I was going to say that you need a walking foot, and I still pin and start in the middle but I see you are "hand" quilting. Sorry can't help.

I havent used the spray yet, but I tape mine down, and I know it must be really tight for me, so I have someone help me too. If I get one little loose area, same thing happens to me!

I hand quilt with a hoop stretch the front and back taunt and then loosen a little I do not get puckers. I also start in the center

iron the spray basted piece from the back with a warm/hot iron. This will help smooth it out.

Here's what I do...... on my kitchen counter I lay out my batting with backing on top, then roll the backing half way up. Starting in the middle, using a piece of cardboard big enough to control the spray, I spray,about a 15 inch square and start unrolling the backing onto the sprayed area smoothing it as I go, pin if needed. Once that side is done I turn it around and do the other side. Turn it over and do the front side. This way I am always spraying the batting and smoothing the fabric.
Goo Off cleans up any spray on the counter asap. Then I 409 the counter.
Syl

are you using a hoop?

I read somewhere you can dissolve the water soluble fusible and use it as spray. Then with a hot iron, press the backing to the batting then spray and press the top to the batting. I think I'll try that one day.

Thanks for everyone's help. I will try it and keep practicing. Thanks again to the wonderful people on this board. I don't know how would do it without you. You are the best.