I hand quilt my Hawaiian quilts usually around 50 x 50 inches and use a 14" quilting hoop. I don't spray baste my top as it is basically a glue and causes the needle to not go through the layers easily. I hand baste all my quilts with a grid pattern about a hand width apart and that holds everything well. Using a hoop you want to start at center and move out in a circle around the center this will allow the air between layers to move to the outer edges without causing any bubbles to be trapped inside. I use a polyester batting as again it allows the needle to move through the layers and use my pinky finger (Hawaiian style) to space between my quilting which is about 1/2" echo stitch. This works well for me as I can hold on my lap and set down next to my chair when not quilting. Other things I do is to always thread a needle and take a stitch before putting down and use a bright scrap of fabric to put needle through so I know where I stopped and I take basting out as I finish an area just a fun little way to show my progress on the quilt.