I have done stitch in the ditch for all of my machine quilting. I want to do the meander stitch but I can't seem to juggle the quilt so that it does not slip off the pattern. Do you who do the meander stitch use hoops? If so, what size? Any suggestions?

thanks
Anna

Hoops are usually not used for quilting. What is the meander stitch?

Are you using a paper pattern to do this pattern, sewing through the paper? If so, you probably need to use a darning foot (a foot that "hops" as you stitch) and may want to drop the feed dogs. In other words, you would be free motion quilting.

I have heard of some people do it, but never tried it myself. I guess it gives more stability.

You could probably use a spring hoop like is used for thread painting. Has anyone done this?

I do not use a hoop. I think it would be in my way. The other day, I treated myself to a pair of Machingers Gloves http://www.quilterstouch.com/gloves.htm they are great! Less than $10, very lightweight and help you "grip" the quilt. I had been using the garden glove w/nonslip dots, but these work much better.

My problem is that with the quilt rolled up while doing the up along the sewing machine the squiggly lines, the quilt fights and I can not control the stitching and I make points and stuff. I just don't know how people do it

Is your machine on a bigger table. I found if the quilt is lying over the edge of the table it is hard to control. You need to be able to have most of the quilt on the table. Also, get some of the quilting gloves. They are a godsend to me.

Don't roll the quilt - just "pleat" it and push to one side, it is so much easier to manoeuvre like that.
And Katier's advice is good - the Machinger gloves are the best, and will make holding the quilt easy.

A nice slippery surface helps too. There is a Youtube video on how to make a large quilting table for your machine, inexpensively:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g14govA4pIM

I agree with loose pleats instead of rolling up.

I consider FMQ,Stipple and meandering all the same. Stipple might be smaller. I do a larger stipple,Meandering, FMQ. I really don't know what the difference is, if any.