I love to hand quilt also. My first quilt class was "Learn to Make Quilts Like Your Grandmother Did". It was hand piecing and hand quilting. I use a hoop, cotton "hand quilting" thread. Between needles size 10, large eye if I can find them since the thread is thicker. I think the goal is to practice and get your stitches a consistent size, don't worry about getting umpteen per inch, who is counting? Once your stitches get to be a consistent size, then you can work on many per inch, if that is important to you. I have tried all kinds of thimbles and can't use any of them. It takes a long time for me to complete a project but I feel I have more control over my quilting(over machine quilting) I'm practicing machine quilting with my BSR attachment! I still have a lot more practice to do! YIKES!