The best way to do test stitching is to use exactly the same fabric/layers that you are making/quilting.
I find I prefer to stabillize minkee when I use it. I just finished one that had no batting and I used 505 to attach the minkee to a piece of muslin (that I had washed a couple of times to get all the shrink out) -- I have also spray-basted it to batting and to the quilt top (if I am not using batting). Minkee has 2 issues -- it is a knit and the back is very slippery -- by attaching it to the muslin, both of the problems were minimized. I have a healthy respect for anything that is that stretchy and that slippery.
From what I have heard, the LA folks do not have the problems that I have seen on a domestic machine.