It is truly beautiful....I think I would handquilt it around a quarter inch in from the embroidery stitches....though I know that would be extraordinarily time consuming. I just think, like Butterfly Blue mentioned, it may just give more stability to such a large quilt. Tying does look great, but I would worry a bit about it not being stable enough. Anyway, please may we see when it is finished? Please tell the lady her embroidery stiches are absolutely exquisite.....ah...to be so talented