I do handquilting and I have used a simple stipple, meandering stitch on larger quilts. I don't work so I can finish one quickly.
Pebbling takes so long. A larger meandering would work if I were doing it. Great suggestions you have gotten already as well. Good luck deciding. Here's my meandering and the quilt I did it on. I used variagated thread on black on this one.
This is a little smaller meandering, you can make it larger. I don't use a tencil, just sew on my own, but there are several stippling/meandering stencils at LQs's......
Hope you show us what you decided. PIctures are great.