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Thursday, March 10, 2011

Survey on a controversial subject...

Thanks to everyone for all the "well" wishes!  After 10 days of a nasty virus, I can honestly say that I feel a bit better today!  Woo Hoo!!  I started on antibiotics yesterday for a suspected secondary infection.  I felt good enough to put a few hand quilting stitches in as I processed through the huge mountain of laundry that accumulated in my decline.

Weasely was sad to see the fabric jungle gym go away, but we were just about down to our "barrel apparel," if you know what I mean.

I would love to pose a question and get your opinions about "Block-of-the-Month" programs offered by local quilt shops and mail order quilt connections.  There seems to be a rumble of controversy on the subject here locally, some people being attracted by the pattern, others attracted to certain fabrics.  Here's the official question:

"When you sign up to participate in a Block-of-the-Month program, do you mind if the stores substitute fabrics and deviate from the sample, or do you hope, expect to get what you see??"

Feel free to let it all hang out, baby!

In stitches (and on the mend!),
Teresa  :o)

30 comments:

  1. Unless the BOM shipper has a statement attached that there may be different fabrics, I really do want the fabrics to match the original. That is usually what draws me.

    Another exception would be the online BOM program that has you d/l the block patterns and buy the original fabric from them.......or not. I have done a couple like that using my own fabrics.

    I guess what I'm saying is that I don't want to be surprised by different fabrics appearing.

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  2. I really don't mind if the fabrics aren't identical but do mind if the color is changed. I ordered a BOM online and had a picture of the original quilt so could see what the colors should have been. Instead they used a great deal of purple where it should have been blue. I could not order the pattern without the fabric and spent a lot of money on fabric that I did not use cause I am not a fan of purple. Because of that I rarely order BOM's any more if it includes the fabric.

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  3. I don't mind if the fabrics are not the same as long as it is stated that way. I enjoy BOM programs because I do not have a stash. Yes, you heard that right. LOL!

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  4. If I do a BOM, I want the fabrics to be what I signed up for or a VERY close substitute.

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  5. I've only participated in one BOM where the fabric was provided...you know me I substituted my own stash for half of it anyways!

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  6. Unless there is a clear statement that fabrics may vary, I expect to get the fabrics I saw in the sample or advertisement. I would be upset if I got something different that I didn't like, when I wasn't given prior warning that there may be substitutions.

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  7. I do not sign up for block of the month as I think the patterns are way to expensive. I n most cases patterns turn out to cost as much as $ 60 - 100 dollars.
    To me that is not good value, I would prefer to get a pattern at the start for a normal pattern price and have the choice of getting the fabric each month and as long as I am told the fabric could be slightly different with the same look I be ok.

    Christine

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  8. I do think that there needs to be a clear statement about the fabric, whether it will be as shown or will vary. I agree keeping it in the colorway of the example is good. I have also seen some that offer two different colorways. As long as it is very clear up front there would be no problem for me.

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  9. I buy it because I like what I see.. I expect to get exactly what I see. If there is going to be a substitution, I would like to SEE what that substitution would look like.. It would still have to look (color value wise) what the original looked like.. and I would have to know ahead of time.. (before it shipped) that this was going to be the case.

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  10. I hope to get what I see but expect there will be some substitutions and most shops will let you know that up front. What bugs me more is kits cut so close that there are times I don't have enough fabric. Personally, I prefer to wash fabric before I handle it and BOM kits these days never allow for that.

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  11. I want to get what I see. But I seldom purchase a BOM with fabric.

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  12. I wouldn't participate without the shop having a couple of blocks made so I could get a feel for the quilt and how the colors will look with the fabric. As far as buying the BOM solely for the pattern, I think that's a very pricey way to get a pattern. And there are so many other patterns that I want to make!

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  13. I don't buy LQS or on-line BOMs. I want a unique quilt, not one over 300 people have. I seldom do quilts with a pattern anyway.

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  14. I would prefer NOT to have different fabrics subtituted. If they run out...maybe not their fault, then, I would want them to ask me if I am willing to have diff fabrics (and i want to choose). If they aren't willing to trade for fabrics that I like, I would like the option to get my money back for the future blocks that i wouldn't be getting. just my half cent worth...

    hugZ,
    annie

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  15. If it is the store's rendition of a pattern, then I expect it to be like the sample. No
    substitutes because they should know how much
    fabric to order. That's why they get the bigger
    bucks for BOMs, time and energy involved in measuring and cutting them.

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  16. I've never purchased a BOM because of the cost -- if I did give in to temptation, I'd want the fabrics to be the same as in the quilt I fell in love with, or so close it was hard to tell that they were substitutes.

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  17. Gosh - this is a tough one.
    I personally don't like BOMs when they are too rigid. I really feel that every quilter should at some point make a quilt "her own" by adding her own personality and flare.
    Other wise aren't they just cookie cutter quilts?

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  18. Several years ago I signed up for a block of the month at our one and only quilt shop. The BOM was so pretty and looked like springtime. I got the first block and went back for the second block and was told only the people who had bought their borders already would get that block of the month fabric. We were given a subsitute fabric and it just was not as pretty as the original. I was never happy with it and did not have good feelings toward the quilt shop owner.

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  19. I'm too cheap to buy the fabric. I buy the pattern and do my own thing.
    Margaret

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  20. I make my decision to sign up based on the shop sample and the fabrics used in it. I don't really want them to make substitutions. I can do that myself being a scrap quilter.
    Last year I signed up for a year-long "monthly mini" wallhanging from "Patchabilities" I loved the samples and the fabrics used to make them, but the shop where I signed up substituted their Thimbleberries line of fabrics and I'm not a fan of Thimbleberries so I was very disappointed and never finished the year out.

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  21. If I would signe up for a BOM, I would only want the pattern and would choose my own fabric. I think it's much more exciting to go your own way. I simply cannot copy exactly what somebody else thought out for me. (I hope you'll understand what I mean, because English is not my native language).

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  22. Yeah, I've not done a BOM because I purchased a kit from an online shop who I've purchased fabrics from and loved .... and yes, they did say they would substitute, but the substitutes were SO bright compared to the picture of the quilt on the package, that I didn't use them. They were completely inappropriate and didn't work ... not sure what they were thinking. Those are in my stash now, but I just won't buy a kit online again and won't do a BOM for the same reason. I understand they can't get the exact same fabrics all the time, but these weren't even close to the same values and ruined the look (was supposed to look like ice and was medium blue .... just not right!)

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  23. I have never purchased a BOM, I'm more a pattern collector. However, IF I would ever do it, I would expect the fabric shown or a close replacement. I would also expect a generous piece of each fabric to cover the error factor (something I'm very familiar with).

    Crispy

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  24. I'm okay with substitutions, as long as it is disclosed and is very similar in colour and value to what is shown.

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  25. Unless it is posted as such, I want to receive the same fabric as in the sample hanging in the store, or on the brochure. Some BOMs I have done are so different, I am not sure if it is the same fabric line.

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  26. I think kits & BOMs should be exactly as represented by the sample or photo ... if not, the shop should disclose the fact that they're substituting fabrics right from the get go ... & the substitutions should be the same color & style of the original.
    A real problem w/just photos is that the color often doesn't accurately show the color of the original.

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  27. I used to participate in a lot of BOMs via the mail because I can't get out much. I chose the BOMs because of the way they were shown/ presented and the fabrics/colors used. Often time fabrics are substituted. Some are okay and others are not so okay. Sometimes not enough fabric is provided or is barely enough to work with. While some shops are accommodating and apologetic, others are not so nice about it and made me feel awful about complaining.

    Over time I have pretty much stayed away from BOMs except for those offering Jo Morton clubs and fabrics. I have found that you can't go wrong with these BOMs.

    I'm just saying ..........

    Terry in So. Calif.

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  28. Very happy to hear you are starting to feel better. Hope you are 100% better very soon.

    SewCalGal
    www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

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  29. I think that unless it was stated that the fabrics may vary, I think most people expect to get what they see. I know sometimes there may be a slight variation, but if it is too drastic, I may be very well disappointed. When I worked at a quilt shop, if we ran out of a fabric for a kit, we'd give people the option of substituting something else or they could opt out of the BOM.

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