I use the stitch you are talking about all the time, I find that if you lengthen & widen it to the widest it woorks best. Also, you want to be sure that you start at the same point, that way you get a wavy effect.
Practice on a scrap to see the different effects that you an achieve.
I also mirror image the stitch start at the same point & you get a interlocking stitch, which looks coool.
Play around, itt's a good utilitarian stitch to maaster. Keep a master sammple, I write right on the scrap the stitch #, length, & width then when I. Wannt to use it again, I have the info at hand.