As a longarm quilter, you can leave the sleeve on, but it is easier to quilt without the binding already sewn on the top. If you want to have this quilted by a longarm quilter, you will need to have it done by someone who will be doing hand-guided quilting, as opposed to a computer doing the quilting...that way he/she can quilt around the embellishments you have already put on the quilt top. Superior Threads has a zillion colors of So Fine solid colored thread that it would be easy to match your colors exactly or to totally blend in to the skirt of your lovely quilt to add texture but no other colors. She is beautiful and I'm looking forward to seeing her quilted and bound.