I tried hand basting on a queen size quilt. The foot on the machine was caught in the stitches more often than not, and pulled them and puckered the quilt and made me lose my temper. I use a 6 ft table, hold down the backing firmly and tightly with clamps, then lay the batting and the quilt top on the backing -- then start in the middle pinning (with safety pins) the sandwich, and smoothing as I go, working toward the edges.. Gives great results but honestly, I hate the process. Guess that's why I have a lot more quilt tops than I do completed quilts...