redeagle

Back in the day, the material dept. always tore the yardage requested. About 10 yrs ago I was in a quilt store in TX and was shocked to see the lady tear the yardage. Hadn't seen that in years and years. She said tearing keeps it straight.

redeagle

Debs Shelties wrote:I learned ages ago to ALWAYS buy more fabric than you need just in case you make a mistake. The fabric is not always avail, especially if it was clearance
.

I recently bo't a pattern online and bought the yardage called for on the pattern. That was last month. Now I find that instead of 4 strips of background I need 8 strips. Off to the LQS tomorrow. What do you want to bet that they are out of that fabric? Boo hoo

jitkaau

Perhaps not bad advice, but certainly old - fashioned advice when I was constantly criticised in a group for not doing everything the traditional way. It didn't really worry me as I find it quite laughable when 'experts' can't be flexible. So I think the worst advice anyone can give is to not be open minded about your criticism and constructive with it rather than fault picking.

mygirl66

Just find something that goes with it and make it a one of a kind! You may like it more than the orig. idea you had! :D

nana4baj

Took a class at JoAnns to learn how to make a Texas Star. It was quilt as you go.......Well the lady told us to sew everything together as you go, but she left the store and never came back, that was 13 years ago, so I don't know how to finish........

CindyBee

I haven't actually had bad quilting advice, just a bad experience with my first and only quilt class. I've sewn all my life and knew I wanted to quilt when I retired. So I waited six months for a class, but in the meantime I decided to get a book and make a baby quilt. It turned out great! The class was awful though. I was not allowed to use my 1/4" foot because "the rest of the class doesn't have one". While I brought my own machine to class, most of the others did not have their own machines and much time was spent on teaching various people how to sew on various machines. I went to three classes and then decided I'd do better on my own. A friend invited me to join a quilt quild. Imagine my surprise when the president happened to be that teacher! LOL!

Ps 150

I love the old fashioned advice I get now and then from older quilters that I run into in Joann's (some have been so kind as to stand at a distance and squint at my fabric choices for me) but sometimes it is easier to follow the newer, modern techniques. No one ever taught me to make an attic's window, I just winged it with a prayer and a dummy book on the topic. When I was done, I took it to my local sewing machine shop and the woman gasped and said, "You didn't even do it the easy way!" Well, I can say, that had I known the easy way (using hst's in the corners instead of mitering) I probably would've done it that way! But, I can say I'm pretty decent at mitering now. :lol:

tjradj

I don't have a worst advice, but I do have a most eye-opening event. A year ago I was at an all day quilt retreat with my guild, in a "posh" hotel. Early in the evening, a dad with his little girl arrived at our door asking if anyone could help with his little girl's dress which was coming apart and he was out of pins. She was the flower girl in a wedding party.
NO ONE offered to help.There was dead silence as no one even addressed the group and said "OK, who can help here?" Here was an entire room full of "experienced" quilters who held office in the guild and had "impressive" quilt resumes. I was one of the newest members and sitting in the back corner. I was so embarrassed as the ladies of the guild were "too important" to do a measly repair job.
I called her over and it was just that the stitching was coming apart along the top edge where the straps were attached. She stripped it off and waited wrapped in her daddy's suit jacket while it took me less than 5 minutes to fix. Daddy and little girl were amazed and very grateful.
I lost a lot of respect for the "experienced" guild ladies that day.

Martie57

I just finished a French Braid quilt. The instructions from the book were absolutely the worst of the worst. A friend of mine did the same quilt and if she hadn't made the mistakes that were caused from the instructions, I would have done the same thing. Had to read and reread the instructions several times. The lady who wrote the book should never be allowed to write another one.

Bobbielinks

Yes! I was told that and boy what a mess I got.