ABOUT RUTH’S QUILTS AND PROCESS:

Are patterns available for any of these art quilts?

No, each of these quilts is an original work of art. 

As one of the foremost teachers of design for pieced quilts, Ruth focused her professional life on teaching students how to design their own original piecing patterns. Her pair of books, Ruth B. McDowell's Piecing Workshop and Ruth B. McDowell's Design Workshop, distill the essence of her process, and will guide you into making your own patterns for your own quilts. The Piecing Workshop book also contains patterns for a sample block and two art quilts, a Maple Leaf and a Waterlily. You can find all Ruth’s books here. Some of them are out of print, but you can often find used copies on eBay and Amazon.

Is anyone currently teaching Ruth’s design or piecing methods?

We (her daughters) don’t know of anyone. If you’re reading this and you’re teaching her methods or techniques, please let us know!

Do you sell Ruth’s books?

We don’t. Your best bet is to look at Amazon and/or Google the title; several of them are now out of print, but you can often find used copies for sale online.

How long did it take Ruth to make an art quilt?

Fifty years of practice and hundreds of hours. 

How are the art quilts constructed? Are they appliqué?

All of Ruth’s work is pieced; she didn’t use appliqué or glue for any of the components, except in very rare occasions where noted. Each quilt contains hundreds of individual pieces.

How are the art quilts quilted?

All of Ruth’s quilts made after 1990 are machine quilted. She drew the quilting with free-motion stitches as she went, with a darning foot on a regular machine with a slightly wider arm space. Ruth’s quilts made before 1990 are hand quilted.

Did Ruth dye her own fabric?

Ruth did not dye fabric. She enjoyed the creative challenge of using commercial fabrics to create her work; she found the results to be visually richer and more unexpected. She occasionally used hand-dyed fabric in her quilts, but only if it was gifted to her.

PRINT SHOP FAQ:

I would like a print of a different quilt, or a different size print than what is offered. Can you do that?

Sorry, we do not offer custom prints of other quilts beyond the ones for sale in the shop, or custom sizes.

When will I get my order?

Usually, it takes our production partner 3–7 days to print and fulfill an order, after which it’s shipped out. The shipping time depends on your location, but can be estimated as follows:

USA: 3–7 days to print + 3–4 business days to ship
Europe: 3–7 days to print + 6–8 business days to ship
Australia/NZ: 3–7 days to print + 2–14 business days to ship

Please allow for extra shipping time in November and December.

Where will my order ship from?

We work with an on-demand order fulfillment company with facilities worldwide. Your order will be printed by, and shipped from, the closest facility to you.

Will I be charged customs or other fees for my order?

An additional customs and tax fee can occur on international orders (outside the USA). This fee is not in our control and is assessed by your local customs office. Customs policies vary widely for every country, so please check with your local customs office directly to see if they apply duties and taxes to your purchases. You are responsible for paying any additional customs duties or fees.

My order should be here by now, but I still don't have it. What should I do?

Before getting in touch with us, please help us out by doing the following:

—Check your shipping confirmation email for any mistakes in the delivery address
—Ask your local post office if they have your package
—Stop by your neighbors in case the courier left the package with them

If the shipping address was correct, and the package wasn't left at the post office or at your neighbor’s, get in touch with us at info@ruthbmcdowell.com with your order number.

If you did find a mistake in your delivery address, we can send you a replacement order, but shipping will be at your own cost.

Where are the prints made?

We work with a print-on-demand drop shipper. They have locations worldwide, so depending on where you are, your orders are printed and shipped from the facility that can do it most efficiently.

How do I track my order?

You’ll receive a tracking link via email when your order ships out. If you have any questions about your tracking or shipment, drop us a line at info@ruthbmcdowell.com.

I received a wrong/damaged product, what should I do?

We’re so sorry if the product you ordered arrived damaged. To help us resolve this for you quickly, please email us at info@ruthbmcdowell.com within a week’s time with photos of the damaged product, your order number, and any other details you may have about your order. We’ll get back to you with a resolution as soon as possible.

What’s your return policy?

We don’t offer returns and exchanges, but if there’s something wrong with your order, please let us know by contacting us at info@ruthbmcdowell.com.

Do you offer refunds?

Refunds are only offered to customers that receive the wrong items or damaged items. If any of these apply, please contact us at info@ruthbmcdowell.com with photos of wrong/damaged items and we’ll sort that out for you.

Can I exchange a print for a different one?

At this time, we don't offer exchanges. Though rare, it's possible that an item you ordered was mislabelled. If that’s the case, please let us know at info@ruthbmcdowell.com within a week after receiving your order. Include your order number and photos of the mislabeled item, and we’ll send you a new one, or issue a refund.