We have many hand quilters here who don't use anything at all! Because you have so much of the quilt quilted I don't think you need a frame or hoop. And hand quilting is so easy, it is just a simple running stitch. I jumped in with both feet when I started. You can mark a simple heart or something in the white space. If you don't have a water soluble pencil spray the area with starch and lightly mark with a regular pencil after the starch has completely dried. I have had not trouble with the marks coming out as long as you use a light touch. The starch is so you are marking on a thin layer of starch and the when you wash the marks will come out with the starch. If you use white thread on the white blocks any mistakes you may make will hardly be noticable. Go for it! ;)