Brat, I was planning on sending my quilt out to be LA'd. A very good friend of mine does my quilting and I help her out by doing the binding (I know - most of you are doing the 'ugh') on her customer's quilts. It's not that the quilting is free, it's less than elsewhere. My partner and I haven't talked about how to do the quilting, so I really don't know if she's doing hers by hand or not. If she wants hers by hand, I would, but it would not be finished in time to make this year or next year's deadline!!!