That is the only way I do my quilts. Not to say anything against machine quilting. Seen some beautiful work done that way(all of them). Just that we have made close to 600 quilts for charity and that is the only way we can afford to finsh them before binding. Not to say someday will machine quilt, but my personal quilts are tied too. Can't sit long enough to hand stitch them all because mind working way ahead of what I am working on. Did hand quilt one baby blanket though, many years ago.