Since it was pinned, I would call it quilting stitches. If that frame has been in the same spot for five years, chances are that the edges are going to be stretched out of whack. You may want to lay out flat and spritz with water when you remove the frame, and let it relax before quilting adjacent areas.
I was taught to hand quilt from the center out, so spots that are not perfect can be cheated in more easily.