I think I used spray basting but I'm not sure; if I did it worked because I don't remember any problems.
DO use a sharp (microtex) needle.
On my first quilt I echo stitched around my "monsters" in just a straight stitch and it went fine. The second one was almost ruined when I tried to do decrorative stitches around the monsters. That was too much, the minke bunched up and puckered. So be careful.
And yes, use a stabilizer.