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.

I send all mine to a longarm quilter. I do not have the space to be able to layer quilts. Having spent time on piecing etc I like my finished quilts to look really good rather than "just ok". I found a fantastic longarmer several years ago she is very professional and I just leave the final finish to her. She has done 25/30 for me now and has never let me down! For me it is money well spent.

I felt the same until i had two qlts done by a Long arm quilter. she just did meandering, but at least they were done!! i didn't feel bad at all. thought i would too! :mrgreen:

I have machine quilted all my finished quilts. Always straight stitching (cross hatching) or straight stitching around a template (like a star or something). I just "feel the need" to complete them myself. That said, long arm quilting is truly beautiful and if I was doing a really special quilt (and not that the ones I've done aren't) I may just send them out. Or work on my FMQ!

A friend of mine always sends off her quilts to be quilted because she simply doesn't like that part of the process. 8-) I do my own -- either by hand or by my regular sewing machine. I'm not sure, however, if I could be able to use my machine to quilt a really large quilt. I sometimes feel as if I'm wrestling a bear!!! :shock:

Thank god we have LAQ who do others quilts. I have had hand surgery and cannot do my own anymore. It is sure not worth the pain I have to endure to quilt my own. THANK YOU LAQ!!!!!

I love quilting my own and have lots of fun doing it. But if I hated quilting it I would send it out.

Size matters. If I'm doing lap size or smaller I quit it myself. Bed size HAS to be sent out. Just can't fit all that fab under my machine and choose not to do the quilt as you go process. Getting the finished quilt back is like my birthday all over again. Such happiness!!

I do not have the room (nor do I have the money) for any kind of quilting system. Since seeing pictures of Harriet's quilting (she's a member of this board) I send her ALL of my quilt tops. She has ALWAYS done an absolutely beautiful job on my quilts - better than I could ever do. I kind of feel that they're now not quilts that "I" made, but a joint effort. I always tell people that I did not do the quilting but I did everything else. She would never ruin a quilt. I don't have them quilted locally because all I have seen anyone do is meandering and that is too boring and common for me. Harriet really customizes my quilts.
Everyone is different and if you don't want anyone "messing" with your quilts - well, there is nothing wrong with that :-)

Thanks for the compliments Roberta! I am anxious to dig into the box of quilts you just sent. They are yummy!!

I send mine to a quilter. I have no space for large machines.

Some of us work full time and don't have the time to quilt ourselves. I also do not have a machine that can handle the quilting. I found a lady who is an artist with a long arm. She always makes my quilts look better. Someday when I retire I hope to be able to quilt my own, until then I will let Sandy quilt my tops.

We have a long arm and quilt for our selves and quilts to sell.But I am scared to death to do some one else's quilt-in case I screw it up

It must be lovely to have your quilts quilted for you but I agree I would worry about my quilt getting messed with and what if I didn't like the quilting.
As it is I can't afford to have them quilted----that's why it takes me ages to finish a quilt---say's me typing on here instead of sewing!!!!

I have only sent one quilt out to be done by a long-armer. It was a set of 20's butterflies that came from a friend's grandma's stash and I had put it together for her. It required more than SID and I was nowhere near ready to do anything else. SO I paid to have it done.

Now I am taking classes so I can finish my own. It is not a matter of money for me but a matter of stubbornness that I "need" to do the work start to finish.

I did ask for (and received) help to finish the FMQ on Kennedy's Raffle quilt. Again - above my competence. I so do appreciate anyone who has the skill to do the swirly patterns.

My sister-in-law has a long arm and actually runs a business out of her home finishing quilts. She has offered to do mine, but to be honest I am afraid to let her see my quilts in any kind of up close and detail. She is a pro, I am an amateur. I think I'd rather struggle on my little machine, where my quilting may not be perfect then to let a pro expertly quilt my only so-so quilt.

I can understand letting a pro do a quilt that is perfect. if a quilt is that good, it deserves profesional quilting. But I am not that good yet.

I have no patience with free motion quilting. I am always anxious to get going on the next quilt. I do, however, do the hand binding on all my quilts because I want to do the finishing touches on my project. I have access to an excellent long arm quilter.

For me the stress of dealing with a large quilt and a regular sewing machine was so frustrating. My shoulders ached , my head pounded.... and there was the envitable ...PUCKERS... It was a huge relief to work with Long arm quilters. Before I used to read the batting instructions and find the batting that required the least amount of quilting. The long Arm people I have worked with do a better job and do much more quilting than I ever would.

Well, I get a sense of pride from doing a quilt "start to finish", however, working on my home machine, and at my current skill level, I know that my quilting isn't as good as can be done by a good professional. So when I made a special quilt for my daughter's bed, I sent it out to be quilted. I can't afford to do that all the time, though, which is why I am working on perfecting my quilting and learning different quilt-as-you-go techniques.