I love to hand quilt, returning to it often during certain periods of my life. Like everyone else here, these are my opinions and what seems to work for me. I, too, use a size 10 or 11 needle because it helps me create smaller stitches. I have used both a hoop (that I like because you can carry it around) and an antique floor frame that my husband found for me. I like using both. I also use hand quilting thread unless I cannot find the perfect color for my project. Then I wax hand sewing thread that coats the thread for the quilting stitches.
If I am starting to hand quilt after a long period of not quilting, I find I have to get into the rhythm of quilting. You do indeed have to practice and to just keep quilting. While my stitches are not the tiny ones, they are uniform in length and I am so proud that I've gotten to this point.
Good luck to you...and here's hoping that you find hand quilting as relaxing as I do. :lol: