I rooted around in the stash and found more than I can remember purchasing. So I've been on a sewing spree to use these stash items. You've already seen the Seashell one in this post but I am putting a photo in here to show you the quilting. Here are two more (a third awaits layering and quilting).
I tried out a new long arm quilter. To say that I am disappointed is an understatement. Because I have a commission quilt in the offing I wanted to find a way to quilt it without breaking either my bank account or my back. The quilting is pantographs, but the spacing where the quilt was rolled is terrible. The quilter also did not take any consideration of the design of the quilt. And each quilt was quilted in white thread, irregardless of the color of the quilt. Thank goodness these are donation quilts and a child will not question it. Am I being too picky?
Click for bigger. I would have quilted this one across following the the strips of fabric.
Click for bigger. The Cowboys. I borrowed an idea from Elaine Adair for the top and bottom borders.
Click for bigger. Moths not Butterflies. My favorite of the lot, but it is too loosely quilted.
Shame on me; I guess I paid for what I got.
Your quilts are beautiful and the children who receive them will love them! I don't blame you for being disappointed in the quilting though.
ReplyDeleteFinding a good longarm quilter that has reasonable fees is difficult. I don't mind paying more for custom work, but a pantograph should not cost as much.
ReplyDeleteNo not picky. You should be happy with the service you receive.
ReplyDeleteThe machine quilter I use uses pantographs but she always asks me to pick the pattern - and she has hundreds - and to choose the thread. It goes a long way toward me going back to her again and again. blessings, marlene
ReplyDeleteIt sounds to me like you just weren't on the same page. She should have been clear about what you were getting. Glad they are donation quilts!
ReplyDeleteFriend, is this person sort of lazy or does she not know how to quilt a quilt? That's what it looks like to my eye. That said, the quilts are too cute and I like the use of Elaine's idea in the border. That was a good one!!! These are really great actually. I mean, no one will know but us. ;)
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I have a few of those. Love the butterflies. Great jobs and they look wonderful.
ReplyDeleteDo you mean that your quilter did not change the thread color on thos perfect strips of color changes? My gosh, how redicilous! Nope, not oo picky at all.
ReplyDeleteGlad you tried the triangle trick. 8-))
I know exactly how you feel as I paid to have my Scrapaholic quilt machine quilted last spring. It is horrible and I am going to rip it out and try to baste it and machine quilt it myself....someday when I can look at it and not be sick about it. It was 2" smaller in the center than the ends, large bubbles of un-quilted areas and pleats quilted into it too...all which were not there before.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry the quilter showed so little creativity.
ReplyDeleteI really love your cowboy quilt--probably because it's not my usual style.
I have my favorite quilting threads and recommend them to my real life quilting friends, but they seem stuck at their "basics", which, as it turns out, aren't all that easy to use.
It does sound like a communication issue. A professional quilter would know to ask what the customer's expectations are, in terms of thread color and design.
ReplyDeleteThe quilting looks very beginner-ish with no feel for the quilt. Not feeling the love. But that is because we are experienced. A child won't know - a child will love any of these quilts. If she has a good rate, you might want to stick with her for donation quilts but work with her in picking out the panto, thread color and which way the quilting should go or how dense? Maybe she will get better? But even so - these are perfectly usable quilts. Cheers! Evelyn
ReplyDeleteThey are going to a good cause, I see what you are saying about the quilting.
ReplyDeleteBut whoever gets it will not even notice it.
My neighbor got a long arm quilter, and it took a LONG time for her to produce some nice looking quilting! It must be hard to do!
Vicki