Sorry you had to take out some stitching, Nancy. Have you ever used one of those knitting looms? A lady once gave one to my mother because she didn't want it any more, but neither my mother or I learned to use it - there were no instructions and it looked very complicated. This was long before the internet told you everything about a product just by searching the name!!!
Harmony, I have seen other methods, mostly seeing them as advertisements (but sometimes articles) in quilt mags. There is a "spoon" type thimble that used to be widely recommended and stayed advertised for years - don't know if it still is, but there would be diagrams of how you would hold the spoon shape in the off hand under the quilt and it would take all the beating. Also there is an Asian lady who invented a thimble/method and had also made some gorgeous quilts, so I've seen an article or two on her with photos of the quilts but don't remember photographs of her invention???? Hmmm If I find any of these again, I'll let you know.
I enjoyed hand-sewing the label (5" x 6"?) on last evening. I know it took about an hour because I watched two sit-coms, lol. Dd13 said I wasn't watching but I said yes, I was; I was hearing it all and seeing enough to keep up! Because I sewed two of the interior seams down first (with nothing much more than long running stitches like basting) it was well-anchored as I sewed and now seems firmly attached to the quilt back. Much better than the ones I've just sewn around the edges. The best thing about the time was that I was left alone!
I kept the quilt in a pillowcase while I worked, with just the part I was working on out of the case. That's helpful for getting it put away fast if necessary, plus it's protected and pretty much stays on my lap, not the floor.