Originally Posted by Prism99

What you are doing works fine if you are starting at an edge. If you are starting a quilting pattern in the middle of the quilt, however, it is safer to bring your bobbin thread up to the top first so you can still hold both threads before starting to sew. Some machines will create a bird's nest underneath if the bobbin thread is not brought up to the top, and you often don't know this until the machine jams or until you finish quilting and turn the quilt over. What if you are quilting a pattern that starts in the middle of an 80" quilt? In order to hold both the bobbin and top threads when starting to sew, you would first have to pull the bobbin thread out about 45" -- quite a waste of thread. Bringing the bobbin thread up to the top allows you to control both threads even if you are not at an edge. Also, not controlling the bobbin thread from the top (when you are in the middle of the quilt) makes it possible to accidentally quilt over the excess bobbin thread, as you cannot see it.

Edit: Am I correct in thinking you are working on lap size or smaller quilts?