Check the presser on the foot. I have had that happen when I am quilting with a walking foot and I reduced the presser foot a little and that helped.

I use painters tape to hold my backing fabric in place on my table and then I place the batting and then the quilt top.....I also DO NOT use pins but instead I use basting spray to hold in place the layers.....happy holidays

I too use Elmer's SCHOOL GLUE and haven't had a pucker since (however now that I've mentioned it I probably will)

If it's a large quilt, I even cut the batting in half and sew it together when I get one part done. I use a domestic sewing machine and an old style walking foot.

This is what I try to do. When I'm getting close to crossing that seam, I try to push it flat with my hands.

Have you tried this using polyester batting?

as above posters said Elmer's WASHABLE school glue and no it does NOT gum up the needle if you let it dry. You can speed up the process by ironing. I've used this many times with zero problems.

Hi Karen,
When you get areas of fullness when quilting with the walking foot, "feed" it toward the foot. Smooth it with your fingers toward the walking foot. Next time you're basting your quilt make sure that your quilt top lays flat and smooth. You might need to pin more too, depending on if you're using a poly batting. I like cotton batting because it creeps less.
Sharon in Texas

I stopped having that problem when I learned to baste the layers together using Elmer's school glue. When you glue baste, you will have ugly lines of dried glue showing through, don't worry about them, they wash right out, and you can sew right through it no problem.

One thing I have not seen anyone mention... By the look of the picture you are on the very edge of the quilt out in your border area. Did you measure your quilt through the center and then cut your border to that measurement? Or did you have a long strip of prepared border (even pieced) that you sewed to the edge of your quilt then cut off once you reached the edge?
If the latter, this method often results in wavy borders with excess fabric. The excess has no place to go and often results in pleats like you pictured. Your pleat almost looks like that is what may be contributing to your problem.

cindi gave you good advice.