OK, I saw a video that said that the back stitches should be smaller than the front; so on my first baby quilt using big stitches, that is how it came out. I am doing one now that I will try to make the back and front the same. I made a ton of circles for the first on. Luckily the backs of my quilts are wild prints and not solids, no one will notice my mistakes; and if they do, OH WELL!
I also can not use a thimble and I don't use a hoop for this. It seems easier without using either. I also use the Perle Cotton #8 thread. I like the look of that thread. It has been fun experimenting.