Similar idea, yes.
Leaders are pieces of fabric longarmers use to attach quilts to longarm frames. Usually they have velcro sewn on the sides that attach to the rollers on the frame, with the corresponding velcro glued onto the rollers. You pull the leaders off the roller bars, attach the quilt to the leaders, then reattach the leaders to the rollers. There are several methods of attaching the quilt to the leaders; some people pin, some people use long basting stitches, some people sew on zippers.
I think there are other ways of attaching the leaders to the rollers, but most of my quilting friends are in the velcro camp, so that's the extent of my knowledge base.
