You leave the feed dogs up, and set the stitch length to zero (0). The stitch length is what tells the feed dogs how fast/slow to move...setting the stitch length to zero, sets the feed dogs at just about nothing, if not nothing.
Another thing is to use a darning/embroidery type foot (not your regular foot).
I have done some quilting on my Singer 2662 (basic machine)...and it also worked better with the feed dogs up.