Longarm Quilters. Do you have any special tips to share?

Here is my Mrs Farmer mounted on the Longarm, ready to quilt now. When I mount a quilt, I first pin the bottom of the top on and roll up the rest of the quilt top, leaving enough to pin later.

Then I pin the bottom of the backing on the second roller and roll that up leaving enough for the back roller.
Then I pin the top of the lining to the back roller and roll it to just right lol.

I then foat the batting on top of the backing, put the machine on horizontal lock and run a seam, attaching the batting to the backing.

I then float the top to the batting, using the seam I just ran as a guide to keep the top straight.

I roll everything up snug and run a seam down the right side and one down the left side.

Now the quilt is locked between the seams, and the rollers in a perfect square. Any exta that pops up in the middle of the quilt because of (there are many reasons) has to be eased in between the locked area. I put the clamps on the sides and almost always have to go back and loosen them. The clamps should just hold the sides not pull them out of shape.

What are you tips or how do you do yours.....

It looks like you don't need any tips. The only one I can give you is to make sure your pantograph/or other design is going to right way. Don't ask how I know that tip.

I float the top and batting and straighten as I advance the quilt. If you float the top it's so fast to load.

I don't float mine. I take the time to pin. Sounds like you have a system going that works for you, so keep going!

Thanks for the tip on running a seam to hold the back, batting and top together. I have been floating the batting, but have always been pinning the top on top of the batting through to the backing. This should save tons of time!! Thanks!!

I forgot to add that the front area is then pulled forward and locked so you have a 26 inch area or so to quilt on. The pic doesn't show the front pulled out.

I have a long arm business here in Michigan and I float both the batting and top - it will make it easier if the quilt is not square to work it in. I baste my top, batting and backing along all sides together as I go. I like to freehand all my quilting so I don't have tips on pantograph. Best wishes and enjoy!!!

I used to pin everything but picked up tips as I went along. ..now floating both top and batting goes so fast. Oh I never use the laser or pantograph or even the circle lol...

One more tip. You can unzip the leaders and pin the quilt on while you sit, if you have trouble standing for too long. I have two sets of leaders. Once I had to take the quilt off and put another on. Thank goodness all I had to was unzip the leaders.

I have around 10 sets of zippers. I just pin to the zippers (I used to sew the back to the zippers with a big stitch, and will still do that if I'm prepping a bunch of quilts when someone else is on the machine). I don't float the top, I like the control that rolling it on the roller gives me, and I have some warning that things are not square and straight if the quilt top doesn't roll straight. When loading, 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.

On tops that are critical to keep absolutely square, I use a lazer square that I bought at the hardware store. If the rows of blocks are, say, 10", I measure down 10" on both sides, put pins straight up and use the laser to make sure the row is absolutely straight.

I also float my tops and batting, and baste along the sides as I quilt. I use clamps to hold the top in place along the belly bar after I advance the quilt each time