I hand quilt and I will never get to 16 stitches to the inch. I was looking at the amish quilts for sale on line and they deffinitely don't have 16 stitches to the inch. Some LOok like 5 stitches and they are selling for $700. I think the key is to have nice even stitches. My machine could probably get 16. I am trying my best to have even stitches. LOL That is the hard part.