Always begin inthe middle, working out from the center. Tacking down (this first step) then couching (step three) as you go, I find this easier. Whatever works. But always from the center out. Why? The fabric will do weird crap on you if you do it any other way, the pressure on the thread is such that it will pucker or even indent in smaller interior areas. Working from the middle out prevents this, as the cloth is pushed out, instead of cramped in