dd

For your next quilt, I was taught to always start and stop with very tiny stitches. Not to back stitch as this leaves a bump sometimes or a knot underneath and you don't have to tie ends. I start and stop with stitch length on .05 for a couple stitches and increase to where I want it to be then decrease when I get to the end. works for me.

GemState

I do the same as 'dd', by pulling the bobbin thread to the top and starting with several very small stitches. Saves a lot of time so I can get on to the next project!!