I hand piece English paper piecing quilts, but they are tacked (basted) over papers, and then put right sides together and whip stitched. I don't think I would want to sew patches together just with running stitches. I know there are one or two quilters sewing their Janes by hand, though I have no idea how they are going to cope with some of the smaller pieces, I doubt if they will get two stitches in!