Does anyone who uses a longarm and has zippered leaders ever baste the leaders to their quilt top before loading it to be quilted? I have zippered leaders and have always pinned them to my quilt tops for fear of them becoming worn out if I sewed them too many times. Does this happen?
Thanks! :-D

I don't use zippers but have heard that a lot of people do baste with a water soluable thread

I have zippers. I baste them on with my domestic. Set tension loose. Easy to remove. Lately I haven't been using them. One that is stitched to my leader lost a couple teeth. "Tooth fairy" needs to visit. LOL

i have never basted with machine a top to leaders

I've basted a few, but I don't do it regularly. Use a long straight stitch, and it rips out very easily. I'd love to have a chain-stitching machine, as that would be ideal for putting them on.

I always pin mine on - it goes very quick when you get used to it.

Mid arm here: Have the zippers (haven't sewn them to the leaders yet), but have blood stained leaders...

Ditto!! Have thought this many times! Where do you get one?

So true. I just invested in some zippers and can't wait to try them.

Last week I bled on the leaders of a machine I borrowed from the company I rep for. Did the DNA of my spit remove the blood? Yep. Lots of blood. Lots of spit! Felt like an idiot. Fortunately the road show had not yet begun!! I refuse to spit in public!! LOL :oops:

I don't know if there's a stand-alone machine, but I think the chain stitch option comes on some 5-thread sergers. I don't think I can justify the investment just to get a chain stitch, though!

Don't have zippers, but velcro.... I always use the longest stitch on machine and stitch my backing on. I used a heavy type canvas fabric for my leaders so that may be the difference.

I have zippers, I usually pin. If you're going to sew them on, you might want to start in the middle and sew out to each end if you don't have dual feed on your machine.

Some quilters also use staples.