Like amma said, work with decorative stitcehs. Or you could incorporate some grid work.
I recently learned that I can do straight-stitch @foot-width from the seam where I "tie off" by sewing at a tiny (.6mm) stitch length for about 5-7 stitches. Then I quilt at a normal stitch length (about 3-3.5mm depending on the batting) until I get to the end and I tie off with tiny stitches again. Have used this to sew squares, triangles, lines....
Using that method, I can lift the needle and pull the quilt to the new position without having to trim the thread. I trim that later.