I only paid $500 for my Bernina frame. I have no place to set it up so that's why it's still in its boxes. Plus, I don't think I would do a good job quilting. I tried meandering on a sandwich once and it was harder than I thought. I bow to all of you who quilt your own quilts, espeically with your sewing machines!

I send each and every one of mine to the LAQ. I am not interested in any manner in doing the quilting - my 'art' lies in making the quilt tops. As my mom has always said, "Thank goodness we're all different!" and that we have the freedom to choose what we do!

So you got a good bargain ... Congratulations!!!
Though it's not much of a bargain, if you have no space to use it ... or no intent to use it.

If you think you can't do it ... you're absolutely right!

Though trying it once does not really give a fair assessment of your ability to do something. Gosh, if I stopped at everything just because the first time it was not perfect ... OMG where would I be in life? Sometimes you just have to do it a 2nd, 3rd, 4th ..... and more times, and gradually we get better.

Think about this ... were you able to piece your quilts as well, the first time?
I'm sure you got better with practice.
At least most of us have.

How about selling it? Not here, obviously, but Craiglist or something like that. Even a notice at your LQS or guild. Those frames are made to accept a large number of machines, not just the high end Berninas. Guaranteed to bring in more than you paid for it, especially considering it's in mint condition. You could easily double the $500 you paid for it I bet. Just a thought.

Same here, do up to queen size on my DSM with increasingly better results each time. I simply can't afford to send them out and have learned to love the whole process. Quilting in sections, then putting sections together works great and I do that when I can - it does take some planning ahead of time re: the quilting pattern so that you can't tell it was done in sections. Beats wrestling with too much bulk. The only quilt I ever sent out was a Tee Shirt quilt years ago.

I send mine out...no shame here...I love to make the tops...but the quiltings is not my cup of tea...

I make big quilts all th time...very few are smaller than a twin....rolling of that and attempting to quilt on my regular machine is just a nightmare to me...I will quilt my own table runners and small things.

So I too will stimulate the ecomony! :-)

I used to send all of my quilts out because I didn't realize I could spray baste them and thought trying to pin or stitch baste them was ridiculous. Now I spray baste the heck out of them and go to town on my domestic machine. Good think I like straight line quilting ;)
If I have a special quilt that I want to be nicer then I would send it out to a longarm quilter, but for now I am enjoying not having an added cost of quilter for my quilts, esp when I sell a quilt, I get more profit that way.

I used to quilt all of my quilts, even an oversized king; but I have sent my last 3 quilts out because I have so many tops I want to make now. I will probably go back to machine quilting in the fall.

I have never sent a quilt out for some one else to do but.... I have two very special quilts that I am considering sending out. One is just too large for me and my machine and the other is just, special.

I used to send my quilts out for quilting when I was an over the road truck driver, as my time at home was very limited. I would still do the smaller stuff up to a lap size. Now I've retired & have a long arm, so I quilt them all myself. Thank you, all, that use our services! It gives us great pleasure to quilt your treasures & see your delight in our abilities!