I love both your 1st try and your improved hand stitching. I haven't done any hand quilting but someday I will. I did buy 2 hand quilted quilts at an Estate Sale both were the bigger stitches and we all fell in love with them, my son claimed one for himself and the other hangs on my couch and is a favorite nap quilt. I personally like the big stitched hand quilted, they remind me of the "older" hand quilted quilts. Do please finish the flimsies any way you choose, the will all be beautiful.
Jeri