I've handquilted Kona cottons. I use Warm & Natural (or white) batting. I use Roxanne needles - usually #11 or #12's. But you need to find what works for you. And I also prewash. I agree with keeping the tension on the sandwich fairly loose. It makes handquilting much, much easier regardless of your components. As to sandwiching...like with all quilting...it depends. I usually pin baste. If it's a king size, I usually thread baste because the pins add so much weight. I quilt in a hoop in my lap and it can be more difficult to move around with all those pins. However, regardless of method, I usually baste about a hand-width apart in each direction beginning in the middle. Didn't know about the batting samples. Will have to try some out when my roll of W&N runs out!