I have hand quilted 3 bed size quilts using a lap hoop (one was a king, the other two were small queen size). I am on my 4th which is about 86" square. The first 3 were all pin basted with safety pins and I removed the pins as I went along. The current one I basted with needle and thread. I am removing the basting stitches as I progress and to keep them out of the way of my quilting. Many here do not use a hoop at all but I feel more comfortable with one. I love the mobility of a lap hoop and can turn the quilt any which way so am always quilting in the direction that feels most comfortable to me. My hoop looks just like Up North's round hoop.