I do all my quilts regardless of size in either a round or oval hoop. I pin baste with large safety pins, moving them about so that the wooden hoop rims are not over them and remove them as I finish each section. I start in the middle of the quilt and work outward, basically in a circular manner. I generally place a kitchen chair in front of the chair I'm sitting in with the seat facing away from me and "hang" the quilt (not the frame) from the back of this. This way I can get up and down without disturbing the work in progress and do not have the weight on my lap.

I have 2 oval hoops and put them aside. I keep returning to my 14" round one, so that's it - round for me. I really think it has a lot to do with your design though. When hand quilting I tend to do more curved objects and tend to have to turn the hoop more. I like turning my round one, much easier for me to manipulate. Now if just doing grids, an oval one just may work easier.

I started out using cheap wooden hoops but kept breaking them. I got this last one at Joanns and I think it is fiberglass was about $15.00 I am doing a king size right now. It is about 16 inches.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:4kQVyTaALNYJ:www.nosliphoops.com/lap-stands.html+morgan+lap+stand&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl =us&source=www.google.com

What a long link! If it doesn't work search under Morgan Lap Stand. I have something similar and paid about 440 which gave me the laop stand which is really two size hoopps and can be worked from either side. i went from wooden hoops that wore out in no time to a fiber glass and then to the lap stand. I still use the fiber glass hoop that is flat occasionally to take small projects along in my suit case but else I use the stand. You can also use the hoops in a non stand configuration.

I love hand quilting watching TV. I spend winter doing it.
All the advice is good and I will add one more, no, two more.
Thread several needles so you don't have to keep stopping to rethread. Make the length of the thread no longer than 18 inches so it doesn't knot up.
Also if using a hoop don't have the fabric too taut.

When I started quilting I had a 18" hoop and it worked fine for me. Later I changed it to a 16" because this was more comfortable for me. I did all my quilts in it, large and small.
Now I have a Jasmine 18" hoop on a stand and I love it! I always thread baste my quilts.

I hand quilt with a 16" wooden hoop. Works for me!!! Edie

only way i do it.....i have very limited space in my house and i love to watch tv as i quilt...i have a very sturdy plastic hoop that i love.....

I also hand quilt with a hoop but I put my card table up and sit at that. Then the quilt rests on the table. My hoop is 14" and I have only done large quilts with it. I baste it all first. No one has mentioned needles. I use "betweens' size 10. when you first start out just try and keep yoo stitches consistant in size. Eventully as you get more sure of yourself the stitches will become smaller. When i look at my very first quilt I did years ago its a nightmare LOL> Have fun

Lots of good tips on here, I did check out the barnett site and watched the vidieo. I really want one of these!