When I 1st started long arming, I attached the backing to the take up leader and the backing leader (it looks like a scroll when its loaded), then laid my batting on top and then laid the top on the batting. The top was pinned to the top leader across the bottom edge. Now I do the backing and batting the same, but I just lay the top over the batting w/o attaching it to a leader/roller. I have some clips, that look like bicycle clips, that hold the top in place. It clips over the belly bar (nothing attached to this...just lean up on it with...well..my BELLY! lolol. I find that if the top is not attached along the bottom, I am able to flip it up to check the smoothness of the batting, pick out loose threads I can see thru the top, and check on the backing better. I would post some pictures but I just dumped coffee on my camera and now the lens will not open...DRAT!