What is the best way to do quilt top FMQing? I have just learned FMQ and do stippling (random shapes) and have been stippling inside the blocks or strips. however, I watch videos and such and they just FMQ all over the quilt...over seams and from one block to another...in a pattern of course, but I have been keeping my stitching within the seams of the shape.

Question: What's the deal? Why do they do it all over and not just within the shapes seams? I don't cross a seam. Not that I can't , I just don't. Why do they do that and is that the right way?

I also have the problem that the stippling tends to make the quilt very firm and stiff and not at all a "cuddly" quilt. I know to not be any closer than 1 inch from stitch line to stitch line...and have done that, but I see others doing it closer and still even with the space...it tends to make the quilt stiff.

Any comments or tips and tricks for doing top quilt stitching FMQing and still have a soft cuddly quilt?