Divokittysmom

When you are piecing blocks, how many stitches per inch, or what setting do you normally set your machine for?? I was using 2.5 but then a couple of tutorials for 2.0. Just curious... 2.0 is a bit more challenging when reverse sewing! aka... ripping it out!!
Thank you for your input

oldsewer

My machine comes on at 2.2. I think that's too small, I use either 2.4 or 2.6. Usually 2.6. Seems secure enough, and much easier to change (rip).

franc36

I set mine at 2.0 because that was what I was accustomed to using when I did heirloom sewing. When I started piecing quilts, I just kept it there. Yes, ripping is more difficult; but that encourages me to get it right the first time. I'm sure that 2.5 would work well.

Tartan

​I use my machine default setting that I think is 2.5? I only change my stitch length if I am doing something like paper piecing (smaller) or edge stitching a quilt (bigger).

QuiltE

Regular piecing I will use between 1.8-2.0.

Paper piecing I go with 1.0.

AngelinaMaria

Are the numbers everyone is using consistent? Meaning, do the stitch number assignments translate to the same stitch length on a ruler across all brands? Obviously, the numbers posted are not the stitches per inch so what do they mean? Just curious. Thanks.

Jackie Spencer

2.5 Thats what my machine sets itself for when I turn it on. I have a Bernina.

Gay

Just did some testing. I believe 10 stitches per inch would be the norm, you would have to measure over 1" and count, and the number shown on the machine is the stitch length in millimetres. The default value may be different with brands, but you may be able to reset that if you go into the machines' control panel. I have 2 Brothers and both are set to 2.5, this gives me 11 stitches per inch [spi]. For paper piecing I reduce to 1 or 1.5. Can you buy tape measures with both inches and mm's and test on a firm [starched?] piece of plain coloured homespun, it's really worth the experiment. I can flip from inches to metric easily, as I went through school with inches, and we - Australia - changed to metric when I was 20. Hope this explains all. Enjoy testing.

nativetexan

I usually use 2.2 setting.

Barb in Louisiana

Recently, I finally decided to find out what the 2.5 translated to. The following website explained it all.

http://www.quiltmaker.com/blogs/quil...stitch-length/

For my own clarity, I wrote up the following:

Stitch number is based on millimeters per inch which is 25.4
Divide 25.4 by the machine setting to get stitches per inch.

25.4 / 3 = 8.47 stitch per inch
25.4 / 2.5 = 10.16 stitch per inch
25.4 / 2.1 = 12.1 stitch per inch
25.4 / 2 = 12.7 stitch per inch
25.4 / 1.5 = 16.93 stitch per inch

If you know the stitches per inch you want, the formula is:
25.4 mm / stitches =
25.4 / 10 = 2.5 setting
25.4 / 12 = 2.1
25.4 / 16 = 1.6

The feed dogs control the stitch length. Shorter stitch length equals less fabric pulled thru machine.