Once you get the hang of it, you will not want to quilt any other way. i do mine in strips and pin baste it really well first. Then without a hoop, I can get small stitches much easier than with a hoop. I never got used to a thimble but it would save my fingers. I just let it hit my fingers. It gets callused but keeps it from hurting anymore. :) Its worth it to me. Its so rewarding to see your finished quilt that you put so much love into. Plus you can take it anywhere and not have to haul a machine around. Here is a strip I quilted. Then I will do another strip and attach it. So on and so on.