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Quote:

Originally Posted by feline fanatic

I would not consider a stitch about 1/8" long a larger quilting stitch. That is downright tiny and is giving you 8 to 9 stitches per inch which is what I usually get with my "fine" hand quilting done with 30 wt thread and #11 between.

Does it look bigger because you are using heavier thread?

I count the front-surface-showing stitches only, which means you are getting about 4-5 stitches to the inch. Museum quality handquilting is usually about 9-12 stitches per inch -- on the front. And yes, to me the thread does make the stitch more dominant, more obvious, appear bigger. I plan for this and use it to create another dimension of the design on the quit surface, usually with a contrasting thread color.

The trick to Big Stitch quilting is to make all your stitches even in length, not to worry so much about the size as long as you can't slip a fingernail under one stitch.
Jan in VA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jan in VA

I agree about the heat! It's hot here in VA, today, too.
But a wool batting is very light weight, not all that hot to use -- I actually prefer my wool batted quilt to my heavier cotton ones in the early fall or late spring -- and it's like quilting throug butter! So helpful with these larger threads.

I end the line of stitching just as I do any handquilting, bu making a knot about 1/4" from the end of the line of stitches and burying it in the fabric just like when I started.

The needles don't have to be Richard Hemmings, just any sharp needle with a large enough eye to thread with these larger weight threads we use for Big Stitch. Glover makes Sashiko needles that are perfect, but also hard to find.

By the way, I use a thread cut about 20-24" long. I've found that the end through the needle often twists/frays making loss of too much thread if I cut a piece as long as Lorraine's site quoted above.

Jan in VA

Jan, thank you again for your knowledge in this area.