After reading so many posts i couldn't help wondering about sending your quilts out to be finished. How many of you do this and why not quilt the tops yourself? I don't have any neg. thoughts about this but i cannot imagine giving my hard work over to someone else to quilt. I guess it's a trust issue. I am very picky about my quilts and don't want anyone "messing" with them until i hand them over to who they are made for. Am i just being silly? Maybe i DO need help! Any thoughts on this issue?

Sometimes you just have to let someone else 'mess' with your quilts, especially the larger ones that would be difficult to quilt on a regular machine. A pro longarmer would/should have better skills and be able to execute a diffiuclt or detailed pattern better than us- at least in theory! I haven't sent any of my quilts off yet, but may in the future.
Kind Regards,
MaryAnna

I am fairly new to the quilting world. I have only made large lap throw sized quilts. I quilted them myself. I either do a stitch-in-the-ditch or rows. I made my grandson a quilt and took it to a local long arm quilter and had it quilted. She did a wonderful job. And now she is doing a special quilt for my granddaughter. Quilts that are special to me, I would preferr some one with a lot more experience to quilt them. I don't want to goof them up.

Not silly at all, I feel the same way, I like to do mine myself. I do, however, understand those who don't want to do the quilting part.

That is the very reason that I don't quilt for others. I would just die if I did someone's quilt, thinking I did a good job only to find out they felt like I messed it up.

I feel the same way!

I think it is wonderful for those who wish to finish their quilts do so as the quilting process can be very rewarding. I also think it is wonderful that there are longarm quilters (I am one) willing to quilt for those who can't or don't want to finish their quilts for whatever reason. As the saying goes "to each their own" And thank goodness we have choices.

As in everything else, personal preference.

I've machine quilted most my own quilts, but that isn't that many and mostly at kids quilts for charity. For gifts, I've hand quilted a few full size quilts and one I machine and hand quilted.

I couldn't afford to have mine quilted by someone.

I have only hand quilted in the past and I am pondering sending a quilt out for the first time. most of what I have done is large lap quilts which I hand quilt and/or tie. I worry that it won't feel like mine if someone else does the quilting. so much love and enjoyment goes into the piecing and yet the quilting does so much for the pattern. I guess it's silly but I feel kind of like I'm cheating if someone else finishes it.