No matter what I do, I always end up with bunched up backing at some point on anything bigger than a placemat, either tucked under a seam or just not flat. Is meandering the only way to solve this? I pin and pin and it still doesn't work. What am I doing wrong? HELP!!!

i have better luck when I hand baste. I can keep everything smoother

Do you start at the center and work your way out from there?

Do you starch your backing? Are you using a walking foot? When you lay your backing out, tape it so that it's taut, but don't stretch it.

I'm a newbie but my teacher says put the backing on the floor & stick it to the floor pulling it firmly as you stick.
On a table she uses those huge paper clip thingies & clip them under the table edge with the fabric clamped in it
She doesn't seem to have much trouble that way

Do you tape your backing to the floor or the table? Starching your backing
would help too. I use binding clips instead of tape but both works. I
handbaste using diagonal basting stitch with about 2 inch spacing between
rows. Lots of basting (specially for large quilts) but worth it. :D

One more thing I read the other day and it makes perfect sense is not to
stretch any layer more than the other as that's what cause puckers. You
want it taut but not stretch. Hope this helps. :D

Many times puckering is the result of too much downward pressure being exerted by the presser foot on the quilt sandwich. The fabric ends being pushed back toward you as you sew, resulting in tucks and sniggles when it meets an obstacle.

I found that this UTube video explained it so I could understand it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox8qR...eature=related

Hope this helps.

I had trouble too until I hand basted and also pinned everything together. I also use a walking foot and the backing comes out great!

She does smaller ones on the table but larger on the floor & only pulls firmly enough to take out the wrinkles & have it lie straight then she gently brushes with her hand from the centre towards the outside with each layer
She also uses those special quilting pins to hld it all together I have never seen her baste but I "booed - booed" the other day on mine & felt more comfortable basting in parts

I tape the backing to the floor and spray baste. Three quilts, no puckers so far. :)

Well done
I have a friend who uses that spray but obviously not properly as she has more puckers than a gathered skirt LOL
She made a quilt for another friend & it was a real mess so I am trying to fix it No squared edges before she started & terrible colour blenders everything was skew wiffed border on one side was 2" & 6 " on the other side
I shouldn't complain as she gave me a few pointers on how to start & THEN I became addicted !!!!! :roll: :roll:

Add to that: Do you pin more than hand-width apart?

Two suggestions - 1 - Use Spray Baste!!!
if that won't work - try Sharon Schamber's handbastint technique http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhwNylePFAA
oh oops maybe 3 suggestions- starch your backing!
Good luck !!!

Thank you SO MUCH, craftyone27! I had heard of using boards to help you baste on one of the threads a while back, but I didn't watch it thru. This time I did. I'm going to try it, and I don't think I'll be basting with pins agsin. Plus, I can sit down to baste! That will sure help my back.

You are very welcome! A fellow quilter posred the link on a thread of mine - so I figured I would pass it on. The technique worked well for me. I used flannel backing and I still ended up with a few small issues but nothing compared to my first attempt with pins. It is much easier on the back as well.

I had problems with puckers too til I started using basting spray. No puckers now.

Most longarmers will baste the heck outta em for cheap!!!!!

Great suggestions.