Do you send out your quilt to be quilted by someone else?

How many of you pay to  have your quilt quilted by someone that has a long arm machine? Do you ever feel like then your quilt isn't really completely done by you? Just curious. If you do have someone else do it what are the reasons you do or if you don't why not then?

Hi Sara,

I do small projects myself.  The larger ones I send to be long-armed.  Also, if I don't want to take a chance on messing something up like the cross stitch quilts we do as a group at work, I send it out.  Yes, I haven't done it all myself.  But, it is done.  So far I much much much prefer the piecing and binding (yes binding) to the actual quilting.

I only quilt small projects,  I send the larger ones out.   I have found i don't like the quilting part,  so why not let someone who likes it do it

Thanks Dara for the response. I am in the process of quilting my first quilt and am finding that I am not enjoying it much. But I wanted to say that I did my first one completely myself. I think I would do small projects like a table runner or something but think if I do another quilt I would send it out. I enjoyed the piecing a bunch. I look forward to hearing what others have to say. 

Leslie :

   I have found i don't like the quilting part,  so why not let someone who likes it do it

Good point Leslie. :)

Hi Sara,

It's funny because I asked the same question when I first started. I find that I like the quilting part a lot. I don't really have the money to make a quilt and have someone else quilt it. I'd rather quilt it myself. I practice all the time after I took a class at my LQS. I think it just depends on your personal preference.

Hi Sara I'd rather complete it myself.  Mostly because of cost to send out, and thats why I bought my mid arm machine so that I could complete a quilt thats large size.

Sara, I started quilting only about 3 years ago, but on my first quilt, I was trying to decide how to quilt it also. (of course I don't start small, my first quilt was a king sized for our bed!). The quilt shop close to us where I was learning BOM also, had a long arm computerized that she rented for $25/hour and she would help you set it up on the long arm (she zippers on), help you pick out a pattern and thread, then helps you monitor the machine as it is working. I thought this was a great way to start, not a lot of money invested, but "I" was quilting my own. She now has a long arm that is not computerized that you can rent for $20/hour if you want to learn that process. Now I have found several of our quilt stores in town have rented long arms, they only require you to come to a 1-2 hour class prior to learn the machine. It defiantly gives you an idea of Long arm quilting, whether you like it, etc. After about an year of this, my husband decided he was going to buy a long arm and now we have it set up in my new sewing room (last child in college-his room!) I really enjoy the quilting process, all the creativity that goes into deciding what I want "draw" on my quilts. Just a few ideas to think about.

Welcome, Sara ! I have not seen you on before. I send mine out and she only charges a penny a sq. foot so its very inexpensive to me. I do want to learn eventually , just need to practice, practice and practice. I like the whole process of piecing except the binding .I make myself do it and really enjoy the finished product.   Susan

I have always quilted my own quilts. I bought a Juki about 10 years ago and a Inspira frame. I love my Juki but the frame is put away....takes up so much room and you can only quilt like 6 inches at a time. The older I get the more I consider sending my quilts out. I am a bit timid about it though. How does one do it? Is my quilt good enough or will they struggle with it. 

But really I tend to just make smaller projects now that I can quilt easily on my Juki.

I do my own quilting. I use a Babylock QCP on a New Joy Magic frame. I've done smaller projects (and working on a big one) on my regular machine but it's very uncomfortable.

I have a quilt larger than my frame that will be done at the local machine dealer's shop. I've taken a class and will do the quilting myself on their longarm. I hope to purchase my own some day.

I don't really have a reason to do my quilting myself.  I just do. I enjoy everything about quilting except bindings. I'll pay to have those done LOL.

Sara

I enjoy the quilting process.  I do all my own quilting on my DSM.  I tried one on the frame for awhile but have found that I can't handle the standing to quilt.

i send them out, when i get too many quilts backed up or i need to get one done quickly, or if it is a pettern i'm not good at that i want on the quilt. 

Sara,I to do my own quilting,  I really enjoy that part, I have been working very hard for the past year to improve my skills ,it just takes lots of pratice and patience. And it has to be fun or you won't like it .  Barbara

I'm with Barbara, I do all my own quilting on my DSM.  Needless to say they are far from perfect, but, like Barbara, I have been trying to improve my skills by being patient with myself.  I have gotten a renewed sense of inspiration after viewing Leah Day's youtube videos and taking her Craftsy class.