Any big stitch quilters?
 

Is there anyone here who does a lot of big stitch quilting? The more quilts I make, I'm finding it to be my preferred method. I've mostly done straight line or echo quilting (nice around Dresdens), but have seen pictures of Jo Glover's work...enlarging traditional patterns and would like to try some. Any experience with that on the board? I'm also thinking about hand dying/painting crochet cotton (size 30 or 40) as I can't find much thread around here, and I just prefer the size of those threads.

I sure hope others chime in as this is something I have wanted to try but haven't yet. It will be interesting to read more and learn. Can you tell me what size needle you use? And, can you point me to some good tutorials or blogs that show this?

Wendy Gratz from Shiny Happy World and Jo Glover have good videos on YouTube. Jo is kind of the mother of big stitch in this country. It's a fast, easy technique and I like the look. Just want to branch out to more complex designs.
I personally prefer the Thimblelady XL needles. I think they were designed for sashiko, which is basically where the idea came from.
You should try it out on a small project, you'll be amazed at how quickly it goes. I'll post some pics when I get to my computer.

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

I am half way through quilting a quilt with big stitch quilting for the first time. For this quilt I am using aurifil 12 wt thread and Jen Kingwell's crosses technique. It works well for the pieced quilt top I am doing. For the border I am using a combination of stencils and hand drawing. It is turning out quite well. When I am finished I will post a Picture. It took me a long time to come up with a quilting design for this quilt. This is where I feel I am challenged. I see intricate designs, feathers, etc. on big stitch quilting, but can't find stencils for these designs. I am wondering how big stitch quilter's come up with their intricate designs? I am not gifted at artwork. Any ideas would be appreciated. I hope I am not hijacking this thread, but it seems to me to be relevant to the original question.

I'm the same way, can't draw worth a hoot! I am wondering about taking a line drawing of feathers, etc from one of my books and blowing it up on the copy machine. Can't hurt to try! I really like that type of work by Jo Glover.

As far as thread, I have used DMC embroidery floss, Perle Cotton (prefer 12 wt over 8 most of the time). Most of the stores just don't carry very many colors in the size 12. I don't like Valdani, it often shreds or breaks when I'm popping the knot into the quilt. Just did a lap quilt with it and it was fairly frustrating. I am using Sulky blendables right now (12 wt), they don't tangle even when I cut a LONG piece and are nice to quilt with. I just wish they were a little thicker, they are a little too thin for me. Haven't tried Aurifil 12 wt. How do you like it? I really do like the size 30 and 40 crochet cotton, but it only comes in white/ecru, etc, which is why I'm considering dying it. Anybody ever use tatting thread? I see it on EBay a lot, and have considered getting some to try.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]572112[/ATTACH]This is a mug rug I outlined with 3 strands of DMC floss. My avatar has big stitch outlining the leaf motifs of the batik background.

I like the auriful 12 wt thread. It comes in spools, two different sizes, that are easy to work with. The thread is strong and smooth, but the beauty of aurifil is that it comes in so many colors. I order it online from a company in Nevada that carries the full line of colors and have never been disappointed. I too like Jo Glover's quilting patterns and want to know how to replicate them or something like them. I know there are hand quilting pattern books available. How do you transfer a pattern that you like to the right size, then mark it on a quilt? So far I only know how to do stencils and freehand (which i am not good at.)

[ATTACH=CONFIG]572135[/ATTACH]This is a photo of the big stitch quilting I am doing. I got the idea for the crosses from Jen Kingwell.

Very nice, looks good on your quilt. I guess I'll experiment on a small piece and let everyone know how it goes.

Is the company in NV Red Rock Threads? I have ordered from them and been happy with their service and prices. At the time I didn't know Aurifil made a 12 wt and ordered Valdani . I will give the Aurifil a try.

Yes, it is Red Rock Threads.

I like Sarah Fielke's way of teaching the big stitch quilting. I have one to do that way.

I really should try this method. Faintly Artistic I think your mug rug is pretty. Big, easy and quick are all appealing to me. I'm going to check out your Etsy store too for needles.

Genden- I like the crosses, something different and neat.

Many years ago (from Billie Lauder) I did a couple of wall quilts big stitch. I loved how the thread truly became part of the design, but could never figure out how to start and stop neatly

I "bury the knot" just like in small stitch quilting. Believe it or not, those fat knots will pop into the fabric though it might take a little extra care. When I do straight line quilting across a piece, I just make sure it is long enough to go from end to end and the tails get sewn into the binding. If the piece is big, I start in the middle and only stitch with half the thread, then turn it and stitch the other half. Saves tangling and wear and tear on the thread.

Jan, would you be able to post some close ups of your quilting? Would love to see some😊

I am thinking about it but haven't done it yet.

Let's put it this way - almost...no, not almost...ALL my hand quilting is "big stitch". Never been able to master the 10 to 12 stitches per inch. I do whatever suits my fancy - straight lines, echo, meandering or following a drawn on pattern. It's the only way I roll.

I've never even heard of this. Does anyone know of a video where I could watch it. I'm thinking it might be something I'd like to try, calming and restful to do I would imagine.

Jo Glover, Sarah Fielke, Wendy Gratz all have YouTube videos. I'm sure there are more.

I am so happy to see this thread and the detailed answers. Currently, I have used Perl Cotton #8 on a table runner and have been very pleased. Arthritic hands prevent me from using the traditional smaller stitch with waxed quilting thread. Burying the knot, using 1/2 of the thread length at a time, and selecting wool applique hand needles have worked nicely. This topic/ info encourages me to try this for cross hatching on a wall hanging. Thank you

I did a search for these names and added "big stitch" (ex. Jo Glover big stitch) and these are just some of the videos that popped up.

Big Stitch Jo Glover: https://zippyquilts.wordpress.com/20...titch-quilter/
Lesson 1 Supplies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSNJL-SlVjs
Big Stitch Sarah Fielke https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DXN5Ger_jo
Big Stitch Wendy Gratz https://video.search.yahoo.com/searc...c&action=click

Genden, can you give us more details on how you did this? Is your quilt on frames?

Thanks to you, I now have links to the work of Jo Glover, which I have saved to a folder for Big Stitch. Until now, I thought there was not much out there beyond the work of Billie Lauder.

The quilt is on a Grace Z44 frame, but would lap quilt fine. Better than my explanation of the cross technique, Google the video How to Baste and Hand Quilt with Aurifil 12 weight by Jen Kingwell-Fat Quarter Shop. Be sure to watch the entire video. Jen Kingwell demonstrates the cross technique near the end of the video.

I did my version of 'big stitch' on a baby quilt recently. Used a larger needle (sorry don't know size) and #12 pearle cotton thread. It came out quite well but I'm not sure that my 'big stitches' were particularly big, lol. But, hey, it worked; the quilt was completed and (finally) gifted.

Even though my stitches were probably smaller than what most consider 'big' stitching, using the pearle cotton certainly did give the quilting more visibility and definition. I may or may not try it again...depends on the quilt and the visual I'm going for.

I just saw somewhere, maybe here, that you draw on your "other thumb" two or three lines the width of the stitch you want to use and you have it there to follow at all times. Great idea! All alike.

I have done so before, but, here, just for you. :) Oddly, I don't have pictures of but two of my quilts with big stitch, for some reason.

Jan in VA

Very nice, Jan. I like the big stitch on your quilts. Do you create your own quilting designs?

I really really really want to try this, and appreciate all the great information y'all have so graciously shared!

Well I have done some big stitching, probably bigger then you ladies are talking about I used worsted weight yarn. One side a fabric quilt and the other crocheted squares.
(I have done 4 or 5 this way)

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This look so warm and cuddly. I never thought of that and I have crocheted more than my share of afghans. Great idea.

Thanks they are very heavy and warm. I was in a crochet swap group and wanted to make them into blankets, but really hate using afghans b/c they stretch out so much and get miss shapen so I came up w/ this idea.

The floral quilt used a stencil from The Stencil Company. The fish quilt, unfinished in this photo, had my own designs.

Jan in VA

Jan, your work as always is exquisite!

Hi, I'm a BigStitch quilter, too. Right now I'm working on a 6" one patch. I'm doing an
allover pattern. The piece measures about 40" x 60".

I'm using very large-scale, double line fans. I made a 20 inch "compass"
out of template plastic, with holes every inch. I mark with Clover Chacopel
chalk pencils. I mark one set of double lines, then leave a couple of inches
before the next set of arcs.

So my fan arcs can have a radius of 20", and I quilt each arc with double lines. On the
long sides, I start marking off the in the middle so it's a 180 degree fan.

On this quilt I'm using a dark blue DMC pearl cotton and a #24 chenille from Primitive

Gatherings.

May all our stitches be big!

Jo

ps I am dreadful at electronic devices, but if you read the comments
below Jo Glover's Gallery of Quilts ( which is also pretty dreadful), my
email address is there. Please excuse me if I lose the thread on this forum.

I've only big stitched one quilt with DMC Perle Cotton #5, and I have to say, it is one of my favorites. Right now, I'm focusing on learning to FMQ, and hand quilting my DJ, which is already started with small stitches, but I will definitely be big stitching future projects. However, I think I might have to be more adventurous with my thread selection, as I remember not being a big fan of the DMC for this project.

The stitches are truly big...maybe about 3 per inch, long on the front, but short on the back. I just love the look!
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How nice to hear from Jo Glover! And the photos you've posted are very nice. JJBlaine, I love the movement in your stitches.

Jo, thanks for chiming in! I love looking at the quilts on your gallery. I'm a dedicated big stitcher now...just started quilting straight lines on a twin size on my machine and quit after the first line and started big stitching it. I'm happier and it looks so much better! My husband told me before I started it on the machine that it would look better hand quilted...he was right.

JJBlaine...nice quilting. I tried the #5 Perle cotton and found I didn't like how hard it was to pull through the fabric. Try #8 or #12; they glide through much easier. Needle choice can make a difference as well. For #12 thread, I use Thimblelady's XL needles. For #8 I use crewel size 2 needles. Hope that helps.