I have a small cutting table. I find the center of all three pieces and center it on my table with the excess hanging over the edges. I start pinning in the middle and move left pinning and moving the layers to the right as needed. I then recenter the sandwich and pin to the right using the same method of shifting the fabric to the left. I keep recentering the sandwich and move down from the original row of pinning. I pin the lower half of the quilt sandwich then I turn the sandwich around and do the same process for the upper part. I keep smoothing the top, batting and backing as I go before I pin. I'm able to feel if there is a wrinkle in any of the layers. It works for me and I have never had a wrinkle when I check the back before starting to quilt.