LQS Price for basting
 

I have called several LQS for basting a king size.. Most say they cant do it because they do not have long enough stitch length.
However the one shop wanted $150 Does that sound like alot to you ?? I thought is was Alot for basting... I have never had anything LAQ so I didnt know if this was reasonable or not.
Any Thoughts ?

I have never had this done. Sounds like alot but I am just not sure.

Why does it have to be basted?

That sounds like a lot to me. I just took an arbitrary measurement for a king at 120" square and based on a $150 price quote they are charging you a bit over a penny per s/i for basting. Many LAQ charge that for an all over meander. I have heard some LAQ only charge about $50 for basting. I've never basted a quilt for someone but I would think 1/2 a cent to 1/3 of a cent per s/i would be more in line for basting, depending on your area.

Gertz, the original poster is most likely handquilting her quilt in a lap hoop which requires basting the sandwich. Rather than basting it herself she is seeking the services of a LAQ to sandwich and baste the quilt for her.

Yep.. Feline is right... It is a wholecloth that I am hand quilting.. and I HATE to baste king size quilts.. I saw on the board the other day that some LAQ do it for you for a reasonable fee.. so I thought I would check it out.

My understanding years ago was that it would be about $50 to baste a king-size quilt. Do you have a quilt guild in your area? You could probably find someone to baste it for you through the guild. Private quilters don't have to charge for store overhead, etc. the way the LQS does.

I had a king sized top basted in a long running stitch for $25 ....I provided the batting and backing.....she told me it took her longer to load the quilt than to do the actual basting.

Price here in New Hampshire for basting is $0.006 per square inch (120"x120" w/b $86.40).

The local LAs here baste King size quilts for $20, I furnish my own batting. One LA uses up her 'don't like' thread. The basting stitches look to be about 3 - 4 inches long. I don't baste any of my bigger quilts, I let the LA do it.

My Innova has a stitch regulator, but it does not have a long stitch that would be used for basting. (If I had the more expensive stitch regulator, I think it might have a basting stitch). If I want to baste within the quilt using regular thread, I have to do a single stitch, move the machine, single stitch, etc. It is possible, but it is not optimal for me or for the quilt. I would also charge big bucks to do it this way.

However - there is another option, and that's using water soluble thread for the basting. That might or might not work for you, depending on the humidity where you live and how long the quilt will be in the frame. Superior makes two different water soluble threads (Vanish Lite and Vanish Extra). I have used the Lite in my longarm, top and bobbin, and it works great for stabilizing the quilt before doing the quilting. The Extra would probably be better for your purpose.