Guys, check out your grandmother or great--gran's quilt tops and appliques. A good source of examining up close stitching would be quilt shows in a local museum or library display. They will not only let you get very close but will offer stories and tips in appreciation of the talent in stitching. My gran demanded 6 inches to the inch or more, edges tucked under without a hint of thread showing, etc. Therefore, I was only allowed to watch and thread their needles. They learned their skills from their grans and back to the makers of many of these flags under discussion.