Shelly: "I measure the top somewhere across the middle of the quilt. I use those measurements to attach both ends and the middle of the quilt on the zippers/leaders. If there is extra fabric in the borders, this is where it really shows. "

Ok this is interesting to me and I don't understand lol. When you measure the middle of the quilt that will give you the measurement or should also be the measurement of the top and bottom of the quilt. Sometimes that is not so.

So would that mean that the belly of the quilt will stick out further on the sides than the top and bottom?

I have some clients are 'generous' with their borders. Sooo...I find a spot around the middle of the quilt to get a width, and use that as the width of the quilt. It keeps me from ending up with hourglass shapes and apple shapes. Silly me....I like them to end up SQUARE!!

For example: If I just used the measurement on the border, it might be 100", but the measurement through the middle might be 98". I want the top and bottom to be 98" also. I put a pin straight up on the back&batting at center, then one each direction 49" away, so I know where the edge should be. Hopefully, the 1" extra each direction is well distributed and not hard to work in.

Clear as mud?

I've just started "longarming" and these hints are wonderful! I think I'll get the zippered leaders! wow!

MY hint -- actually not mine, saw it somewhere on a video in "internet world". With the backing so big, it's hard for me to iron and make it look right. So I run an iron along the main crease - the one that's so hard to get rid of, spray the backing lightly with sizing, then I lay the huge backing out over the frame work. I spray it like mad with plain water....dang near get it dripping wet. I walk away for 2 hours and come back....the wrinkles are darn near gone! I then pin it on and roll it up. Works like a charm - no major ironing!

Oh yes, got it. I guess I do it a different way.

Oh dear lol. Honey, I do not iron hahahhaha....when the quilt comes to me....all threads are clipped the backing is 3 inches bigger than the quilt all around and both the backing and top are pressed or ironed. I have a sheet of do's and don't's and advice of how to finish or prepare your quilt for the quilter (Some beginners need helpwith that). that I hand out. the quilt is quilted the way it is received.

I remember another tip. You know how when you put a new bobbin in and start to quilt and it beeps when the bobbin is almost empty? well you can still go quite a ways before it's empty, especially if you are almost done in that row.

The other thing is when you have just have some thread left on the bobbin. I wind that thread on my sewing maching bobbins and that keeps my big bobbins empty and ready for the big machine.

Also, you know how you waste this huge piece of thread when you change threads and pull it through. I wind that piece around an empty toiled roll lol. I dont' know what I will do with all those pieces of all colors of thread but something might pop up....