Medium Stitch Hand Quilting?
 

I looked at some "big stitch" quilting - it may have it's place, but in general, I don't like it -

I can't do the tiny 16 stitches to the inch hand quilting -

I think I will call what I do, "medium-small stitch hand quilting"

I've never heard of 16 stitches to the inch as a standard! Twelve to the inch is the ideal I most often see referred to. I am around 10-11 at the moment, but I hope to get to 12 eventually.

How many stitches to the inch does one aim for in big stitch quilting?

My big stitch could be considered medium. I like my stitches smaller than what is typically shown online, about 5-6 ish stitches per inch. Plus, I like the distance between them smaller than the front stitch.

Bear, I've never heard of anything greater than 12 stitches per inch and that is usually someone who is spectacular at it.
I like big stitch, although I haven't done it yet. I think it has to be a certain quilt but I've seen some that look really cute. I don't know how many stitches per inch, as I said I haven't done it yet but I'd like to sometime.

Another thing to add is that even big stitches should look fairly uniform and neat in my humble opinion, not willy hilly, anything goes.

I agree with the above as well.

Me too. I prefer a sashiko look.

And from what I've always read/heard, 14 stitches is what the really expert Amish quilters stitch. 16 might be possible but I'd bet it's really rare.

hoping this shows. i did hand stitches on this one. rather large to me. but it worked. long ago.

Absolutely!

I try more for even rather than a certain amount per inch. I doubt greatly if I could ever get them that small. Over the years they have gotten smaller on their own without me even trying.