Hi Sewingnewbie, check out the post I made awhile back. I had the same issue. Still do a bit. I've not got the walking foot yet, but hopefully soon.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/16754.page I hope you find some ideas here that will help!
The last two I just quilted, my husband got me two pieces of trim board, which Sharon Schram...? demonstrated using in her video, about hand basting. And I hand basted both! I think it was mentioned in my link above, if not someone will know it, or search on utube for quilting.
Neither was still quite tight
enough, but they were much better than my previous two! I had made a few before and don't remember having this problem before! lol!!!!
Diana :-)