Seriously!! I loaded a new quilt on my machine last night and it took me almost 2 hours!!! I know I'm new at this, but is this normal? I always have my husband help roll the fabric while I try to keep it straight and tight. Am I doing something wrong?

me too Sista! I'm thinking of getting zippers for my leaders because by the time I get one all pinned on and ready to go my back hurts and I'm too tired to start quilting. Maybe neither of us know what we're doing. :oops:

I prefer having two people to load it. I've done it by myself, but spend a lot of the time growling. You do get a bit faster with practice.

It takes me 1-2 hours to load one on my frame, too. That's backing, batting and top. I only pin the backing, though. Once I have the backing pinned, I roll the batting, then I sew a line across the end of the batting to attach it to the backing. I do the same for the quilt top. I do not sew through the leaders, only the backing about 1/2" off the leaders.

Great idea. I'll have to try that.

This is the main reason I don't have a longarm set up. I have helped load quilts on many different kinds of frames and it is too big a hassle. I know I'd have a pile of quilts sitting there waiting to be put on the frame and me not wanting to do it.

It is easier with more than one person for sure, I can do it in very little time by myself, it is a matter of practicing it, I pin all of it, at first my mom thought it was a lot until she helped with it, it is worth it for me as the totally quilting time is cut way down by using it and I can do more on it than trying to move it though manually.

I usually use a lot of pins hooking the backing to the leader. Then I line up the batting & top onto the backing 1/2" to 1" below the leader (so that I don't sew into the leader & to avoid bumping the pins with the machine's foot). I pin the batting & backing about every 4" just to be sure the top & batting don't shift. This way I don't have too many pins to remove as I sew the top edge of quilt. It makes it nice to have that edge sewn before you start quilting so that the pressure foot does not bump into pins. I may play around & try it without the 4" apart pins sometime & see if that would work for me also. It would save time as long as the batting & top didn't shift.

It usually takes me about an hour. I safety pin the back and top to my leaders about every 6 inches. Loading the batting is what is hard for me! I've not tried it alone except 1 time and had to give up and get my husband to help! I'm hoping the next time is easier!

Once you learn how to do it, it will be easier and faster. I can load 3 layers in about an hour and I am not talking about a wall hanging. i make Twin and Standard bed size quilts.
It becomes an art! You will get the hang of it - if not sooner, then, surely, later.