This type of quilting is not so new. I grew up in NE PA and that is how we (family) quilted (about 50 yrs ago). It took a while for me to adjust to the smaller thread and needles like what is more popular now. I used a between 5 needle. The eye has to be bigger for the thread. I have a whole box of pearl cotton 100. Inside each spool is an instruction page for crocheting doilies.