sandpat - beautiful quilt!
I also unpin as I go. Once I get to a pin, I take it out and I take out any within a handspan that might also be in the way. If I am going to be quilting something where doing a lot of stops and starts would break the flow, I use a water soluble thread to baste the area with. That way I don't have to worry about the thread. It will come out once I block the quilt later. This is a great trick; just remember not to lick the end of the thread when trying to stick it through the eye of the needle. :lol:
~Tiffany