I don't quilt, but I did hand quilt a small wall hanging on my very first quilt. It is not finished some 20 years later, but I really did enjoy doing that. I need to get it out and finish it. It is 3/4 done. It isn't perfect by any means. My sister tried to get me to stitch tinier, but I couldn't and I kind of like the look of the bigger stitches. It's a funky kind of quilt. It has Christmas Angels and they are all kind of raggedy so my quilting goes with it. I just sold my LA table so I might try my hand at some small projects. I think what you are doing is really quite wonderful...being so big a quilt! Your Aunt will probably love your quilt the most!!!