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.

I use 1.5 for piecing using a size 80/12 topstitch needle and 50wt 2 ply or 60wt thread. I use very thin thread cotton or poly. I use the 50wt 3 ply and higher weights for machine quilting.

I use a 3.0 or 3.2 on my Janome 6500. I haven't had a problem with stitches pulling out and I can get them out easily if I have to.

I use 12-15 on my FW.

Thanks a lot for your replies. Seems as if I'm in good company. :)

I will try 1.8 (which I think is the Horizon piecing stitch length) and see how I like it - just for kicks.

Thanks again, Cathy

I use somewhere between 2 and 2.5 for regular piecing. My older machine is not more specific than that. :) For paper piecing I drop it down to about 1.5, roughly.

I use 2.0 for regular piecing and 1.5 for paper piecing. I would think that 3.0 would be closer to basting.

I use 2.5 most of the time on my viking mega quilter.

I'm with EasyPeezy and use 1.8 on the Janome 6600 as well ... same reasons!
The finer stitching creates a sharper seam, without the shifting you get with the longer stitches.

While the default as mentioned above is 2.2 ..... I changed it to the 1.8.
Also, I changed the needle position of 3.5 default .... to 4.5 as that's where my needle needs to sit for 1/4" seams.

I usually use the 2.5 default but will cut it down to 2 when the fabric frays a lot. Paper piecing also requires a smaller stitch (or the seam will come apart when the paper gets pulled).

On most instances of seams coming apart, I believe that the problem is not the stitch length but an uneven alignment of the two layers.

Interesting. I use 4 on my Singer Quilter which is the middle stitch length and what I would use if doing regular sewing. 7 is the length for basting. My stitches seem to be a good length and you can not see light thru them. They are still somewhat hard to remove.

I use 2.5 on my Europro and on my Brother.

if you secure the ends of any seam that is not crossed by another (the crossing of seams secures them too) you should be fine- once in a while a seam will start coming un-done if it was not secured- or if prehaps you had some skipped stitches you did not catch at the time- as long as you are using a good strong thread and getting even stitches you can have some pretty long stitches still hold up just fine.

I believe all the numbers boil down to stitches per inch. If I am not mistaken that mgic number is usually 10 stitches per inch. :)

1.8 for me is fine 1.6 for PP 2.5 for minky

I use 2.2 on my 6600 also, and about the same on my other machines.

Hey, I caught you talking about me!!!!! I know that there were many suggestions on my thread about that seam that had opened about using shorther stitch lengths. I use the the default stitch length on my Janome which is 2.2. I too hate to make it any smaller due to the possibility of having to rip it out. This is literally the first time this has ever happened to me on one of my quilts. I am pretty sure the problem was that I used the "Sew 2 squares together then cut them apart to make HST" method and that when I cut it apart, I didn't leave a full 1/4" seam allowance. Also I think that because the seam was on the bias edge, it isn't as strong and so it just couldn't hang on with such a little seam allowance.

Could someone translate these numbers for each individual machine into a universal "stitches per inch" number?

When I made my first bargello, the instructions said to use a tight stitch, and I liked it so much that I use tight stitches all the time. I believe it's about 15 stitches to the inch.

on the SINGER 301A i use 16 which is 16 stitches per inch
on the BERNINA 1630 i use 2.5
on the Bernette 55 i use 2.4 except it is banished to the rolling case right now because it acted up last time
the serger is at default with tensions at 5

have a great sewing saturday everyone and anyone in the area or wanting a trip remember the Glendale Quilt Guild show is only a month away March 16,17,18 ..... classes start on the 15th check it out online

The default setting on my Pfaff is 2.5, but I figure the smaller the stitches, the more secure, so I set it to 2.0 for piecing. I don't go any smaller than that because that's the smallest stitch I can easily unsew with the seam ripper. The 2.0 setting translates into 14 stitches per inch---I had to put on the Ott light to count for ya! :p

Gee, my Viking "normal" is 2.5, and that's generally what I use, unless I'm paper-piecing. Then I go much smaller - as small as a 1.5 on little pieces. I've considered going to a 2.0, but haven't done it on a regular basis.

On one of my earlier quilts I decided to try to use up some thread I had around for years. Big mistake! Gave the quilt to my then teenage GS with alot of explanation of how he should appreciate and respect the quilt and he would always have it. tehe. Next thing I know, I am taking the quilt home to hand stitch many of the pieces together as the thread was literly falling apart. No lentgh of stitch would have made a difference.

I use 1.8 for piecing only. That is on both Janome machines--1600 and 9000. Keep a sharp seam ripper handy if needed.

I have a Janome 6600P and I use 2.5 for piecing. don't plan on unsewing, but ya never know.

I use the 1.5 on my Janome 6600 just in case it does come undone. But the thread is as important as the length. Use good quality thread in your quilts and you will have to worry a lot less about thread breakage.
Hope this helps.

I like 2.5 stitch length for piecing.

I have the Janome and I use 2.0 for piecing and 1.8 for strip piecing. This is my first time working with 100% aurifil cotton thread and I am worried about the life of the thread. I have always used a blend thread. I buy alot of vintage thread, and 100% cotton thread loses it tinsle strength as it ages. I will be long gone when the aurifil thread ages, but It still is one of my concerns.

What a great idea to move the needle on the janome for a quarter inch seam. my 1/4 " foot is bigger than 1/4" I am going to try it. Great ideas on QB - great sharing quilters!!!

I have been sewing about 46 yrs, and I use to make clothing and always used a smaller stitch. I use a small stitch for piecing also. I am able to unsew if I need to, never had a seam come out. Probably 1.8 or so. Use the length you like.