Utility Stitching aka Big Stitch.

I was introduced to Utility Stitching by my friend Ethel Snow.  She taught me to use Perle 8 cotton and a large Tapestry needle to do the stitching.  In 2000 I had surgery on my ankle and was non weight bearing for 12 weeks, so I line up various projects such as English Paper Piecing, needlework and Utility Quilting this friendship block exchange quilt.  5 friends got together and we each made the equivalent of on 12 inch block, which could be subdivided or whole and four 4 inch blocks.  Settings were determined by the maker.  I made several extra blocks and decided to do no sashing on mine.  I've seen a bit of a discussion of this style of quilting on a couple of blogs and my Instagram feed so I thought I'd share my process.

 Shona personalized a scarecrow block for each of us.  I used a variegated yellow Perle cotton and made a continuous circle design that was not marked on the sun.

 Here is a bit closer look at the block.  I would often load 2-4 stitches on my needle.  Pretty even wouldn't you say?  A bit wonky, but it is Utility Stitching not Blue Ribbon quality.

 I drafted this block from a picture I saw on a magazine of a crow with three sunflowers and a larger scale.  I tried to match threads to whatever I was stitching.

 I used a flannel for backing and you can see the crow stitched in black with the ecru thread for the background.

 This gourd was my design and I stitched it similar to the sun.

 A closer look.

 And the back.

 For the four inch blocks I didn't always quilt them as heavily.  The moon was part of my fractured 12 inch block.

 For the 12 inch block I made one turkey...

 Two corn blocks that I designed, notice the silk tassels made with ecru Perle cotton and the crescent moon.

 One of Debbie's four patches with a star, this was free hand, no marking.

 I used a stencil for the acorns and then filled them in a bit.

 One of Tricia's trees.

 For the border I used a large oak leaf and acorn stencil.  I used corn starch to make that marks that just brushed away later.

What do you call it?  Utility Stitching or Big stitch?