My first and second quilts were hand quilted. I stitched in the ditch and that second quilt, particularly, looks really good. The quilt class I take, however, has all machine quilters so they speed right past me. I want to learn that, too. Marking with the tape may work better if your vision is becoming a problem because that would at least give you the FEEL of where you are. Good luck! Watch a lot of handquilting videos on you tube - that helps.