Harriet Hargrave has a cute thought in her book about quilting by machine. She says something to the effect that she hand quilts-with an electric needle. I live in Colorado and go to her store whenever I get a chance and love to look in her classwork and see the quilts that hang there. They use the Hobbs products as batting. They do look as if hand quilted with the electric needle. So the patterns as lovely and compliment the piecing but are not heavy and 'overdone'. Talk to the person who you select to do the long arming and I know she can help you the soft look you want. I share your thoughts about softness in a quilt you want to snuggle under and maybe a work of art look for the wall.