I tape the back to a flat surface, then pin. The first few rows (I quilt diagonally) I pin in the seam with the head of the pin so I can remove them as I go. No basting, no walking foot, and go slow.
Before I start, I practice with a small sandwich till the tension and stitch length are just right.
Don't forget to check the tension on your bobbin case. Sometimes the bobbin is the culprit.