I also think handstitching holds up very well, in fact, in most cases it holds up better than the material. I think the quality of the thread plays a big role in it. I have always used quilting thread and not just the regular thread. It seems a bit heavier, I think. I have some quilts that were handed down to me that are upwards of l00 yrs. old and they are just like the energizer bunny - they just keep on going and going and going. I love to hand quilt.

I agree I have salvaged pieces from an 1800's log cabin quilt and it's the fabric that deterioted before the stiches. When I have collected enough fabrics to make a crazy quilt wall hanging I intend to hand quilt the entire quilt.

I have a friend who only hand pieces. Her quilts are beautiful but if people put them on the bed and sit on them a lot some of the seams tend to break. I don't think she back stitches.

I think hand quilting is a strong as machine. You use a heavier thread when you do it. I made my son a hand quilted quilt when he was 2 years old and he is still using it. He's 24. It's been on his bed all this time. He even took it to college with him.

I hand pieced my first quilt in 1983, still in perfect shape. I have several of my grandmother's,way over 100 years old the fabric has worn out in some spots, but the stiching is still holding.

Hand piecing is just fine. The reason you back stitch is if the thread should break it will only come apart 2 or 3 threads. I was taught never to start at the beginning of a seam or at the very end because this is the weakest point. I use a single thread. Never had any problems with thread breaking. Fabric will wear out before that will happen. And, I double dare you to rip out a seam. You must remember, after the top is quilted, there is no stress or pulling on your seams. So machine, or hand piecing...do what you prefer and worry not!
Donna

I took a hand piecing class and the teacher used hand quilting thread for piecing. I had never heard of doing that, but that was the way she always did it. That would be strong.

I hand pieced most of mine over the years. Never had any that came apart. you use a single thread but everytime you start a new needle full you take a back stitch. end with an extra few stitches in place. Holds fine. We still have quilts that my husband's grandmother made all hand pieced and they are still going strong. some of the materials are not faring quite as well.

i am sure my hand piecing is just as strong as my machine quilting since it depends on the strength of the thread being used. i use good quality strong threads and i make tiny stitches. i have had machine stitching come out with time...i have never had my hand stitching come out.
many people piece quilts (and make other things) by hand...they hold up for decades...hundreds of years...the strength depends on the materials used...not necessarily the techniques used

I have one on my bed-- hand pieced hand quilted. 30 years old now!! No problems!! My second quilt!