I just enjoy quilting and see progress as I do them, but I don't even count how many I get on a needle. I look at the stitch and see if it is consistent and straight.

Thanks for all the helpful information. I thought not using a hoop-which i never do- was wrong but now i see others dont use one either. i can get smaller stitches without one.
I love the hankerchief quilt shown a few pages back. It is beautiful and hope you get lots of ideas on quilting it.

Do you use 80/20? If not, what do you use? I'm also a newbie hand quilter and like to get suggestions.

Wow, this turned into a great topic. Thanks for the link to Sharon Shambra on hand quilting. I *love* her.

great links! Thanks!

I usually get about 8-9 stitches per inch. I am very happy with this, as I think it would look like machine quilting and that is not for me. I love hand quilting.

She is amazing!

A number years ago, they said that Mountain Mist batting was helpful for hand quilting. It is a soft polyester. There are more kinds of batting now, so not sure that is the current best idea.

I am in no way good at hand quilting but this has helped me-
a. good needles and short ones John James and Richard Hemmings
b. very loose in hoop (like the cat slept on it) I put it in the hoop pul it thight, loosen the hoop and push the back of my fist on it and then thighten.
c. Mountain Mist batting
d. not too thick a muslin on the back
e. "I can achieve more if I do a "two-hand" single stitch-- i.e., all the way down with the right hand, pull it through on the bottom with the left hand, then do an "up" stitch from the bottom with the left hand, pulling all the way up with the right hand. BUT this takes FOREVER. And frankly, I think my stitches are less consistent and a bit messier." Copied from another post but I have the same experience.