I find that stretching the fabric makes it bag and puffy after the tape is released. I know this may sound strange to many of you-I press all the layers seperately then layer them smoothing in between when all 3 are together I press one side, then the other smoothing and pressing very lightly- just barely gliding over the fabric using steam. I do this on a very large table. the steam sort of marries the fabric to the batting and I pin from the middle of the quilt going out to the edges. I use Warm and Natural batting and the 2" curved pins.