For me the most important step is to lay the backing out (wrong side up), smooth it, and either clipor use masking or duck tape to secure this backing layerstretched tightly to the table. Then lay the batting on top of the backing and smooth it out well. This I do not tape or clip...just the backing gets secured. Last smooth the top on the stack and starting in the middle I use the curved safety pins and pin about every 4", smoothing the top as I go. When I begin quilting on my machine I switch to long straight pins as I go so that I don't get hung up on a safety pin. I don't like to wash my finished quilt for a show unless it really needs it for some reason as it seems to take out some of the crispness of new fabric. And, that's why I don't use the glue for basting. For gifts and donations that I do wash the glue is OK, but a little messy for me. That's just one of my personal little hangups and may change in time. I will watch the Sharon Schamber tutorial on this and see how she does it which may make a difference for my future method.