One class I took called them "spiders"!

I call them the "Thank God my mother in law showed me this" thingie.... It keeps my quilting room from turning blue with all my swearing... :)

It sounds like you are actually sewing the leader right with your quilting fabric, so it's caught in the seam. A leader is where you sew the scrap of fabric, sew a couple stitches 'in the air' with no fabric, then start your quilt fabric patch, like you are chain piecing. The leader has secured the top and bobbin threads so you don't get a big glop of thread at the start of your seam. You would then sew your seam, or chain piece a bunch of patches, sew a few stiches in the air and then sew an ender scrap. Check Bonnie Hunter's site for more info:
http://quiltville.com/leadersenders.shtml

My instructor at the quilting 101 class I took this fall called it a fabric Kittie. First time I heard about them. So it stuck with me.

This is what I do.

I have trouble with it being pulled down into the machine at times, too. Will give this a try, love the names.

"tag-its" (as in, tags-hanging-off-the-end) :D

Jan in VA

Thank you...I was sewing it with the quilting fabric. I will definitely check Bonnie Hunters site. I use them alot...I have trouble getting the "seam" started...especially with thinner fabric! Always so much help on this board!!

thread bunnys

My neighbor and I call these 'scrapples'. Using a straight stitch plate on your sewing bed, with a straight stitch only, prevents the fabric from being 'sucked' down in.
I keep a good amount of 4 x 10 strips of fabric on hand. I place 2 together and use these to test my stitches before sewing anything. I have a small basket near my machine that I throw them into and pull one out when I start sewing. The thickness of the fabrics doesn't pull into the plate and I never forget about cutting them off as they usually don't match the fabrics I am using. When I am checking stitches for quilting, I make a fabric and batting sandwich and test on that. If needed, that piece is used to start an outside seam as it is generally the same thickness as the quilts.