Due to recent articles I have seen and read I am curious as to whether their is a recommended or "Certified quilting Stitch Length" for both a domestic machine and in particularly a long arm machine when entering quilts in a competetion?

If you do not feel comfortable answering publicly please PM me I really would like to know.

I stitch on 10 with my LA and have not had any comments from show judges about the stitches but you have to keep in mind that while certified judges have guidelines they are also individuals and as such are subject to personal opinions also, even if they think they are not letting those opinions enter into their choices. JMO

Sharon Schamber who wins every show she enters has great info on her website with close up detail pics of her machine stitching. She does free motion on domestic and LA.

Thank you for your info. I know last year I scribed for a judge and I do not know if she was certified or not but I know she mentioned the stitches of the quilts she was judging and so I asked her what they should be and she replied that on a domestic the quilting length should be 2.5 and on a Long Arm a 10. I realize that at some point personal opinion enters the picture but am really wanting to know "if there is a Certified judge length". I had never heard of it until this particular judge I was scribing for mentioned it. If I do it again this year I will surely ask though.

Thank you so much for the link I will scoot over and check it out.

My understanding is that is needs to be consistent and appropriate.

For example: You need to have a fairly short stitch for tight curves or they will look choppy and blocky. You would need that same stitch length throughout the quilt.

If you are doing straight lines or gentle curves, you could have a larger stitch.

Yes, 2.5 would look terrible on a DM doing tight stippling or FMQ. Mine is lowered to 1.5 or below to manage all the curves and minute detail. I think much of this would be based on what is being FMQ and the over all effect.