GagaSmith

I just bought the Leader Grips at an AQS show last week and haven't even used them yet. I had never seen them before so I asked at the HQ booth (I have and HQ Avante) and everyone raved about them. They came highly recommended.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smAAa4MyKOA

amandasgramma

Zippers...all the way

MaryKatherine

I used homemade snappers for the backing but pin the top!

JustAbitCrazy

Love my Leadergrips!

Taughtby Grandma

I pinned until I bought a set of red snappers. I love them! They hold the quilt evenly and tightly, and it is so much faster to get the quilt on the frame.

Shorebird

I have tried the red snappers, and do not like them.....I do not have multiple quilt tops that I am taking on and off the frame, so the zipper leaders are of no real benefit to me......I do pin...(still get stuck, but my backing is on securely, and squarely........I get many of my quilting designs from a mother/daughter small business called My Creative Stitches.....They have some absolutely spectacular designs, and always have something on sale each month......Google them to check out their site........Their designs stitch out beautifully, and they have multiple formats available. Not affiliated, just a VERY satisfied customer........

dc989

I pin with T-pins. I got my leaders from Nancy's Notions and they have a ruled grid on them. I take time to measure all three pieces of my quilt sandwich and am careful to get all the middles lined up when I pin. It is awkward to pin at first, but am now quite fast. The big T pins really help me esp since they are stronger and don't bend.

BettyM

I use Leader Grips, too, and am very happy with them.

margecam52

Take your time purchasing gadgets. I started with an old Nustyle machine...green monster, think regulated was not a word that went with quilt machines when momma machine was made, lol.

I learned a lot from that old machine. Folks would ask how I kept the stitches so even...Practice, practice & a bit more practice.
It had a wide base (about 4")...and I got a no-frills ruler (7.00 usd). After a few months, I made myself an extended base from a piece of plexiglass I bought at a hardware store. I also used some of the extra leftover for making a long ruler. I used that to practice cross hatching. I then found the LineTamer from fourpaws quilting & paid about 22.00 for it. I love that ruler, mostly for it's bright green tint. It's an excellent took for stitch in the ditch...you line the center groove over the seam & there is no way to jiggle off line.

Pantos were about the only way to go with the non regulated machines. When I got the new machine (TL18LS)...I learned to use stitch regulation...and now go between both regulated & non regulated.

I've made an extended base for this machine also (about $13.00). I now have other rulers and templates. I added a Qbot V3 & that has eliminated the need for pantos.

When lining up pantos, I would put the needle where I wanted the next row of stitches to start stitching..roll the quilt & then adjust the stylus (later a laser light) so it was at the start of the panto...and that worked well for me.

Find what works for you. There are some great videos on youtube... Sharon Schamber; Jamie Wallen are two very helpful quilters. Also, find those for your machine and view those...I used to just search youtube for quilting or long arm quilting....and tons came up.

caspharm

Same here. I love mine. You do have to "break" them in a little, but much preferable to sticking myself with pins.

I love my Magna-Glide prefilled bobbins from Fil-Tec (they have magnets on them and work great). I would also recommend taking classes to see what type of Longarm quilting you like - i.e. freehand, pantos, computer guided.

I have bought items from my LA dealers, from panto designers (paper ones), thread companies (Superior and Fil-Tec), vendors at quilt shows, and teachers. I have bought batting from vendors at quilt shows as well as JoAnns. Shop around and see what vendors have what you want or need.