I usually quilt my own quilts, nothing fancy just basic stitch in the ditch, a few stars or hearts, echo quilting, etc. as I haven't mastered free motion. When it comes to ltwin size or larger quilts I usually have them done by a LA quilter, meander for the most part because I like it and it's cheaper than fancier designs. The larger quilts were engagement gifts for my granddaughters.

At first I took your question as judgemental...that you might be in the 'have to do it all yourself or it's not your quilt' camp. Then I realized you have a longarm business and you're doing market research. Knowing that from the start would be helpful to both sides in this conversation. :)

when for me is always
why because I am learning and not ready to tackle a bedsize quilt
Even when I am ready special ones will go to the professional to quilt them. My aunt who taught me is also one of those that don't have any interest in quilting, just likes making the tops

I guess you could call it market research as I do have a business but I was just curious if people who fmq or have a mid arm always do their own or if they send some of them out. Also I'm having a hard time with terminology now that there are so many sizes and options out there. I have a 14 foot frame on our Millenium. Out bed is king size as is most members of my family so I quilt all my own. Sorry for the poorly worded question.

Also for me it's ll about the quilting design. even as I am enjoying piecing I'm thinking about all the digitized designs I've seen and which will complement the quilt the most

I second this comment

Well said, Dunster!
Cheryl, I longarm for others. Most of my customers enjoy the creative process & not the quilting process. Some prefer I do it so that it gets finished faster & better than their own FMQ. If you're doing market research, I suggest you look at the area your in & compare between the local LAQ. I know where I am, there's quite a few of us LAers & each of us have different areas that we specialize in. A friend of mine only does pantos, another only does meandering. Another uses strictly computerized. Me? I'm all freehand, ruler work, semi-custom to custom. I don't even own any pantos. I enjoy the creativity of doing it & hands on quilting of the whole quilt.

I quilt by check. I find the actual "quilting" very boring and tedious! Let those who have invested th big $$ into a craft they enjoy and pay them to quilt the top. A beautiful relationship! I prefer to start the next project . I do love to do the binding tho!
sandy

I find it difficult at times to ask for info on the kind of quilting specialty the LAQ does. It would be helpful if the LAQ would ask me the pertinent questions that they need answered prior to quilting the project. I don't know what I need to know to ask myself. BUT I am learning to ask these questions since I have learned the hard way. Please add other questions that I may not be aware to ask.

I don't want to see the thread..I want to see the fabric.
I don't want contrasting thread on the back. Please use a different bobbin thread if you need to in order to "hide" the stitching. example: I hate white bobbin thread on a colored backing. I need to clarify this with my LAQ for the future project.

PLEASE check your tension settings...nothing riles me like seeing the tension being off on the back of the quilt and "nests" of threads too. Good grief..I correct my own tension issues, etc when I piece a top, etc. Please do the same.

I don't pay for "custom". My projects are fun and a pantograph is just fine by me. I also love meandering. My quilt will not be entered into a contest but it may be exhibited for "show" only. Pantos are fine for my use.

Please inform me of the estimated turn around for my project(s). I fully understand wait times but please give me a ballpark estimated time of completion. Of course you also need to know if I have a "secret" deadline that I fail to mention. Let's talke timeframe on both sides, please.

What other questions should I be asking??
sandy

My SIL is a long-armer in Ca. I wouldn't hesitate for a minute to send a quilt to her. She can create beautiful
designs that I could never ever do on my home sewing machine.

I do not have the room in my house for a long arm. I also don't have the money to buy one. I don't have the strength in my arm, bad shoulder, to wrestle a large quilt through my DSM. I do a lot of QAYG but there are some quilts I want that beautiful quilting. I can send out a lot of quilts to a LA for the cost of a machine. Maybe if I won the lottery I could build a room for a longarm.