#1 - welcome and congratulations on making the top. #2 -- do not be hard on yourself if your stitches aren't perfect. #3 you are hand quilting this quilt! My hat is off to you. I do not have the patience or the skills to hand quilt and I have been sewing/quilting for decades.#4,5,6,......you made a quilt!!!!!! pat yourself on the back, most folks will never do that. With each project, your skills will improve and you will be more comfortable. Anyone looking at it should just be amazed you did it and not be critical of the little things. I have a small framed saying that I put up in all my classes - 'perfection is the enemy of creativity' . Just enjoy your labors and quilt on!

I've been quite successful in combining embroidery with quilting. I say go for it, but don't give up on a running stitch. If you can do embroidery stitches you can definitely do a running stitch.

Also, I know that some people get fussy about messy quilt backs. If it's a table runner or a wall quilt, who cares? No one's going to see it.