I am a handquilter and I use whatever I want. I like varigated thread. I don't mind if the back thread shows. It helps me to see if I missed anything. I am currently quilting a raffle quilt for our Linus Chapter. The top is a star pattern with yellow and blue prints and solids. I am quilting it in blue. The back is a yellow on yellow dot. The blue quilting looks great on the back. The hardest part is marking a quilt top so that I can see the quilting pattern when I am working.