For Sprig: http://rabbitstitchings.blogspot.com/
Some examples of "big stitch" or utility quilting. It has been around for years and years. I first saw it in a book by Roberta Horton called Plaids and Stripes.
It is done with a larger eyed needle(usually a tapestry or crewel embroidery needle) and perle cotton. The perle cotton comes in quite a few sizes, and is easier to get now that so many quilters are using it for things that look primative. I like size #8 the best, but have tried it in sizes #10,#12, and #5.
I find #12 to be about the same as two stands of embroidery floss, or regular quilting thread. And not much different with #10.
The #5 seems more like Knit Cro-sheen crochet thread to me. But it will work, better with flannel, or if you really "tug" to get it
through regular fabric. I find I MUST use one of those little round rubber "grabbers" when I work with #5. It can be bought in skeins or in balls. I like the balls best..easier to use.
These pictures are from a couple of different quilts than the one shown below. I tend to use whatever color is appealing to me at the moment. You are aiming for stitches about 1/4th" in size and about that distance apart. I find I can't load as many on the needle as with
regular quilting, but that's ok. It still goes really fast with everything bigger that reg. hand quilting.
I do "tug" my knot to the inside. Don't like the look of leaving it on the back. This type of quilting has had a big comeback the past few years, since the primative quilt "look" has gotten so popular. It's easy to do, with almost exactly the same things you'd quilt with otherwise. Just a bigger needle and a coarser thread. I've been using this method almost exclusively since the last 3 eye surgeries, about 1999 into 2000. Most of the other quilts I've shown were hand quilted before that. I do very little of the fine hand quilting anymore. I'd love to, but it's very challenging to my vision. Happy and done are good words...LOL Hope everyone has some sunshine today.