I've done it and it's painful. You can't really get a good rhythm going; too many layers; stitches don't show well. I, too, would discuss doing it 1/4" away. If she only wants the stitches to be seen on the backing, you could use same color quilting thread as the blocks on the front so they would not be as noticeable. But as others have said, why go through all the work of hand quilting to not have the stitches be seen? Just my opinion.