When I first got my LA, we lived in a 90 y/o house, in the country and everyting got covered in dust faster than I dusted, so I wanted it protected. I bought 90" wide muslin long enought to completly cover the table & machine x2. Sandwiched it with batting and loaded that machine. I practiced all kinds of pantos, FMQ and so did my friends. We had a lot of fun. I'd go over the same stitches several times, then roll it up and have a fresh go of it. By the time I'd quilted 5 yards of muslin I was ready to quilt any charity quilts the guild had. Many years later, I still am learning. But, my circles are round, not rounded off squares, I can tell when there's a thread problem from the sound of the machine, and I've got a great spread for Gretchen. Oh! Yeh! We're on a first name basis!