Big Stitch Quilting by betweens

Title: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: betweens on January 10, 2008, 08:03:26 AM
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This would only make sense that I would bring this up since I am starting on Primitive quilts.. has anyone quilted their quilts using the "Big Stitch" technique and if so

what thread did you use

how did you regulate your big stitch??

What batting did you use??

Please tell me as much as you can about this technique

Deb


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: Adam on January 10, 2008, 10:48:01 AM
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like utility quilting?

I love utility quilting especially in primitive quilts.


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: betweens on January 10, 2008, 11:47:44 AM
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exactly that Adam.. so do I.. I do all my quilting by hand and have been well trained in the itty bitty stitch.. I have a hard time with the "utility/big stitch method" and want some input on what others use as in needles/thread/cotton/batting frames/without frames.. do you have any suggestions??

I know you have the most gorgeous machine quilting.. I have been lurking in your quilting thread and googling and drooling over your quilts.. silent enjoying..


Deb


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: Pawstoquilt on January 10, 2008, 12:17:46 PM
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Quote from: betweens on January 10, 2008, 11:47:44 AM
I do all my quilting by hand and have been well trained in the itty bitty stitch.. I have a hard time with the "utility/big stitch method"
Deb


Well Deb.........Lately I seem to be doing "utility/big stitch quilting" when it is supposed to be "itty bitty stitches". There is something drastically wrong with this picture!!!!!


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: Merry Bee on January 10, 2008, 01:08:44 PM
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Tee Hee, Paws. You sound so negative, but I have seen your work, and you are absolutely fantastic! Fishing for compliments? Well, you gottem! :D


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: finisher on January 10, 2008, 01:20:59 PM
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I haven't tried doing the big stitch..but I like the looks of it. I think it will be hard to try to make big stitches when we've trained ourselves to make tiny even ones. I think Merry Bee has done some? and used Perle cotton? I hope she sees this post and can add info. ??? Sometimes I get names /projects jumbled up...so I hope she's the one that was telling me about the technique. I was wondering if the larger thread would leave a hole when we pop our knots into the batting, but she says it doesn't leave any. I think the larger stitches look like the quilting will go faster..but it depends on how much has to be taken out and redone because the stitches aren't casual enough? ;) and it will be hard to get the rhythm of the larger stitch at first.
It's funny how we train ourselves to try to make things very realistic looking in most applique...then it's hard to do the more casual looking kind. It's kind of like how I can't do random placement of fabrics when doing scrappy. I have to make sure the colors/fabrics are evenly distributed throughout the quilt. I do very carefully planned random. ;) LOL I just can't put the pieces in a bag and pull out and use whatever I get as was suggested to me once. I just know I'd have the quilt almost finished and find two pieces the same right next to each other. The horror! I'm just too regimented to do the carefree look easily..but I will learn to do it. That is a look I really enjoy and want to try it. I want to try everything! LOL
It's funny Deb, how my interest in projects seems so similar to yours. I don't know if we are reading the same magazines or books..or what? ::)


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: Pawstoquilt on January 10, 2008, 01:44:00 PM
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Quote from: Merry Bee on January 10, 2008, 01:08:44 PM
Tee Hee, Paws. You sound so negative, but I have seen your work, and you are absolutely fantastic! Fishing for compliments? Well, you gottem! :D


Merry Bee--My hand quilting did used to be nicer--not sure what has happened. I know I have some
problems with my hands--just haven't adjusted to them yet. Not arthritis--but "fine motor control". BUT I WILL!!!!! So--thought if I just "started over" it would help. I will NOT be defeated by a skinny little needle.


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: Merry Bee on January 10, 2008, 01:53:49 PM
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Finisher, I made a sashica jacket but it was done on the machine with large stitches and perle. It looked like hand stitching because I sewed white stitches on denim with navy thread in the bobbin. Where the bobbin thread peeked through, it fooled the eye into thinking the stitches were all by hand on the front with white. I haven't tried hand quilting with big stitches, but think that is where sashica came from originally. My knots were tied by hand on the back. I marked the pattern pieces on the fabric, embroidered the fabric on a grid in bold designs, then cut out the pieces and put the jacket together. If I ever figure out how to post a picture, I will put one up for you, or wait until DD comes and she can do it for me. Ha ha.


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: Merry Bee on January 10, 2008, 01:55:59 PM
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Quote from: Pawstoquilt on January 10, 2008, 01:44:00 PM
Quote from: Merry Bee on January 10, 2008, 01:08:44 PM
Tee Hee, Paws. You sound so negative, but I have seen your work, and you are absolutely fantastic! Fishing for compliments? Well, you gottem! :D


Merry Bee--My hand quilting did used to be nicer--not sure what has happened. I know I have some
problems with my hands--just haven't adjusted to them yet. Not arthritis--but "fine motor control". BUT I WILL!!!!! So--thought if I just "started over" it would help. I will NOT be defeated by a skinny little needle.



I understand! My hands are getting pretty bad with arthritis, and also, I am having trouble seeing as well. I am not all that old, but it is happening to me anyhow. It ain't no fun, is it?


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: finisher on January 10, 2008, 02:11:14 PM
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Boy MerryBee..if you are having trouble seeing the way you used to..try quilting with black thread on black fabric. :o A really good lamp is a must-have! I have the original Ott light which is 18watts. Now there's full spectrum lamps that are 27watts. I want one! ;D


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: Merry Bee on January 10, 2008, 02:23:16 PM
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I have the original Ott Light, too. I bought it one morning after I had embroidered by flourescent lights the night before. I had to rip out a lot of blue and green stitches, because the color was all wrong. The blue light overhead had fooled my eyes! I love my ott light. DH had to go get some more for floor lamps and gave one each to our kids, because there were no good reading lamps at their houses. The lights he gave them were not decorator style, and we always find them in the back bedroom when we get there, ;D ;D ;D, but they really give out good quality light. I am going to do an Amish quilt, but the batiks on black will be easy to see.


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: QBee - Mary Ann on January 10, 2008, 09:52:16 PM
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Finisher and Merry Bee - Am I ever glad you talked about the full spectrum lights! I'd been thinking I'd haul out my big magnifier lamp when I start my hand applique. I'd just use it for the light, not the magnifier, but it's flourescent. I'll be sure to use one of my Ott lamps instead, now that you reminded me about seeing the colors better. QBee


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: Merry Bee on January 10, 2008, 10:01:51 PM
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QueenBee, you can use the flourescent light, but just be sure you pick out the thread you need for the project in full sunlight, before you start. :P Or you might end up picking out stitches.

I worked on lessons 1 & 2 of my EQ 6, and there are many features that make this edition easier to use. It is very similar to EQ5, though. I am really happy with it.


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: finisher on January 11, 2008, 07:04:12 AM
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Gee QueenBee..I thought those lamps with the magnifier were full spectrum? If it's not..do like MerryBee said and choose your colors by sunlight..or at least good daylight.


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: betweens on January 11, 2008, 07:08:28 AM
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eh hem.. excuse me ladies but no one is telling me how to big stitch here.. is there any advise??

I am in a need to know basis here!! LOL.. help and advise or any links to where I can find it would be great..

Deb


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: finisher on January 11, 2008, 07:25:23 AM
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Ooops! Well we did get off into a pig trail didn't we? ;) Sorry. ;) The best info I could find was listed under sashiko quilting at www.quilt.com. They give a description of the stitching and tell a variety of threads to use. Of course..your big stitch quilting won't be the specific grid style of sashiko, but the basic "rules" will apply.


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: golo on January 11, 2008, 07:28:52 AM
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Finisher, had to add that to my favorite sites.... that looks like a good one to study....


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: finisher on January 11, 2008, 07:32:38 AM
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Ooopsie again..they don't give us a good search box on that site. So you don't have to wade through a lot of stuff..go to the very bottom of the page to the google box and type in Sashiko. I hope that gives you a little more info. I didn't google big stitch or utility quilting. That might give you more info too?


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: finisher on January 11, 2008, 07:35:56 AM
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That site is chock full of info Golo. The only thing I don't like is..I wish they would put a search box right up on top of the page so we can find info fast. Sometimes you just want a quick answer without spending a lot of time searching through things. ;D


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: TxMaryQuilts on January 11, 2008, 07:40:06 AM
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Boy, some people are so picky, wanting answers and everything. LOL

Here is the book:
http://www.pigpatchfarm.com/cgi-bin/Store/store.cgi?product=quilting_books&productid=big_stitch

Here is the Simply Quilts show:
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_quilting_tips/article/0,1789,HGTV_3307_1390575,00.html

Here is more:
http://www.quilt.com/QuestionOfTheWeek/1999/0308.html

And here is a primitive site:
http://sewprimitive.blogspot.com/2007/01/big-stitch-examples.html

Hope these help! ;D

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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: betweens on January 11, 2008, 07:50:24 AM
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thanks ladies.. this will give me something to delve into.. now you can go back to your conversation LOL... and I can go back to quiltin'

deb-with my first chuckle this morn'


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: finisher on January 11, 2008, 07:58:57 AM
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LOL Mary! You found a lot of info real quick! ;D


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: TxMaryQuilts on January 11, 2008, 08:01:44 AM
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Hey, never stand in the way of a woman on a mission carrying sharp objects! LOL

(Googled big stitch quilting-tons more on that list.)


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: QBee - Mary Ann on January 11, 2008, 08:39:28 AM
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Ooops-oink-oink - ;) Deb, I too "googled" big stitch quilting and utility stitch quilting, and found lots of info. Doing your own google was going to be my only suggestion to you, as I have no personal knowledge to share on the topic. I hoped someone who's done it might show up, but no luck so far. I sure like the look of the heavy big stitches on the primitive looking quilts. My guess is you'll soon be sharing how to do it and how successful you were at it! QBee

Pig Trail: Finisher, my magnifier lamp is a large piece of equipment. I actually ordered it from an electrolysis supply place because that's where I found the best price. Great light - wonderful magnification - but not full spectrum. I should be able to hand applique without the magnification, so can use a different lamp. QBee



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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: Merry Bee on January 11, 2008, 09:02:59 AM
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My grandmother, I can barely remember, had a stack of quilts made out of men's wool suiting. Most of them were dark navy, black, stripes, solids, and very heavy. Some were tied in yarn, but some of them were stitched with big stitches. One of the sites TxMary posted had a quilt that reminded me of Nanny's stack of woolens. Nobody slept under those because they were very heavy, like a weight on your chest, and reeked of mothballs. UGH :P They had flannel backs and lots of batting inside.

Wouldn't it be pretty to make a lighter version of those, without batting, but with homespun, shirting, or flannel back, no batting, and use utility stitches in a nice color?


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: betweens on January 11, 2008, 09:05:10 AM
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I was kinda looking for members that have experienced this process themselves.. googling is just to easy.. thought some of you may have had the experience.. that's okay though I will do as I am told and google.. :(

I trust the wisdom of my friends.. :D

Deb


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: TxMaryQuilts on January 11, 2008, 12:12:44 PM
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I am happy to know that if I ever try hand quilting I can tell every one that the big stitches I made are intentional and I did not mess up on my little stitches. ;D

Deb, I am sorry that googling is all the help I could give. You are much more advanced skill wise than I am. I do remember talk of this on the QT site. Unfortunately we lost so many contacts and info from there. :(


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: sewnsew on January 11, 2008, 02:00:42 PM
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Deb, I am the one that did the big stitch quilting on a crib quilt. I am no expert on it. I had seen it done on t.v and seen quilts at shows that it had been done on. I liked the look of it, so gave it a try. I thought it was great fun and really quick. It's not for every quilt but it does lend a charm of it's own. I used cotton crochet thread and an embroidery needle. It does take a little practice to make your stitches larger, if you are use to trying to make them small. :)


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: tlcquiltnut on April 25, 2008, 06:48:25 AM
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Deb,
Did you ever do that big stitch qulting...I am seriously thinking about it on the CW qults...I have found some good sites...
There was a lady at the shop hop in DesMoines she had thread for that purpose only and I DIDNT BUY ANY... :1087: Sure wanted too. But alas didn't follow my heart...because of my pocket book.... :knuppel2:
I have a cotton bat in my quilts do yoou think that will make a difference in the difficulty(getting the needle through)?


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: betweens on May 06, 2008, 01:46:53 PM
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TLC.. just trying to catch up on everything sorry for the slow response.. no haven't yet but is on my list.. very long list to do!!

LOL

Deb

BTW I think that would be perfect for your CW quilt with the fan pattern.. it would be just perfect


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: tlcquiltnut on May 06, 2008, 02:53:52 PM
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OOOOOKKKKKAAAAYYYY, now I am stoked. ...looked at all the websites and Debbie Mumm was a good one simple and to the point, next army quilt will be a combo of machine and big stitch....... :chee


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: tlcquiltnut on June 15, 2008, 02:55:06 PM
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My friend picked me up some thread and needles at the shop hop in the motel lobby yesterday, so now I can get going on "big stitch" quilting. The lady at the booth said the thread is a little finer than pearl cotton and she uses a number 5 betweens that has a bigger eye. I got 4 colors. Black, deep red, brown and a biege. NOW I have to make more Civil War Cot Quilts...


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: finisher on June 15, 2008, 03:02:56 PM
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What a great score Tammy! I need to get busy and start the project I am going to do the big stitch on. When you try it let us know how it goes? I wanna peek over your shoulder.


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: golo on June 15, 2008, 08:20:45 PM
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Tammy, I can hardly wait to hear how it goes with the big stitching....?? !!


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: betweens on June 16, 2008, 01:22:40 AM
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Tammy what kinda thread is it??


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: tlcquiltnut on June 16, 2008, 10:06:48 AM
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The lady said it was a lighter wieght pearl cotton...
She didn't have a book to follow just told people how to do it ..but the needles were what I was wondering about. So I just got what she used thinking she knew the best to use..


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: betweens on June 16, 2008, 12:09:55 PM
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do you have the name of the thread or who is the producer of it and also the maker of the needles??

Deb


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: imaqltr2 on June 17, 2008, 10:36:10 AM
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When I was a beginner at quilting I was taught even stitches. Even stitches, don't worry about how many per inch, just make sure they are even. When I presented my first baby quilt for inspection, My aunt sweetly asked "Why did you toenail stitch it?" TOENAIL STITCH = stitches 1/4" . The term refers to the user catching their toenails in the stitches. I really worked at smaller stitches, now big stitching is in? Aurgggghhhh


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: golo on June 17, 2008, 10:38:26 AM
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It seems like everything we learn we have to unlearn ... be brave and try something new...


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: Merry Bee on June 17, 2008, 11:37:48 AM
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Quote from: imaqltr2 on June 17, 2008, 10:36:10 AM
When I was a beginner at quilting I was taught even stitches. Even stitches, don't worry about how many per inch, just make sure they are even. When I presented my first baby quilt for inspection, My aunt sweetly asked "Why did you toenail stitch it?" TOENAIL STITCH = stitches 1/4" . The term refers to the user catching their toenails in the stitches. I really worked at smaller stitches, now big stitching is in? Aurgggghhhh


She told you that you TOENAIL stitched it?! Not too diplomatic, is she?


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: imaqltr2 on June 17, 2008, 03:24:50 PM
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Ahh that was many decades ago and she was never one of my big fans. I saw the special on retraining the brain. If you learn a new thing your brain works better longer. I love the big stitch in theory, just don't want to fall in the habit. Don't want my quilts to look like "hurry up winter is coming." But, that was what the civil war quilters were doing wasn't it?


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: tlcquiltnut on June 17, 2008, 06:34:03 PM
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She told me the brand of the needle, they were in a black package. The brand of the thread I don't know yet BUT will let you know as soon as they arrive...
This is going to be fun...


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: TxMaryQuilts on June 18, 2008, 07:28:49 AM
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It is so nice to know that IF I were ever inclined to try to hand quilt, I can actually tell people that the stitches are supposed to be big and is called Big Stitch Quilting! :2funny:


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: Merry Bee on June 25, 2008, 11:27:28 AM
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Tell them you quilted it with your toenails....................... :2funny:


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: TxMaryQuilts on June 25, 2008, 02:18:23 PM
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:2funny: :2funny: :2funny:


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: Merry Bee on July 01, 2008, 11:50:34 AM
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Should I do DILs quilt with big stitches? She would faint away, since I ONLY machine quilt.


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Title: Re: Big Stitch Quilting
Post by: tlcquiltnut on July 01, 2008, 03:12:27 PM
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Merry Bee,
I think you should give it a try..... :afro: see how long her faint lasts....

BTW, I finally remembered :1087: to look at the thread , I took pictures...The red is really a dark burgandy red....
The brand name is Finca...number 12..Needles are Richard Hemmings and Sons, number 5 big eye....