This past June I sent a quilt to a LA for the first time. Loved the results. I have been doing my own on my small throated Brother machine using waves and lines and it was OK. BUT CKCOWL on this board has now spoiled me!! She comes from the area I was born in and it was fun to meet her and to have her LA a quilt for me. It does make the quilt more expensive, but they are finished so nicely.

Sandy,
It's wonderful that you're asking these questions and giving your input to the longarmer. (I have a longarm, but I don't quilt professionally, just for myself, friends and charity.) As far as thread color, be aware that it's sometimes difficult to use a different bobbin thread and not have "pokies" on either side. Sometimes they go away when the quilt is washed, but I don't think you can count on that. If that would aggravate you, you might want to use a backing that will look good with the thread color used on top. Another input you should give is the type of batting you like (if you don't supply it). Also you could help select the panto if one is used. If you want the longarmer to trim the quilt (assuming that's an option) tell her where to trim it. If you don't want it trimmed, make that clear. If you want to bind by turning over the backing, the longarmer needs to know so she doesn't do any practice stitches outside the quilt top, or run the stitches off the edge of the top. If you have a strong preference for cotton thread, or want a shiny thread... There's probably a lot more that a professional longarmer would like to know, and should be asking.

thats good, what other reason would u need

I have always taken my quilts to a LAer. I love piecing them. I did do one small wall hanging with hand quilting and that was enough for me. I can't imagine trying to machine quilt on my sewing machine. My quilts are toooooo big for me to wrestle with. I love being able to talk with my LAer and decide what my quilt is going to look like. She does it all. Panto, meanders, customs. There are about 10 LAers within 1 1/2 hours of me and they are all backlogged so I know that a lot of quilters don't quilt their own quilts.

Why can't you live near me??? I'd trade LAQ for binding!!! I love the quilting portion of the process the best, that's why it's my business. I love to have the quilt talk to me and tell me what it wants on it...frustrating when the quilt is silent! I think my customers have me quilt for them is so they can get custom quilting on their quilt that they can't do on their DSM and they don't want to take the time to hand quilt a quilt. I'm so lucky to get paid to do what I love to do!

I am about 50/50 in my LAQ. I machine quilt my smaller projects (even though I am still learning!) Everything I piece that is from table runners, lap quilts, and baby quilts, I quilt myself. When it is a Queen or larger...I want her to do it as it isn't fun for me to FMQ on my home machine when they are that big. The bummer of that is of course, I have to have my quilt fit into her schedule...not always fast.

The main difference between mid-arm and Long-arm quilting machines is the depth, from the needle to the back of the machine ("reach" on the frame front to back). Most mid-arm machines can accomplish what our longarm machines can, so I totally agree...don't discount a midarm machine user...he/she can do the job just as well (if not better) than those of us who have longarm machines.

It really depends on what you like to do & don't like to do...If you love to piece a quilt, but dread the quilting process, especially for larger quilts...then a LAQ is probably the way to go...but don't discount a MAQ...his/her machine may not be as large as LAQ's...but they can still get the job done just as nicely as a LAQ.

I have a computerized machine & love using it, but I also enjoy doing freehand. I also like doing binding, and don't mind sheets for backings (no different than a batik for backing).

I will take your not so perfect quilts, as long as you are aware I may have to take a tuck here and there, and if I run into a loose seam, I'll stitch it (blind stitch by hand) right there on the machine. I'll take older quilts and replace bindings (I leave the old, just put new over it)...I will take a picture of a fabric you have on the quilt & make a replacement for a piece that is damaged beyond repair (or missing)...and print that pic onto fabric, making a new "print" to match the fabric in the quilt (I charge 12.50 usd for the printer sheet fabric). It takes a bit of testing /combining to make the right color/size needed for the repair...so part is fee for my time & ink also.

In other words...if it's old, tattered...or just not pieced very well...and no other long arm quilter will do it...I will. I love saving a quilt from the scrap heap. I've got a couple really new to quilting customers...I've been watching their quilt piecing improve with each quilt they send me....and I always try to include a magazine or other how to's when I return their quilt to them.

I also make quilts and embroidered labels for myself and my customers...the fee depends on what is wanted.

I love my LAQ. She does a beautiful job after I pick out the edge to edge pattern I want. I am afraid if I tried to quilt them on my machine I would really mess up all my work. Not worth the chance.

I've never sent one out, but am working on one now that I plan to send out. I only have a regular sewing machine, and this is going to be a large quilt for my sons wedding gift.