What type of quilt is suitable for big stitch quilting?
 

Everything I read says big stitch quilting looks good on the appropriate quilt. But what is an appropriate quilt type or style for big stitch?

Personally, I think you can use big stitching on any quilt. I hand quilt quite a bit and sadly, I can't make those small tiny stitches in any consistent manner.

Honestly... there aren't hard and fast rules. Thankfully. :D

I agree with Hill Country Gal. I did big stitching on a double pinwheel baby quilt and it turned out really cute. I'm quilting a queen size now with "small" stitches. Mine aren't so tiny anymore, either!

I associate big stitch quilting with a more casual, fun or 'primitive' quilt as opposed to a more formal design with traditional, elaborate quilting motifs. More elaborate/complex quilting designs require smaller stitches in order for the detail of the design to be seen.

I also have always associated it with primitive quilts but I saw one of our church members do a big stitch on a baby quilt and it was cute!

I saw a youtube video on big-stitch quilting from an Australian quilter and she explained it quite well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DXN5Ger_jo

I suppose it depends on the size of your stitch. I use big stitch because it allows my arthritic hands to use a larger needle and a bit bulkier thread and about 5 stitches to the inch instead of the 9-12 stitches of regular heirloom/museum quality/fine handquilting.
I would use it on anything, and do not actually make what I would call "casual" or "primitive" quilts. It does seem to work particularly well on quilts made with reproduction fabrics -- thirties or mid-1800s -- maybe because the assumption is that they were "utility" quilts in that time period. We all know, though, that that wasn't necessarily true!

Jan in VA

I watched video (skipped Ad) I found it very useful!

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*** You can do it on any quilt (its yours).
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*** I hand quilt and do not even strive to make small or even stitches.
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*** I do my own thing my own way.
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I have seen it done on all types and looks of quilts, it seems to be a growing thing right now. Have fun.

I have a book somewhere that all the quilts are doen that way. I think it is called Utility Quilts. I haven't looked at the book in a while, but I think that it is about quilts that are made to be used on our beds everyday as cover. Much like my mother's and grandmother's quilts. Some of theirs were beautiful, but most of them were used throughout the winter for warmth more than they were for beauty. Actually, they usually had a chenille bedspread on top of them all. And you'd 'better not' be sitting on those beds. When they were raising me, beds were for sleeping in and not for sitting in the middle of it eating potato chips. LOL BTW, I'm 68, so you can see it was certainly a different time.

I have a friend whose mom taught her how to hand-quilt. She was told that as long as your toe didn't get hung up in the stitch at night, then the length was just fine. :)

i used perl cotton and bigger stitches on a very traditional pinwheel quilt for the border. one of my perennial issues with handquilting is that you so often fail to really notice the stitching. the perl cotton and slightly bigger stitches helped immensely to highlight the intricate amish cable design. now i am hand quilting a very modern table runner using sashiko style stitching and it works too. and who could complain about using gorgeous variegated silk threads?

aileen

I did some hand quilting and when I showed it to another quilter she told me I had left my small tacking stitches in. Never again will I hand quilt and be so insulted by a friend. The stitches were 8 to the inch so very tiny.

I've used big stitch quilting very successfully on (abstract) art quilts. Add that to the styles mentioned by other members so far in this thread...traditional quilts, baby quilts, 30's and CW reproduction quilts, primitive quilts, modern quilts...and I think you've gotten the best answer as to what is the 'appropriate' quilt for big stitch quilting. Maker's Choice! LOL

Whatever the quilt 'tells' you:). Lash out and be reckless....big stitch away!

Why would another quilter think they were tacking stitches? I hope it didn't put you off hand quilting if that's what you wanted to do.