A good way to practice stitches is on 1/8" gingham check.
It has small checks and straight lines. If 1/8" is too small to start with, then every other square etc. Or start with larger gingham.

I sometime think that if the question about number of stitches is asked then it is a trick question.

Thank you for asking this question. I always wanted to know, too.

When I was learning to quilt and was frustrated because I couldn't make stitches as small as my GrandMa, my Daddy told me this. "Consistant stitches are more important than small stitches; as long as you don't make them so long a fella can hang a toenail in 'em" I have finally mastered small stitches, but fondly remember a wise man's advice to a little daughter.

I don't count them at all. I just strive to keep them small and even.

Counting stitches is an archaic practice. As a quilt professional who has done a lot of hand quilting, I don't pay attention to such non-issues. There is no standard and everyone you ask will probably offer a different answer.

As a quilt judge, I look for nicely-spaced, even stitches that are not crooked.

We may marvel at the very tiny stitches of some of the antique quilts we see but also consider the fact that the battings that were used were often VERY thin. I hope this remark sheds some light on the subject.

Thank you! Some of the replies have been kind of snippy so I thought it might be another one of my dumb questions.

I have a really beginner question.... and by this you'll know I've never done hand quilting..........Do you use a running stitch??

"Consistant stitches are more important than small stitches; as long as you don't make them so long a fella can hang a toenail in 'em" I have finally mastered small stitches, but fondly remember a wise man's advice to a little daughter. Great advice. No ego here, just common sense and good training.

I agree some of the answeres were snippy. I cannot imagine my grandmother with and ego. I hope you have the answer you were looking for. It was a good question. Keep asking.

I just try to make them even...not planning on entering them in any competition and how many heirlooms can there be anyway.