NJ Quilter..... Your description of how you hand quilt...sounds like what I have heard referred to as stab stitch. I prefer the rocking movement of the running stitch...but each gives the same look at the end......I don't hand quilt as often as I would like to.....but I do remember being told that every three or four needlefuls of a long line of stitches,do a back stitch to sort of secure the line in case of breakage down the road....anyone else hear that word of wisdom?