toogie

I suppose I will keep piecing my blocks and making queen tops for my family. Whether I will ever get them completed with quilting, remains to be seen. I can't afford to send them out and even if I could, I'd put that money toward a midarm and quilt it myself, as this is something I enjoy.

junegerbracht

I used to feel that I was cheating if I sent a quilt out to be quilted - result piles of unquilted tops. I finally admitted that even with a midarm sitdown machine it was the part of quilt making that I really didn't enjoy. I found a great longarmer with very reasonable prices and am happy to send my tops to her - got her name from a fellow quilter.

Jingle

I enjoy the entire quilt making process. I totally make my quilts, start to finish. I just do FMQ, large stipple, meander, whichever. No fancy stitches for me.

Each person must do what works for them.

SusieQOH

Boston, I'm the same.
I am trying to learn FMQ but more times than not I send them out. I have no desire to have a longarm but I'm so glad other people do.
I love to hand quilt, but like you said it takes a long time. I still do it though but I love machine quilting. Never thought I'd say that!

Watson

I enjoy the quilting process, especially now that I have a mid arm but I must say I am considering for the first time sending a quilt out...only because I don't like it enough to imagine staring at it long enough to quilt it myself!

Watson

costumegirl

I'm similar to SusieQOH - I'm learning and practicing FMQ and can do small motifs with my DMS on smaller pieces and lap sizes but it does take me longer than most and that means "time". I find I have "sew many projects and so little time"!!

I don't mind giving projects to a longarmer especially the larger ones. I like talking to the LAer about design and thread and would rather give it to someone who will get it done efficiently instead of struggling and stressing with it myself. I tried before and I did not enjoy it at all and then hated the results and didn't like the top anymore - just got too stressed out.
I now know that "small" projects are ok but "large" are definitely better if they are passed on to a pro - plus I then have more time to work on something else

thimblebug6000

Thanks for finding that link! You are a better sleuth than me! Although the list isn't very long, I wonder if members can still add their names to it if they wanted?