Boy, have I been there. I have a Gracie full length but I had not heard of putting a practice strip on at the same time as the quilt. How do you do thst? I've only been quilting on the Gracie for a short time but I did put a big practice piece on first and sewed and sewed and sewe......d. I think I'm ready to put a good quilt on but procrastinate for fear that I'll ruin it. Say a prayer for me. And I've been sewing for seventy years.