Have you thought of cross hatching the quilt?? That is when you sew diagonal stitches at a 45 degree angle to the quilt. You can do it one directions but it looks best going both ways. You can mark the quilt with simple painter's tape. This is a technique that is used a lot with applique. I use a Clover Hera marker that puts a temporary grove in the quilt top that does wash out. EB has been demonstrating this marking technique but then clover is a sponsor.