I have used a method called "blue tape hooping method" found on a forum a few years ago. Basically you use wide painter's tape (that blue not so tacky stuff) and place it around the bottom edges of your inside (or top) hoop, so that the sticky side is up. Gives you about an inch or so of sticky to hold the quilt down. Then center your quilt area and press into the tape. Be sure to support the whole quilt! Do your design, pull the quilt up, move to next area to be embroidered and press down onto the same tape! You can usually do 6 or 8 designs before retaping. This moves along quite quickly, is easy to do and gives great results. Stabilizer isn't needed because the quilt is stable. (Quilt, not quilt top! You would need stablizer for just the top with no batting or backing.) I have done table runners and baby quilts and they are fast and easy using the tape method. The tape does not leave a residue on the quilt, there is no stabilizer to wash out, and the tape is cheap and easy to replace on the hoops when needed. It does stick to the hoops, so you have to remove before storing for a long time (ask how I know this) or you will have to scrape it off later. No problem when it is fresh, though.