I'm a beginner too, but as I keep quilting (I'm on my second throw), I'm finding that I actually do better if I don't roll the quilt in the throat of the machine. My machine is pretty small and basic, not very strong (Janome 7318) so I don't think the feed dogs/walking foot can drag the weight of the log. I'm just puddling and scrunching, and moving it along anytime I notice there's no more slack in front of the machine, if that makes any sense? I also prop up the left side of the quilt and try to plan my stitching so the majority of the quilt is on the left side as much as possible (not possible in the center, etc).