Frequently Asked Questions
QUILTING TERMINOLOGY
CLASS & EVENT POLICIES
GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT MILL HOUSE QUILTS
Are buses welcome at Mill House Quilts?
Yes. We have a large store, and can easily accommodate bus groups. Our parking lot is bus friendly. We would greatly appreciate a call as soon as you know of your plans so that we can arrange to have plenty of staff available to serve you. There are several restaurants and a coffee shop within walking distance if you need to arrange for a meal.
What are your hours?
We are open seven days a week, Monday through Saturday 9 AM to 5 PM, Thursdays til 8 PM and Sundays from 12 to 4 PM.
We will be closed on New Years Day, Easter, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Do you accept mail orders?
Yes. We are happy to mail merchandise to you. If your request is not in stock, we will contact you, preferably by email. Please enclose your email address, telephone number and mailing address with any order.
How do I find Mill House Quilts?
Contact Us
How is postage handled?
Small items will be sent by first class mail. Items that fit into flat rate USPS boxes will be sent by this method. Larger boxes will be sent by parcel post or UPS. A small handling fee will also be added to mail or email orders.
Can I get my newsletter by email?
You can receive your Mill House Newsletter in several ways. If you sign up for email mailing, we will send the Mill House Newsletter directly to your email address. It will be formatted as a PDF file, so you will need Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. This is a free program and can be easily downloaded from the web. You can go to the Mill House Quilts website, and the most recent newsletter will be posted there also.
I have signed up for the email newsletter, but have not received one. What's wrong?
There are several reasons for you not receiving an email newsletter. Some of you may have strong firewalls or anti spyware programs installed on your computer that will not allow you to receive your newsletter. It may be that it was hard to read your handwriting if you requested the newsletter in writing, and the wrong email address was written. Also, it may be that we goofed in entering your address.. In any case, please send us an email and we will try to correct the problem.
It takes forever to download my newsletter. What's wrong?
PDF files do take longer to download, but should be compatible with all computers. You might have an old and slow computer, you might have a very slow connection with your internet provider, or your computer may be laden with viruses and spyware. If you prefer to receive your newsletter as a hard copy, please let us know.
How accurate are the colors that I see on your website?
We are very careful to make sure that the computer colors shown match the actual fabric colors. Since the color that you see depends not only on what we put into our computer, but also on what you get out of your computer monitor, it can be very tricky. If you have questions about the accuracy of your monitor, go to one of the websites that helps with monitor accuracy, such as :www.colormatters.com/comput_colorblind.html
QUILTING TERMINOLOGY
What is a "fat quarter?"
No, it's not a overweight quarter?or a quarter on steroids. It is a half yard of fabric that has been cut in half so that each piece measures approximately 18 x 21 inches. There are many books and patterns that call for fat quarters.
What are "skinny quarters?"
No, they're not quarters that aren't worth their weight in nickel. They also don't refer to your skinny hind quarters. They are quarter yards of fabric that are cut across the entire width of a fabric bolt. They measure 9 inches by about 42 inches.
What is a UFO?
Boy, this is getting really weird. I've heard people say that quilter's belong to a cult, but going to a UFO club seems really far out. Actually, UFO stands for an UnFinished Object. A UFO club is a meeting of perfectly normal people who have unfinished quilting projects and need a little fellowship and prodding to finish their projects. Mill House Quilts adds extra incentive to finishing your project by entering your name for a gift certificate for every project you finish.
What is a bale?
Now we go from UFOs to farming. Everyone knows what a normal bale is, but Mill House Quilts has special bales. Our bales are groupings of color coordinated fat quarters which are rolled together and tied with a decorative ribbon. Bales are beautiful to look at and make wonderful gifts. We create theme bales, color bales, and line bales. Our line bales are the first cuts from the bolts to ensure that each fabric is represented.
What is a line of fabrics?
A line of fabrics is a fully coordinated grouping of fabrics provided by a single designer from a particular company. The advantage of buying a line of fabrics is that they are so perfectly coordinated. It is very difficult for a small store to provide a full line of fabric, and still offer a variety in their product. Mill House Quilts is large enough to offer an unusual number of full lines of fabric.
CLASS & EVENT POLICIES
How do I register for classes?
You may register for a class in person or by phone (608) 849-6473. Classes/events must be paid for at the time of registration.
How do I get a class supply list?
A class supply list can be picked up at the store or mailed to you. If you need an item on the supply list and can’t get to the store before class, call the store at least one week ahead of class to have the item reserved for you. Double punches are given for class supplies.
What happens if the weather is bad? Will the class be cancelled or rescheduled?
If the weather is bad, we hold the class/event if the instructor/leader arrives. It will be up to the discretion of the instructor as to whether the class will be held.
What are the cancellation policies?
Class instructors are under contract and must be paid even if you don't attend a class that you sign up for. Therefore cancellations one week or less before a class/event will forfeit the entire fee. Cancellations more than one week before the class/event will forfeit 10% of the fee. You will not forfeit anything if you send someone in your place. Refunds are given as store credit. Mill House Quilts reserves the right to cancel a class/event one week before if there is insufficient enrollment, in which case you can either reschedule or receive a complete refund.
Where are the classes held?
Our classrooms are upstairs. Being an historic building, there are no elevators and there are no bathrooms on the second floor. We are always happy to assist in carrying your sewing machines.