Hi Nonnie60, I baste the top and sides as I proceed down through the sandwich to help keep everything straight and even. I do not baste across the top before quilting unless I am doing a wholecloth quilt. With a wholecloth quilt I seem to be constantly running the quilt back and forth between the rollers, following the marked quilting lines, not wanting to do a lot of stops and starts. The basting keeps the layers in place so they don't bunch up, especially the batting. I have found that I need to remove a few basting stitches just before I get to them when quilting as it makes the basting needle holes close up very nicely. With pantograph designs I only baste along the sides as I go, which helps to keep the top from folding back over itsself.