There was a thread recently about batiks and the amount they bleed
here and the consensus was that it didn't really matter where you got them from - quilts shops or chain stores - some bled a lot and some hardly any (I still don't pre-wash btw).
I've no experience of hand sewing other than binding, but wasn't aware of any difference.
One thing I would say though, is that if you are bothered about 'right' and 'wrong' side, which ususally look very similar, is to mark the wrong side with chalk or some such before you start.