You are talking about hand stitching? I have been hand quilting for 40 years and the only way I know to do it is by using a running stitch. I load my needle up with as many stitches as possible and then pull it through and reload. I prefer a whole cloth quilt because it doesn't have all of those seams and applique to make the quilting more difficult. If I use a stencil I follow the lines it laid down. If there is applique I usually quilt about 1/8 inch around each applique and the possible layered pieces it may be create from. I only machine quilt the Linus blankets I make. All of the quilts I have made for myself are hand quilted. Even the ones I use for throws on my living room sofa and chairs. The queen size ones I use as bedspreads on my own bed are also entirely hand quilted. They have all been through the wash several times. My stitching always holds up. I don't have any pictures.