Utility Quilting
 

I've just recently learned of utility quilting, and am intrigued by it. Have any of you done it, and if so, what did you use in the way of threads and needles?

Never heard that term. I will be watching this thread. I am sure someone will have good advice.

Ive never heard that term before. Can you explain it?

The only thing I know is that it is the way some women quilted years ago when they were making a true utility quilt. They hand quilted it, but not in the teeny stitches we like to achieve. Apparently, the stitches were about 1/4" apart, and they were not quilted with a fine thread, but something larger. There is a book called Utility Stitching, and it apparently has been out of print for quite some time. You can find them, but they are $$$$expensive$$$$! So, I'm trying to find out more. Guess this will be educational for several of us!

Kerry, I love your signature statement. Amen!

That sounds the same as "Big Stitch" quilting. Basically all it means is using a larger needle, larger thread (such as a fine crochet thread), and making the stitches larger -- about 1/4" long and that distance apart.

Is this the book you mean?
http://www.amazon.com/Utility-Quilti...dp/1935726145/

I'm doing some quilting with DMC Perle cotton #8. Tried #5. it looked good but was too hard to pull through the fabric.

I've heard the big, heavier stitches called something else. But my CRS is acting up. I think it was as simple as "long stitches"

Yep, "big stitch", not long stitch

I wonder if this comes from the original Chinese/Japanese type of work where the old "work" clothing was stitched to other old cloth rather roughly to keep warm in the winter.

Does it only refer to the top quilting or the patchwork joining as well? If both then I would say it is using and making a quilt from pre used fabric and followed by hand quilted. Both these would have possible been slightly larger stitches being hand stitched.
Will keep looking at this to see what others say.

Quiters used the thread or string used to stitch feed or flouer sacks

http://thecountryfarmhome.blogspot.c...irt-quilt.html
This shows a bit more on the different types of stitches used.

Utility quilts were made of heavier fabric than we use, and not so fancy. As an example, they were carried in a truck or back of a car in case of an emergency, or had to lay on the ground to fix something. I still see them used, however, they are an orange color or tan. Utility trucks carry them.

in different parts of the country different names are often used for blocks, quilt designs, techniques and types of quilts---here in my 'neck of the woods' the term "Utility Quilt" is the term placed on a quilt that is made for Every day use- used, laundered, *abused* often- Kids every day bed quilts, quilts used outside for picnics, car *travel* quilts- any quilt that is used/abused/loved a lot.... so -- over the years I have made lots of Utility Quilts. I make sure they are stitched well- going to hold up to what ever is going to happen to it. I do not put a ton of applique into a utility quilt- or other time consuming/extreme techniques (although generally they are still pretty neat-loved quilts) I do still use good materials- since I want them to hold up-last through the abuse they will have to go through.

Denim with flannel makes a great utility quilt. I make a lot of rag quilts to be used and abused. Four stitches per inch is a good utility stitch length using size 12 wt thread.

Besides the vast amount of information available on the web, big stitch quilting has been talked about here many times.

Here are a few past discussions.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...g-t189856.html
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...e-t218145.html
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...e-t203171.html
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...h-t125351.html

I have the book ..."Utility Quilting" and it is still available on Amazon.com ranging in price from $25.00 new to $18 and change used. The "utility" stitching is the quilting part. These are the threads suggested for use:
Valdani pearl cotton #12, crochet cotton #20, DMC linen embroidery floss, DMC cotton tapisserie #4. It's actually a really cool book of 127 pages complete with some quilting designs. This is for hand quilting...not machine. The finished work resembles Sashiko. They are uniform stitches but longer than a quilting stitch with more space between stitches and, in some instances, look really good in contrasting colors. Hope this helps.

Exactly what I was going to say.

I have always heard of utility quilting meaning you use it. Utility means to use. you cover with it, cozy up in it. Others are usually wall hangings. I heard that term from many of the videos.

I had always thought that a "utility quilt" was serviceable but not fancy - what the hired help was given to use on their cots.

(Not meant to be a derogatory statement - but at times 'the help' were given the leftovers - if that)

In "Rotary Riot" ( 1991 Judy Hopkins and Nancy J. Martin) in the section on utility quilting (p 111) there are instructions for crow footing (a type of isolated fly stitch, like embroidery) and other tacking techniques. These are different from the big stitch technique previously discussed here. I've had good results with big crewel embroidery needles and size 10 crochet cotton. It's a fun and fast way to finish quilts without tying knots. Hope this helps.

I think everybody has the same idea that a utility quilt is a bedcover put together quickly for needed warmth in a cold bedroom. I've heard them called blizzard quilts, too. Squares of wool, corduroy, gabardine, or whatever was available, sewn into a top and layered with whatever was handy. It could have been flannel or an old blanket that was getting thin but not necessarily a cotton batt. Those were usually saved for "good" quilts. True utility quilts were pretty heavy and generally they would have been tied rather than quilted. I've made utility quilts with polyester bonded knit in place of batting because that's what I had to work with at the time. They kept somebody warm.

Yes, this. I did some research into this years ago. Women and men would make these types of quilts very quickly, using whatever fabric was available so that there would be blankets available for the cold weather.. The large stitches were used as they were quicker. These quilts were made for every day use, abused, patched etc.

Yup! Dead on.


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It looks like we all have slightly different understanding of the term "utility." I have made several quilts from simple 2.5 or 3 in squares and then simple diagonal machine quilting. Those are my utility quilts. They have been used for picnics, emergency blankets in the car and last week-end one was a table cloth at a family reunion at a park. My quilt is sturdy, simple and can take everyday handling or mis-hangling. More than once it has warmed "me bum" when I have gone to outside events and was asked to sit on metal bleachers. Love my "utility" and will make many more just to decrease the over flowing scrap bag.

Hi Guys, we seem to have drifted from the original question, which was "Utility quilting". This is a term covering a number of simple and quick stitched used to quilt the quilt. Examples of utility stitched are: Mennonite Tack, crow foot, cross stitch, button hole, and Methodist Knot. These are a few of the utility stitches. Basically these are used to quickly and securely quilt a quilt. Each of these stitches tend to be secure on each stitch (ie if the thread breaks between stitches the quilting won't come undone). The quilt shop I frequent teaches classes on Utility Quilting and carries a good book on the topic, the Quilted Owl.

This term is used by my family for any quilt made for everyday warmth to (as you say picnics, etc.) I am from Tx Panhandle but every quilter I know had never heard of this term. These are the quilts that are always under the bed spread and are washed often. My adult children like the feel and fragrance of these quilts when they come to visit. They are definitely not for show but are quilted with regular quilting stitch. My older ones have the old cotton batting in them that would shift if quilted rows were far apart.

You may be thinking of Japanese Shashiko stitch. I looks just like the "utility" and "big" stitch mentioned. There is a sewing machine made that stitches exclusively in the Shashiko stitch. Some lovely items are made with this stitch.

We seem to have have two conversations going on here. :)

The OP asked about Utility Quilting (capital u), not Utility Quilts. The style of the actual stitching itself. These days, it doesn't matter what type of quilt it's used on. I've even seen it used on quilts hanging in shows. :o

Shakio is a different type of utility quilting (small u) that originated in Japan. Kantha, which originated in Bengal, is another type.

Utility Quilting when I was growing up was what my Mom made on the farm--to keep us warm. She used scraps and put the layers together, but machine quilted the quilts to save time and energy, and to get them done for the coming Winter. They weren't the beautiful pieces of art work we see today. These were to actually be used every day, and to washed regularly. Oftentimes she made heavy quilts of old suits, wool dresses, ect. They were very heavy and we didn't like them as well. You could hardly turn over in bed because the wool quilts were so heavy! Mariah

I took it as someone doing utility quilting was making utility quilts -

As I also thought someone doing art quilting was creating art quilts

Yes, you are correct, I was referring to the actual stitching itself. However, this thread has been really educational for me and, hopefully, for others, too. I've enjoyed each and every reply, and thank each responder for their input.

I am not familiar with the term utility quilting. I'll be watching this thread so I can find out.

The quilts I have seen with utility quilting have been quilts on display in quilt shops, and were very nicely done. This was several years ago when utility quilting caught on, and more quilters were doing it. It seems to have since died off a bit, and is not seen as much, but I like the look, and plan to use it eventually. The ones I have seen were machine pieced with a normal stitch, and quilted by hand with the stitches about 1/4" apart. I don't remember what thread was used for the quilting.

I have seen utility stitching done on a quilt. You use a large needle and #8 pearl cotton thread. Personally, I love to hand quilt but I prefer the smaller stitches.

I agree with you!

I agree with GailG! Your signature statement rocks.....Can't help you with your question though! Good luck.

Thank you both, GailG and Lovequilting22.