I think the trick to good machine quilting is the basting. If you baste close enough, you shouldn't have much trouble with bunching, or puckering. The other key to good machine quilting is practice, practice, and more practice. You should check out daystyledesigns.com, I have learned so much. You can also get a generic stippling foot, and they run less than a walking foot and are much more useful and versatile, I do everything with my free-motion foot, even straight lines and stitch in the ditch. Try out the web-site. Good luck with your quilting.