Sorry - Prism already answered for me (note to self, read thread to END before replying! :oops: ) :lol: :lol: :lol:

When first hand-quilting getting your stitches to look the same is more important than how small they are. I may never get mine any smaller than they are now but I'm okay with that. I use quilters safety pins to baste. I hate hand basting. Have fun, enjoy!

I use a microtach to baste. I know some ppl worry that they'll keep catching the thread around the tacks but I don't find this to be a problem.

Also, I find the key to getting small, even stitches is putting the needle in as vertically to the quilt as you can for the first stitch. :-D