I lay my backing down, put batting down the middle and lay the top down, then pin. Start sewing in the middle and work your way out to about 6 inches from the edges, then lay batting over the edge of the existing batting, cut thru both layers and remove the small pieces and stitch the battings togeather by hand, pin the top down and stitch this. Then do the other side. It is no problem to get the quilt top and back in the throat of the machine. The batting is the major bulk. If it isn't there it is simpler.