I LOVE big stitch handquilting and have been doing it for decades! We taught it in my former shop in TX 20 years ago.
I use perle cotton (comes in the darling little balls from DMC/Anchor/Presencia/Valdana), 12 wt. threads, #10 wt. crochet thread, Sulky Blendables, I've even used candlewicking thread (which is so much like sashiko thread I can't help but wonder if that wasn't what it really was in the 1980s). I wax my threads with beeswax from Joannes and use the large eyed longer needles or sashiko needles.
Big stitch is so much easier on my arthritic hands than regular handquilting with tiny needles and thinner threads.
Jan in VA
Last edited by Jan in VA; 04-25-2017 at 08:00 PM.