counting stitches per inch in hand quilting
 

Hello everybody, I have a question regarding counting stitches per inch in hand quilting.
When you say 7 or 9 or 12 stitches per inch, are you counting only the stitches you can see on the top of the quilt or both on the top and the back?
I suppose is only on the top, but just to be sure.

Thank you!
Patricia (hand quitler)

I just started hand quilting and count only on the top.

Here's an article on counting stitches: http://timquilts.com/2013/02/15/coun...ting-stitches/

Top only, but frankly, I'd rather have even stitches, even if there are fewer of them.

Janet

I don't count. I try to be even and sometimes I'm not. I just like to make the stitches as best I can.

Patricia, good question and Anael good link. I have always heard about stitch count and thought it was the front and the link makes a good point. Actually my stitches are to small,as one comment stated, and I am working on making them just a tad bigger.

some people (like the 'Thimble Lady') count the top & bottom stitches- thus achieving 20+ stitches per inch....other (more common) count only the stitches on top (achieving 10 stitches to the inch) it just depends on YOU and maybe who instructed you- either way is ok, correct. for those who count the top stitches it is the 'norm' for hand quilters to strive for 6-8 stitches per inch (which for those other people would mean 12-16 stitches per inch) it is generally better to concentrate on achieving nice- evenly spaced & evenly sized stitches instead of worrying about how many stitches there are- with practice they may be smaller- more to the inch- but the look, even(ness) and balance are going to be judged much more than the count.

You only count the stitches on one side of the quilt (either side, actually), and you count any which fall inside the inch; even a partial stitch within the inch gets counted.

As seldom as I hand quilt, I always tried to concentrate on the quality of the consistency of my stitches but I have heard people chat about the number of stitches per inch and I would always think NOT in my lifetime. :)

Yes, this is my mantra!

Finally, I was able to make the tiny, tiny stitches and they looked just awful so I went back to my norm which is 8 stitches.

This is a skill set I haven't really learned -- I do have a project in progress where I was learning to quilt with 2 thimbles. I really liked that. No sore fingers! It is always amazing how much I learn from this board -- thanks for the link!

I would think that it would just be the top. Mine are not perfect, but they are, from doing so many, getting smaller on there own. I looked at a quilt from 10 years ago, and they were about 1/4 inch. Yikes!

Yes, definitely just count the stitches on top. In the Thimblelady book I have, she talks about 12 stitches per inch, referring to just the ones on top (making each individual stitch about 1/25" of an inch). Roxanne McElroy also had that as the gold standard in her book, 'That Perfect Stitch'. But everyone I've ever read agrees that evenness is the more important goal. Even stitches look lovely, no matter their size. And some people just don't like the look of such a small stitch. Determine what look you like, and aim for evenness at that size. My spaces between stitches are consistently larger than my stitches, no matter what size the stitches are, and that goes for front and back (which doesn't really make sense when you think about it). I'm still working on getting the stitches and spaces to be the same size.

My opinion, too small hand stitching and you may as well stitch by machine. I always count on the top of the quilt, easier then turning over the quilt. I'm lazy.

I don't think it is important to make just so many stitches per inch, the most important thing is that they are even and neat. Don't stress over the small stuff! Some even do large stitches on purpose and it looks quite nice.

I kinda pay attention to my stitches. I have even counted them on occasion but mainly, regardless of how many there are, I just love the look of hand quilting. It says something machine quilting doesn't.

Thank you for all your answers! I also prefer even and nice stitches rather than quantity. Thanks for the links!
Patricia (hand quitler)

Thanks for this questions I have always wondered. I guess I am not as skilled as I thought after looking at the link in post #2. I guess that we all need a goal to reach for! I am happy with my 5 or 6 per inch and will work on more...maybe.:) Like others, I go for even rather than higher numbers per inch.

Who counts? I agree with even and steady as one can. I think it depends on the project for the size and number of stitches (if you count). If I'm quilting cutesy I use a larger needle and stitches, if I'm quilting something average or delicate, I go for the smaller needle and stitches. If one really wants to be perfect (contest quality, I guess), there are quilters who space their stitches with an empty needle on the sewing machine and then hand quilt thru the holes. Never wanted to take the time to figure this one out.

Great link! I really enjoyed the article.

Thank goodness I'm not the only one who thinks this! I'm hand stitching a character on a quilt for my DGS right now and I'm just trying to keep the stitches fairly even. Besides, he'll never notice one way or the other! :-)

Count????? Not me!

"Amen", mine are quilted with LOVE!!!

I just purchased Barbara Chainey's book The Essential Quilter Project Book. She puts it this way:

'Persuing the Holy Grail of tiny stitches does not always make for even stitches and can drastically reduce the pleasure that should be inherent in quilting. Everyone has a stitch size which is natural to them, be it larger or small, and unless you are terrified of the mythical Quilting Police, ther is little point in putting major effort into reducing the size of your stitches when you should be enjoying quilting and allowing yourself to improve at a comfortable and relaxed pace. Take a few steps back from your work - look at the pattern and texture and notice how insignificant those 'inferior' stitches have become in the overall scheme of things'.

I love the way she says it!!