When my mom tried to teach me to hand quilt( I was about 18) we were working on a quilt top made from those little pre-printed squares bought at dime stores( remember them?) The pattern was printed on, and I was going down one dot and up to the next. Mom informed me that I was doing it wrong and EACH dot was a full stitch, down and up on the same dot. I took one look at how close those dots were and gave up!! In my 30's I decided trying to make an embroidered quilt , also pre-printed. Mom's church group hand quilted it for me and that is exactly the way they did it. The hand quilting I see done now is not nearly as tiny, but if consistent, it is still beautiful. BTW, I'm 71 to date those times.

You might also consider practicing on something smaller first - like a pillow top or table runner.

Hi, I just measured a couple items I have recently quilted. I seem to average between 5 and 8 stitches per inch. Years ago I could use a #12 needle and my stitches were a little finer. With age and arthritis I now use an #8 or a #9 needle. 20 years ago our county participated in a country wide quilt documentation project. We hired textile experts from the DAR musuem in Washington, DC to examine the quilts we were documenting. The ladies from there counted the stitches on the front and back. The first time one of them said 18 stitches to the inch my eyes bugged. If you divide that by two that meant 9 inches on top. In my 40+ years of quilting I learned the hard way that the weave of the fabric, the batting, the number of seams, the needle size and the type of hoop, frame or otherwise that you are using makes a difference in the size of the stitch. What is really important is the eveness of the stitches and the fact that the item is finally quilted. Ihave a friend who was also a handquilter for hire and who is left handed. Her stitches are unbelievably tiny. I stopped worrying about it a long time ago.

I touch my finger underneath and then push the needle back up. I really do not concern myself with the stitches on the back, they seem to just work out fine when the top stitches are good. What I should have said is that the stitches need to be even, both the stitch of thread and the space in between them! The best thing to do is mark a small project, like a pillow or wall hanging, and practice on it. It won't take long before you're quilting like a pro!

If you are just learning then I suggest you strive for even stitches regardless of the number. Evenness is more important. With practice you can always improve for smaller stitches. Don't get frustrated at not being able to do the "expected" or "standard" number at first.
A good way to practice is on 1/16" or 1/8" gingham check fabric. Has lines and spaces to follow. 4 even stitches to the inch is ok at first. Then practice for 6 even stitches etc etc.
Also, don't fall into the trap of assuming that you MUST use the smallest needle. Start with the size you are comfortable with and then go smaller and smaller as you gain confidence.
If you are using a hoop I highly recommend the No-Slip hoop that you can get at JoAnn's. 14" is a good size. It is made so the fabric doesn't slip once you get the right tension for your qulting.

My stitches have also changed with age. I use to do 12 consistently, now I am happy with 10, but I only count what is on top. Never thought about adding for both sides. Consistency now is all that is important.

I usually get 7-8 stitches an inch, but I'm trying to get more. I try to be consistent in any one project that I do!

I probably get 8 stitches to the inch. But I agree that getting consistent stitches is more important than the number of stitches.

To me, good quality 100% cotton fabric and wool batting are the two biggest factors in getting a good stitch.

I have heard that batiks are a completely different weave (much tighter) than cotton quilting fabrics, and are a beast to hand quilt.

I will never use batik for the backing again. Almost impossible to hand quilt. I finally went with a size 9 platinum needle the two to 3 stitches seem to be a little easier and they are more consistent than when I used the 11 between.

Hand-quilting is something that takes practice!!!! :D I've hand-quilted for years and if I don't do it for awhile my stitch count goes down. I usually do between 10-12. 12 when carpal isn't acting up. I try not to take any more than 3 stitches at a time, otherwise it is very hard to pull your needle through. The most important thing is to relax and enjoy it!!! Once this is accomplished, then work on getting your stitches smaller, say with the tiger tape. I practice on sandwiches with straight lines and curves with the tiger tape until I felt the rythym that you get. Atleast that's what happened for me.

Good Luck and remember to enjoy!!!