I handquilt with W&N also. One of these years I'll try something else but that will be a while as I bought an entire roll of it! I also use Roxanne #11 needles. Most times I use a hoop but will sometimes use nothing as well. Loading as many stitches as possible onto your needle definitely helps in getting smaller stitches. The hardest part there is getting your first stitch as small as your first! At this point, concentrate on keeping your stitches even and they will get smaller over time. I use a Thimblelady thimble on my middle finger and keep a rubber tip on my index finger to help pull the needle through. With Thimblelady thimbles you push with the pad of your finger, not the tip. They also have quite deep dimples which help hold the needle steady.