I have hand quilted for at least 50 years - off and on. Until about a year ago, I was die hard hand quilter. The most important thing is try for consistency. The length of your stitch, blah, is my notion. I strive for consistency, but sometimes, you are just off. My children, and grandchildren, and now great grandchildren, don' care if I have quilted 12 stitches to the inch or 6 stitches to the inch. The enjoy and appreciate the fact that I have made them a quilt. Now, I am however, enjoying learning to free motion on my machine. So it is what you enjoy. I don't make show quilts, I want my quilts loved and used. You enjoy the process of learning to hand quilt and be happy. Remember, our maker, is the only one that is perfect.