Disgruntled, Near Philadelphia

I have used the services of a half-dozen or more machine quilters and have been interested to note the differences -- some really prefer to use pantographs and others would rather do custom work.  Some delight in finding just the right thread to enhance the quilt and others prefer to use a thin off-white so that the quilting will in no way distract from the piecing.

I've used "Mrs. X" as a machine quilter for a couple of years now and been pleased with her quick turnaround and quality of work.  Recently I found out that I wished to have a certain quilt done quickly and asked her if she could; said that if not, no problerm --  the gift would wait until December.  I got the finished quilt back the other day and was a tad dismayed to find some pleating in one corner of the back.  Another friend had told me she'd had this same experience with Mrs. X, and I was surprised because I'd always received back perfect work.  Not this time.

I wish that were the sum total of this unhappy tale.  Alas, it is not.

Further along the back, there is a hole in the muslin, a hole that wasn't there when I gave Mrs. X. the fabric.

Many years ago, when Desertsky quilted something for me, there was some microscopic deficiency that only she would notice.  She drew it to my attention with a pin and immediately offered a $25 credit on my next project.

Mrs. X didn't even admit to the problem.  And I didn't see it when she opened up the quilt to show me.  Not until much later when I was beginning to bind.

One fewer machine quilter on my list now.  Sheesh.


Comments

Lori said…
What a bummer!! Can you applique a little piece right over the hole?
Pat said…
Yikes. At least the glitch in mine was not nearly as noticable as yours, being obscured in the fabric pattern on the back. You have many glitches and a hole. Double yikes.
Nicole said…
So sorry about your unfortunate experience. That is a real shame. Will you tell her that you were not satisfied with her work this time? If you can hold off binding and the issues are just on the edges, repairs may be possible.
suz said…
How sad she didn't say anything to you. Fortunately you have other resources. I've just caught up with your blog and have to tell you I love the photos of your grandbabies.
antique quilter said…
well I think this is a shame and she should have done something to compensate you.
sounds like she is just whipping them out and not caring about your quilt.
I for one would have posted who the machine quilter was so others don't use her either.
Kathie
Mrs. Goodneedle said…
Don't look too carefully at what you're about to receive, Eagle Eye!
oh bugger would have been better for her to tell you.......everyone has a bad day but the fact she didn't say anything is the bad part..........
Cover the pleats with a large label and the hole with a heart applique. I once got a quilt back that had been quilted with a meander panto. There was a skip of 2 inches all the way across the center of the quilt where it had been rolled too far. No mention was made of that either. I had to put it on the DSM and try to match the pattern. Like you, once less quilter in my arsenal.
sorry to hear! mistakes happen... but not mentioning them is just not good business!
Quiltdivajulie said…
Her real error was not bringing it to your attention (heaven forbid she didn't know). Like the label suggestion to cover the pleat and/or the hole.
Susan said…
This is truly cause for dismay! I do not do my own quilting (or to quote a shop owner I know, I "quilt by check"). Instead, I trust my quilter to put the same effort into the quilting as I did the piecing just as you did. Not to mention the errors is a breach of that trust and just really bad business.
Anonymous said…
I agree that you should let people know who it is, especially those that you believe use her services. I would most definitely tell her of your disatisfaction and ask her to find a solution to fix the problem. She needs to know why you will not be using her services. A friend does my quilting and I am there helping - it saves me some money and is social time for the two of us. Your CA cuz