How to Attach Leader Cloth to Your Grace Longarm Frame with Leah Day 

Glad it was helpful! Thank you for sharing kindness!

Terrific! I'm so happy you found this helpful!

Many quilters struggle with this and it really isn't a big deal. The only thing that matters is that you can see the line of little dots to pin your backing fabric to when you go to pin. The fabric on the take up rail can do whatever it needs to - that doesn't matter. Mine was velcroed and then flipped backwards - it didn't matter a bit to how my quilts loaded on the frame.

@@LeahDay I wish mine had been set up the way yours was because I think it would be a better fit but I did take your idea of the Amazing tape and that is working wonderfully. I also found your video on red snappers and ordered those right away. Can't wait for those to get here.

@@LeahDayok, I think you just answered the question, I just posted. I’ve made a couple quilts since I added the idler arm, with no changes to the leader on the take up rail. No problems.

I'll be here when you're ready!

Make sure you read the Leader directions because the leader that goes on the takeup rail changes depending on whether or not you have an idler rail or not. She should have made that clear in the video that it's NOT the same for all frames. Don't worry about it though... the directions are clear in both the leader packaging and your frame instructions :)

@@wickedwinnie Thanks for this information, My idler rail is on backorder, I have to keep in mind to change the leader once the rail arrive.

@@hopesmith164…I used my batting roller for my idler arm. My husband made a bracket to attach to the frame. Works great! No more having to adjust the take up rail.

⁠@@wickedwinnie…I added an idler rail to my frame. What changes to the leader? I’ve had my leaders for several years, so no directions.

Search Amazing Wrap. It's changed names recently to be available for a wider range of uses.

Wonderful!

Congratulations on your new frame Diana!

Yes, you are correct, and I have an update video planned for this soon. As you modify your frame, you may need to switch out the width of the leader cloth to give you enough space for the additional rail.

Great idea!

Yep, I would reach out to your dealer for new Velcro to attach your leaders.

Goo Gone works great for removing the sticky. Yep, I would reach out to your dealer for new Velcro to attach your leaders.

The reason you're seeing so many different options is because there is no right or wrong way to do it. Standing at the front of your frame, place your leader cloth on the back rail so that as it unrolls towards you, you can see the line for pinning. Face up / face down, etc don't matter depending on how you plan to load. If you stand at the back of your frame, you may want your leaders face down. If you stand at the front, you may want them face up. All that is necessary is for you to be able to align the pinning line with the edge of your backing fabric and pin along it.

@@LeahDay Thank you

Note. The thing that confuses me is when I am trying to learn new things, no ones frame looks like it loaded like mine. For example, a person was trying to explain to me how to add zippers to my leaders. Every video that I saw showed the leaders coming under the take up rail frame. Thanks again

The take up rail should be higher than your Idler Rail so the quilt builds up in the arm of the longarm instead of right against the quilt. Other than that, everything else stays the same.

@@LeahDay thanks Leah. I attached the idler height, just enough to slip my fingers to the first knuckle, under the rail and at a slight angle to the take up rail. The take up is about 2.5” above the idler. I haven’t quilted anything but a practice piece, but seems to work pretty good. I also changed my belly bar. I’m copying yours. Removing the leader cloth and I’m going to buy those clips you use. Just have to get that glue residue removed from the rail. I changed the actual rail from the take up with the back/belly rail and vice versa. So I didn’t have to reinstall the longer leader. Sorry. Didn’t mean to make this a novel. Just so excited, about how much easier it’s gonna be to quilt, since that’s my least favorite part. Now, it won’t my quilting any better, even after 11 years, lol, but the doing it will be less stressful. Thanks again for all the inspiration. I’ve watched you from the beginning. You’ve done so well for yourself and family. 👍

Here you go - amzn.to/3puJvSz

Yes, that frame doesn’t come with leaders. Yes, what you’ve described should work just fine.

Are you sure you have the correct leader cloth? If it doesn't come with velcro, you might have accidentally purchased Hoop Frame Leader Cloth. And that leads to a second question - what type of frame do you have?

@@LeahDay I have a older grace pinnacle frame . I bought Grace Company, Cloth Leaders by the Yard from Sewing Parts Online.

@@LeahDay I bought the Grace Company, Cloth Leaders by the Yard . My frame is an older pinnacle frame

Yes, absolutely. The key is finding very sturdy canvas that doesn't distort as it's rolled up. Cut it the length you desire and width that feels right to you, then attach velcro to one end to attach to the rail.

No, this video is for a rolling rail style frame. Try to rotate your front and back rails - if they are square shaped and don't move then you have a Hoop Frame. You'll need to follow these instructions for your frame - leahday.com/blogs/machinequilting/how-to-load-a-hoop-frame-start-quilting-video-2

I honestly don't know your prices in Canada so you'll need to reach out to a dealer in your country for the cost.

Yes, you will have a 2 inch opening at both ends. The main reason is the machine most likely won't be able to quilt all the way to the edges without hitting the edges of the frame.

I believe the name has changed. It's now Amazing Wrap - amzn.to/2RzenOf

The roll that comes with the leader cloth is the rougher side of the velcro. The softer side is already stitched onto the leaders.

Do you have a Q-zone Queen frame / SR2 frame? If so, yes, I believe the velcro goes above the tubing.

It’s actually not necessary to do it “perfect”, just what works for your frame. Attach the Velcro and smooth it flat with an expired credit card, then attach the leaders in any way you like that will result in the fabric rolling onto the rail in the right direction and with the dashed line on a side you can see and pin. A lot of quilters struggle with this and it’s just a matter of getting the orientation where you can see and pin to the leaders.

@@LeahDay Thank you for replying. I enjoy watching your videos and I am also a lefty. I do wish that the general directions for adding leaders were consistent. While searching for help on another subject, a lot of people told me my leaders were on wrong. I stopped what I was doing and searched for an updated video for my frame. I could not find anything. Newbies should not have to struggle with this. It causes problems when you need help from others and causes delays and stress. The closest I could find was your video. I knew you would respond help. Thanks again.

It used to be called Amazing Tape. Now I believe it's Amazing Wrap - amzn.to/45jFcbB

Yes, it can change the placement of the leaders. I ended up flipping the top one around, but mostly because I use Red Snappers for quickly clamping the quilts in place. Because I have a 21, I've been walking to the back to attach the top edge of the backing because the distance is so long. So understand this system has changed a bit after adding the Idler Rail to my longarm frame.

I'm sure you have figured this out by now but if you have a frame with an idler bar then the largest leader goes on the takeup rail. It's in the leader packaging instructions (and should be in your frame instructions too). :)

I usually load the back rail standing at the back now. The 21 is so long it's hard to reach!

Yes, my leaders had velcro already attached too. It honestly doesn't matter if the leaders go on print side up or print side down. What matters is if you can see the dotted line as you pin the backing to the leader cloth.

@@LeahDay Thank you so much! Congratulations on the baby too!

It's called Amazing Wrap and you can find it here: amzn.to/2OfxoSW