Going With the Big Stitch Method. Which threads, needles, etc.?
 

I thinking of trying my hand at a big stitch quilt and I've never hand quilted before. I want the thread to really show up on this scrappy quilt. The top, back and batting are cotton. I might do a little tying on the quilt too. I'm considering using red embroidery thread for the job, but I'm worried that it may run. What else is there? Thanks.

~ C

You might want to consider crochet thread. The number 10 is my favorite for actual crocheting. This is a search I did in Yahoo and found this at Joan's. http://www.joann.com/needle-arts/kni...rochet-thread/

I found out the hard way that large openings in stitches is where dogs and cats get claws caught in and can pull the thread all out of shape. If it were me, I wouldn't use the large stitches unless it was a wall hanging or a table runner. Although if you have no animals, it's a moot point.

Defintely Perle cotton.

My concern with the big stitch is similar to Barb in Louisiana back in the day they called those "nail catchers" for the very same reason, so I would be worried about it with a bed quilt.

Big stitch is fine, and very effective, on a bed quilt. The stitches aren't big enough to catch nails, even pet nails, unless they are rough-housing on top of the quilt for some reason. I'd definitely use perle cotton. It comes in the same colors as floss, but is easier to use and has a softer appearance because it's not as shiny.

Thanks for those tips. One of my cats, "Mr. Bondo," (James Bondo,) likes to live life on the edge and he just may want to wrestle with that quilt, while searching for diamonds, the secret code, hiding from Mr. "No," and not to mention, fooling around with his favorite, "Bond girl," "Raven," (my other gorgeous kitty.)

Hummm....maybe I'll nix the big stitch idea. :(

~ Cindy

I have used 'big stitch' quilting for 15 years since having it taught in my shop in Dallas TX. The stitches are not huge! If you get 5 stitches to the inch you should have no problem. Usual 'fine' quilting takes 9-12 stitches to the inch, all counted on the top layer.

Here is a close up of one I have done using wool batting and 30 wt. Sulky cotton thread with a #7 between needle from Richard Hemming. (That's a quarter beside it.)

Jan in VA

Thanks Jan,

Not only have you giving me encouragement, but there's a lot of good info in your post. This quilt is just a fun and funky quilt. If it gets a little beat up, all the better. Bondo had better keep his paws off it, though.

~ C

Beautiful stitching but that sure looks like a penny to me. Isn't that old Abe?

I am glad someone else said it, 'cause I was just thinking the same thing, so went and got my magnifying glass, and sure enough, it is Abe.

One other option I have used is the Coats (of Coats and Clark) Cotton Covered BOLD Hand Quilting. It is a aqua spool and available at Jo-Ann's if you want to look and feel it before you buy. It is heavy enough, I can thread it without a threader LOL, even these old eyes!

Love you Jan, your "big" stitch is my best stitch!! BUT I love mine because, guess what, I did it!! Too many out there worry about comparing theirs against someone else. When the zombies come, I will be and have a valuable commodity!!

Plus the fact that Jefferson faces to the left, not the right, on the US quarter. We all know what Jan meant, just a slip of the fingers on her part. :)

Jan- 1. Which Dallas shop did you own? I lived in Dallas for a couple years and spent quite a bit of time visiting all of the quilt shops in Dallas. I thought your face was familiar...
2. Looks like inflation visited you too. lol! Your quarter has turned into a penny! Lol!

Well, I'll be jiggered; I guess that coin was a penny although I'd have bet my life I had used a quarter when I took that picture several years ago! :confused: :D ('Course I'm more likely to own a penny than a quarter anyway! Hahaha!:o)

The stitch length I mentioned was NOT meant to criticize anyone else's quilting -- heaven forbid! -- but simply to make a point that, when we taught the class (at Silver Threads in Plano), we suggested students aim for 4-6 stitches as an average. In our regular handquilting classes we suggested an 8-10 stitch average.

I'm sure, as long as your stitches aren't nearly 1/2 an inch long, your quilting passes muster for "hand quilting" instead of "basting!! Gosh, my basting stitches are usually a bit over 1 - 1 1/2 inches long!

I do only big stitch quilting now because of the damage in my hands. Haven'tr done any since I had the carpal tunel on the left in December; the right hand will be done on January 28th, weather permitting the drive in. And when recovered I'll get back to trying my previous regular quilting of 9 stitches per inch. If I don't make it, who cares, right!! :rolleyes: :)
Jan in VA

Jan, you are a LOVE!!!<3

Jan, do you know Sharon Wilhelm? She taught my classes and has been doing sewing/quilting things forever. She started out cutting kits at Suzy's, if anyone remembers them, many years ago.

I have quilted many quilts this way. Sorry I can't post a picture because I no longer have them. Point is they looked great even if I say so myself. I used white #8 perle cotton.

I used the big stitch like Jan did on my granddaughters wedding quilt. I used black embroidery thread - all six strands. Looked pretty good IMHO. I just did straight line quilting on the diagonal. I've used crochet thread to tie quilts but it's kinda hard to quilt with it.

I thought I remembered her, but the google images aren't familiar. It's been so long and so much life has happened since my Plano days...... Wish I could remember, she appears to be a marvelous quilter!

Jan in VA

That's why I don't use the hanks of embroidery thread, just the perle balls of it in size 8 or 12. Or crochet thread in 10 weight (yay Walmart) or 12 weight cotton thread (on a spool) like that from Sulky in plain or blendables.

Jan in VA

I was cleaning out my sewing space yesterday and guess what I found...several balls of white perl cotton, so that's what I'm going to use. I don't think that I have enough to do the whole quilt, but it's easy to get more. Thanks everyone for your tips!