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?
