It takes me about an hour to load a queen size quilt. I only float the batting. I pin the top about every 4". When I rent the machine I let the students help me do the pinning. I do all the rolling bc I am a little fussy about getting it straight. I love my HQ16. I don't like tight quilting. I want my blocks to shine not the quilting. I think the more/tighter the quilting the heavier the quilt.