Tothill

As I am in Canada, I do not have the option of shopping at or using Joann's coupons.

I did find the pins at my local Walmart. I did open the box and they are heavier duty than the sewing pins I already have. I bought two boxes to get me started.

I have a Jelly Roll Race top that has been gathering dust for a few years. I was not fussy about the fabrics, so I will load it into the machine. It will give me parallel lines to work with and once it is done, I will cut it up for pet quilts. Rescue cats and dogs will not be particular about my quilting.

I have old top sheets that I will use for backing while I practise. They no longer have matching bottom sheets. I guess I can use two for a top and bottom.

Thank you for all the encouragement.

JustAbitCrazy

Before I got my Leadergrips I used flat headed pins exclusively. The flat heads are nice when you are rolling the quilt.

Watson

Have fun!

Watson

jamsbuying

Ohhhh! Know you will enjoy.

AliKat

Wow! Congrats.
I started out with pins and, gads, something that had a small enough diameter plastic thing like used in clothing stores. [Not the Dritz basting gun; it is too fat for my aesthetics.]
I now use red snappers for top & bottoms of quilts, unless I float the quilt. Then I use the harbor freight tool magnetic strips for the bottom portion of the quilt and adjust as I go.
I made my own side leaders with ticking that enclosed paint stir sticks. I pin the ends of the ticking to my quilt & then let the side clamps attach to the ticking covered paint sticks. The red snapper side thingies are to hard on my arthritis.
When I got my first LA I used pretty sale fabric and then used that for totes and other projects. I then started on charity quilts. Had fun.

mike'sgirl

Congratulations! I know you will have fun. I don't have a longarm, but a Janome on a Gracie frame. Sheets make good practice quilts.

AliKat, what a great idea using the paint sticks. I'm going to steal that one if you don't mind. I don't like clamps on my quilt edge alone, and the wooden side leader things that came with my frame are a pain.

carslo

Congratulations on your new machine. I bought my long arm last month and did one very small dog quilt to get the hang of it and have not looked back since! Enjoy the freedom that you will now have with your quilting.

Mariposa

Congrats, and have fun!! These machines are great!

tessagin

Congrats!!!

Michellesews

I use a power stapler to attach my backing. I float my quilts so this is very fast and you don't stick yourself. When finished just trim off close to the stapled area and pull the leftover strip off. It pops right off, staples intact and doesn't damage the leaders. A good You Tube video on loading a quilt is called Loading Lori's way by Gammill. She does use pins though. Congratulations on your new baby!