You all probably already know this tip, but just in case I wanted to share it. I have recently taken up machine quilting and was finding it difficult to handle all the bulk. I read about quilting gloves and how important they are but couldn't find any locally, so I went to Lowes yesterday and bought a pair of cheap ($2.50) gardening gloves with the rubber spots on the palms and fingers. What a difference they make. I couldn't believe how much easier the machine quilting was with the gloves on. I quilted 4 blocks of the quilt in just a little bit of time.