all wrapped up in a hobby that means so many different things to different people.

[Annette R.]

I went to an all day class last week and the teacher listed a certain ruler to buy extra for the class. Her book was included in the class fee. I was the only class member that bought the ruler other than the teacher! The class members seeing how important using the ruler would be kept taking mine 'just for a minute' right off my work space. I have a much stronger word then CheapO for quilters like this!