The (very little) machine quilting that I have done so far has all been on a regular sewing machine (Brother LX-3125)
i experimented with a couple of different mnethods, and the one that has worked best for me so far was to just stitch like you would for the top stitching on purse handles or whatever and hold the item very securely in front and back as you guide it under the presser foot.
I tried doing it with a foot that did not really press down on the fabric, but I felt like I did not have enough control of the stitch length, the direction of stitching and the speed.
There is another foot I'm wanting to try that has a very small hole for the needle as well as a very short footprint. Will see if I like it better than the regular presser foot.