What Stitch Length Do You Use for Piecing?
 

Auntpiggylpn posted about the quilt she washed and in which she found a seam that had opened. After reading the thread, I am wondering about the stitch length I use for my quilts.

My machine uses millimeters. My machine (Janome Horizon) uses a stitch length of 2.2 on regular straight stitching and less - not sure of the amount - for the piecing stitch. I use the stitch with 2.2 length rather than the piecing stitch, primarily because it makes unsewing easier, which I do quite often.

What are you using? Do you think I should use a shorter stitch length?

Thanks in advance.
Cathy

I also have the Horizon. I use a stitch length of 2.0 or 1.8. I don't plan for reverse sewing.

I use the default on my Bernina 2.5 and if I am using my Janome 6600 which defaults 2.2, I use that. the only time I use a shorter stitch is when I paper piece, so I can get the paper off. I don't think you will have any problems with your quilts using the stitch length.

I use 2.5 on my Singer.

The default on my Janome DC3050 is 2.2, when I am piecing I drop it down to 1.8 with polyester thread and bring it up to a 2.0 with cotton.

Hi all,
My Janome 6500's default is 2.2 so I go with that.

best,
d

I use the default of 2.5 on my Singer unless Im PP

The default on my Bernina 440 is 2.4. This is perfectly fine for all but small pieces. Standard clothing is 12 stitches per inch and the 2.4 setting is 11 stitches per inch. I set mine at 2.7 because of my vision difficulty - it makes unsewing much easier for me. If you are paper piecing, you need to use a much smaller stitch or the stitches come out when you pull the paper.

If stitching is coming out, it is more likely to be a problem with how the stitches are being made than the size. Many, many quilts were hand stitched and the fabric often wore out before stitches came out.

I use 2.5 alot of the time. For bargello's I use a 2.0 ( so the skinny strip set cuts don't un -sew themselves while I am sewing long strips together). For Paper piecing it's a 1.5 to 1.0 .
Like you if I have to un-sew , really small stiches just make me nuts.

I use 1.8 on my Janome 6600. It's short enough that the stitches won't come undone
with handling but big enough for the seam ripper when needed. I use a bigger stitch
for general sewing.
Opened seams after washing does not necessarily mean too long of a stitch. It could
be different things such as too narrow of a seam, fabric quality, how it was quilted
or how it was washed or a combination of the above.
There are no rules. Go with what makes you comfortable.