I took a hand quilting class years ago and still stink at it. LOL* I do the running stitch you mention, but we were taught to use a "rocking stitch" to start off each stitch or line of stitches and I never did get the hang of it...but of course I don't practice much. The rocking stitch is supposed to help ensure that first stitch goes through all three layers of your quilt sandwich and is just as nice and even as the ones on top. (Mine were never any kind of even though and I can tell you I often only made one or two stitches every couple of inches that actually went ALL the way through all three layers. Needless to say I'm probably NOT the person you'd want to go to for lessons! Lol*)