I've never spray basted a quilt. I either pin or thread baste. Last year I used a variegated heavier hand quilting thread. It was beautiful thread and the colors were lovely but was a BEAR to quilt. It was a cotton top; W&N batting and flannel backing. I normally don't have issues hand quilting with W&N although I know many do. My only guess it was the thread that made it so painful - an I mean physically painful. It's been decades since I've used #10 crochet cotton but I think that's heavier than the thread I used on this quilt. All I can advise is to take your time, use a large needle; really good thimble and you might want to invest (or find) in a pair of needle nosed pliers!