Ok - for those of you who pin your backing to the leaders, what type of pins do you use?

I have actually quilted two queen size quilts, one oversized throw and six or so baby quilts on this machine. With all these one of worst struggles has been basting the backing to the leaders and then getting the quilt off the leaders after it is quilted.

I just am trying to figure out if the best option is to purchase a machine with a longer stitch length or to find a better method of attaching the backing to the leaders.

Thanks to all of you who have commented. I do truly appreciate all the help.

Thanks!!!!

The problem I have is basting the sides of the quilt.
I have a 9 in throat machine on a long arm table and when I try to do pantographs my needle gets stuck on the sides.
Its impossible to sew down the sides with a 9 in throat and you cannot see the quilt when you do pantos so have given up on pantos.
Attaching the quilt to the leader is simple with pins, no problem there.

I baste mine to my leaders using a 6mm stitch and have no problems. Just tug on them when done and it comes right off

I use T-pins. I bought them strictly for this purpose & leave them in the leaders 6" apart. My leaders are also marked every 6 inches to make it easier to center and square the quilt while loading.

First, while standing in front of or at the needle end of the frame, I find the center of the backing & pin it to the center of my take-up leader. Then I pin all down to the left every 6 inches. Then I walk around to the back of the frame to pin down the other side.

Then I do the same for the pay-out leader. Find the center of the backing fabric and pin it to the center of the pay-out leader. Pin all to the left and then all to the right.

You might want to try Press 'n' Seal to baste down the edges. I use pins myself but I rarely do pantographs. When I have basted the edges, I had better luck just manually tacking them down by taking a couple stitches a couple inches apart. I have accidentally run into the pin-basted sides but it is rare as I try to remove them as I get close. I can see how it would happen more often while doing pantographs, though.

Did not think about Press n Seal, thanks.

I love pantographs. Each time I advance my quilt on the frame I sew a basting stitch down the edges of the quilt so that the machine doesn't get caught while doing the pantograph.

My machine only has a 4 mm max stitch length - after quilting it can sometimes be a pain to get the stitching out of the leaders.

Ok - I purchased the red snappers but have yet to use them. I haven't finished any tops to quilt since my purchase.

Now I am curious, has anyone used the red snappers with heavy canvas leaders? I am now concerned that my current leaders are not going to work with my current leaders because they are made of such heavy canvas. Any thoughts or suggestions?