Oh, it's not hard to line everything up at all! Each rail has a tension adjustment. And there have been a few quilts that weren't very large that I'd already basted...I attached those to the bottom and middle rails only. It gives you almost 12" of quilting to do before rolling up the work at all. You have to be comfortable with quilting in all directions, tho. Frames don't move! That's why I mentioned the pivoting hoop model, just in case your back or hands & shoulders gave you problems.