Oh, thank you for your responses. Yeah it hit me last night to just do so many rows and make that a section which I set aside and piece later. I think that will make a huge difference. Would that be like a straight stitch to run across the top? A short stitch length? Or would a narrow zigzag be better? I get the feeling a full zigzag might do something weird to it like bunch it all up or something. Hmmmmm. what do you think?