Originally Posted by pamabla
I get between 9-12 stitches per inch, and I found that the key to achieving this is to keep your fabric loose in the hoop. If the fabric is tight as a drum, you will never achieve small stitches; it needs to be loose enough that when you place your hand in the middle, the fabric actually moves. I use a size 12 needle also and a thimble (my favorite is the cheapest one I have, the pink plastic with the cut out for fingernail.) It is much easier to "rock" the needle when the needle is short and the hooping is loose. Hope this helps.
I concur. Keep the fabric loose so you have room to work. I also practiced trying to move the needle straight down and straight up while stitching when I started out to get the rocking down. I tried out a lot of different thimbles and the best is the pink plastic one mentioned above. It's just perfect for quilting. I keep a few spares in case I lose one! I'm only get about 7 or 8 per inch though, but that's how I like it. :)