My longarm frame has the extra poles to keep you from basting and everything shifting, but this frame is just like the frames they used to use...4 boards like a picture frame. I have just read another post about this same procedure being used that I described so maybe a lot of people don't baste. When I use my standing quilt frame I baste it and then roll both sides in and start in the middle even when others are quilting with me. We roll out from the middle. Maybe it doesn't really make a difference. These ladies have only seen it done by their relatives. They haven't experienced it yet but they think I'm foolish to baste.