It is difficult to get perfectly even stitches when hand quilting but the most important tip I can give is, have some slack. I put my work tight in a hoop to make sure all the pieces are wrinkle free. Then I push down with my hand in the center to give me about a 1-1/2 dip to the center of the hoop. This slack gives me the ability to load my needle better. The first stitch is always the most difficult for me so I load my needle with as many stitches as possible before pulling it through. Also don't try for tiny, try for consistent size.