Depends on what I am deciding to do on the quilt, on a piece of paper I plot it out, sometimes to keep it stable I will SID on some borders if I do that I start in the middle & work my way out to one side than I go back and do the other side. Once that is done I go back starting in the center and do my FMQ by sections. I don't roll my quilts I puddle them they seem to move easier for me and I don't end up with any puckers on the other side. When I plot the sections on paper is when I decide what parts will be FMQ, which parts are a stenciled pattern, etc. I have an adjustable stool to sit on so my hands are above the quilt and I am not reaching up and I can easily see my stitching as I go. Not sure if this makes sense to you but its what I found that works best for me.