minibarn

How many of you use a walking foot when doing machine quilting? I was using mine today and was having two problems...1)tension, 2)puckers. My tension was off, top thread too loose, but even when I put it on the highest number it was still not quite right. This is a brand new machine so I would hope that is not the problem, it has not been on any other sewing I have done on it. I wondered if the walking foot could cause any trouble w/tension...although I don't see how. I was going around my blocks to stabilize them before further quilting and by the time I got back around to the beginning of the block I would end up w/a little pucker of fabric. What am I doing wrong? Should I pull the fabric gently, or push? Or just make sure it is flat and smooth the whole time?

Thanks for your help,
Jenna