I have most of my bigger quilts basted by a LA but I always pin baste them after she thread bastes them. No matter how many times I ask that the basting be closer then four inches apart and not have the basting stitch four inches long she never does it, says that what her LA instructor said was the normal basting stitch. I doubt I use her again after the last quilt came back basted the same old way. I'll do it myself then have her tell me what I want.