Someone on this board told me that hand stitching should be uniform or concistent. Large stitches or all small ones, just make them all the same.

My HQ stitches are slow, big, and uneven. But, I am happy anyway!

if you concentrate on consistancy it will be more enjoyable for you. that's more important than how many stitches per inch.

I agree with consistency. My first experience with hand quilting was hand stitching around the images in a pre-printed panel. I made my boys each one when they were babies. It was before I piece quilted but made many quilts tied. I like the relaxation of hand quilting and love it when I get in a groove and that is when my consistency comes.

Thanks for your input...that is the way I roll too. I love doing the "country stitch" with crochet thread...nothing even about it. I love hand quilting...it is very very soothing to me!
I LOVE the Quilting Board...you are allll the best!

I like a leather thimble with a metal plate in it. It seems to mold to my finger and I don't feel like I'm even wearing a timble. I cannot hand quilt on a frame, but I think that's unusual.

here are some pic's of mine, I think the most important thing is to have the stitches even I have never been concerned with how many there are per inch.
I also have never been able to use a thimble I have tried several and always end up removing it and using my fingernail and the tip on my finger when my finger gets to sore I have to take a day off and let it heal. Super glue works will on the tip on your finger it makes the skin a little tougher, it also works for closing those little cracks I get on the edges of my nails.

Aim for consistency. People say the stitches get smaller as you gain practice. Mine have never been really tiny but I try to be consistent in size. :thumbup:

I hand quilt and I just hand quilt what is comfortable for me. I don't count stitches per inch, if I did I would go crazy. I think it is all in who is hand quilting. I just like the way it looks and what it gives to a quilt.

I am just learning and I just try to do it so I like it and often have to take it out and go back and try again. It would have been easy to just say forget it but I really wanted to do it so much. :)